Originally Posted by RyanC

I didn't say the MSU, etc, hadn't accomplished anything, nor that MUGSI improvement is the only thing that could do it... its just I don't see how my voting actually accomplishes anything. I know they do all these things, but I can't attribute who is accomplishing what, it just seems like a big amorphous body... :/

I can't believe you said that! That's like saying there is no point in voting during Canada's next federal election. Suffice it to say that the MSU is nothing like Canada's government, and that may not be the best comparison, but voting for certain candidates and that one candidate being voted in makes a significant change. Unfortunately, I can't vote. But if I could, I'd be ALL over it.

Should probably vote Ryan- even if there isn't one candidate that stands out to you, there are a lot of referendums being voted on as well. And there's definitely a difference between the two sides on most of them

Originally Posted by RyanC

I didn't say the MSU, etc, hadn't accomplished anything, nor that MUGSI improvement is the only thing that could do it... its just I don't see how my voting actually accomplishes anything. I know they do all these things, but I can't attribute who is accomplishing what, it just seems like a big amorphous body... :/

Okay so alot of my arguments for voting are based on political and moral philosophy and your rights as a paying member of the MSU but that's a very subjective and somewhat presumptuous argument so instead I'll say that not all candidates with good ideas, talents and experience are the most popular individuals.

When I first ran for First Year Council back in first year I was an off campus student hardly knew any people and I just caught a lucky break since the guy I was up against had access to an entire residence but I suppose he didn't care enough about it to properly campaign. Had I lost that election and those generous voters didn't take time out to vote for me, there is a chance I would have never built up enough confidence to run again.

So that's where your vote as a student comes into play, you have all the power to sort out a hypothetical pie in the sky fluff candidates(I say that because there seems to be a sense of disillusion around this forum) versus those who seem genuine.

For Presidentials specifically, last year we had candidates with very distinctly different ideas. Had Mary for example not won we would not have had a farm stand, a vision conference or upgrades to the MSU Website and so on. Instead the winning candidate might have concentrated MSU money and his intellectual capital on some other ventures.

Hopefully that helps change people's mind about this upcoming election and encourages them to go out and vote

Originally Posted by Abid.Hasan

Maybe it's time to give it another go. Could you give me an endorsement, Mary?

hahaha.

I remain impartial... but am always happy to answer anyone's questions.

Originally Posted by samd

Every candidate last election was saying "come talk to me, tell me your problem and I'll put it in my platform." Why is that good? It's basically saying "I really have no clue what this union needs so instead I'll just tell you what you want to hear." And so instead of a discussion about the efficiency and quality of services we have petty arguments about bus shelters and umbrella boxes. And then a bunch of dumb first years who just realized what the MSU was last week vote for whoever championed some dumb fluff idea that they happened to like.

Too late, someone already has that on their poster.

Originally Posted by collinbf

Too late, someone already has that on their poster.

Actually its not really the same thing at all.

This is the MDL platform point that's being promoted by those posters:

Investing in students’ ideas

The MSU has decades worth of surpluses that are sitting in reserve, unused by anyone. We need to use that money to the benefit of students.

Our educations are no different than those of our peers at different universities, and we need to find new ways to stand apart. I want to use a small portion of the money in the reserve to create grants-based funding for student-led initiatives that make our community and our school better.

It’s time for us to take control of our futures, and use the collective skill of our student body to do great things for the world. It benefits all of us to come from a school with a reputation for student-lead innovation, and I believe that we can do great things

Full MDL platform available here.