QUBSU Elections

by John - dunaree2000 Wed Mar 01, 2006 19:05

This brings back memories. I remember the first time QUB Student's Union elected a radical left-wing republican as President. It must have been about 1969. Kevin Finnegan was his name. If you check the records there, I'm sure you'll see his name. He had all the right credentials. As left-wing and as republican as you could find, he even survived a loyalist assassination attempt. A real firebrand, he was. I voted for him myself. The last I heard of him was about 5 years ago when he was appointed a High Court judge in Belfast.

by queens - QUB Wed Mar 01, 2006 19:59

This is absolute utter nonsense.
You havent given me a reason to vote so why the hell should I
Theres no politics in these elections just sectarian branding and free sweets.
The election goes like this
If your a catholic then you vote for the person with the poster that says votail
If your protestant then you vote for the conservative looking guy with a suit and union jack.
Of course most "catholic" and "protrestants" arrent duped by this. Thats why most people simply stay clear of the elections unless theyre forced into it by some over enthusiastic idiot brandishing a packet of haribo.
Real politics will return

by Mick - none Wed Mar 01, 2006 22:53

Memories indeed. I recall working with the republican society in 1996. We engaged in a half-hearted campaign of entryism at QUBSU. After elections we made up almost 50 per cent of officers there. We all agreed not to become assimiliated or fall into dubious electoral pacts with 'stoop careerists' who effectively ran the union.

Two members did, taking up posts with the stoop union clique (and Deirdre McAliskey, another careerist of sorts with pseudo-radical credentials). Those two were quickly isolated, lost our comradeship and could be seen drinking with the clique most nights of the week. Such a superfical, shallow existence they led afterwards. The two Johnny big potatoes would, from time to time, come and sit with us when their new mates weren't around but would quickly depart when disapproving stoop and unionist pals (including Paul "he assaulted me`' Berry, Johnny Taylor and a wee guy we used to call The Milkybar Kid" ) entered the bar. Such a pathetic sight it was. I was too shamed on their behalf to look into their eyes when they attempted to engage with us. When you did you gazed through them. There was nothing really there.

Students of Republican and socialist stock. Take my advise and save yourself the bother. Don't waste your time. Enjoy your time, have some crack, join a society by all times, but please, don't enter this ridiculous circus. Believe me, you'll cringe in later life when you realise the utter uselessness of it all. Do something political outside the union. The world is for changing - the union is for gettin laid.

by student Thu Mar 02, 2006 00:37

one of the things that ive heard people say is that the low participation in these elections shows that students dont care about politics. But there areloadsa people who talk about the world, politics etc but the student union just isnt an expression of that. its been de-politizised.
What does the student council do, can anyone stand. What is the point of these elections