Online voting to run from November 2–13
Amaial Mullick ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
The race for the University of St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) Vice President (VP) of Community Life is underway. Nominations opened on October 21, and will go on until October 26. After which there will be an all-candidates meeting with the nominees. From then onward, the campaigning will begin. The Chief Returning Officer (CRO) David Delle Fave sat down with The Mike to discuss the election process as well the role of the position. The CRO, a neutral party not explicitly a part of SMCSU, runs the election.
The VP Community Life is a position responsible for building community life around the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC). This individual is the bridge between SMCSU and the St Michael’s Residential Council. SMCSU’s VP Community Life is also responsible for keeping and being the line of communication amongst the two groups, which allows for USMC to thrive and create a social atmosphere for students within the community. VP Community Life’s jurisdiction encompasses campus activities and social and cultural life at USMC. There have been a number of community events organized by the prior VP Community Life, including last year’s Super Bowl party at Brennan Hall.
Once the campaigning period begins, USMC will be buzzing with candidates making their pitches. As such, there are a couple of important dates that USMC students should keep in mind regarding the election. For one, November 1 marks the all-candidates forum, where each person running will give a speech. USMC students are encouraged to attend and be actively involved in choosing their VP Community Life. This platform will allow students to hear each candidate’s pledge, and there will be a Q&A session following the speeches.
The voting process is convenient for both on-campus and commuter students. Online voting begins November 2 at 9:00 a.m. and is available till November 13 at 11:59 p.m. In-person voting is a three-day process open on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday of the voting period. Full and part time students are both eligible to vote. There are certain eligibility requirements for students’ running, including a minimum 2.5 CGPA. Therefore, first years who have not yet completed a full academic year cannot run in the elections. Students running must also be enrolled at USMC and pay the levied fee. Other specifications in the by-laws state that contenders must be model citizens, and display adherence to policies of USMC.
This is an exciting time where students can come together to elect whichever candidate they feel will aptly represent their interests, and encourage active participation from the whole community. For more information on the election, visit the SMCSU Facebook page.
