Student politics are woefully exploitable. This week, there were meant to be six pages of profiles for the upcoming OUSA election, but they were cancelled literally the day before print because nobody had signed up to run for the positions. Yikes. That meant we had to fill six pages of content, which is why there’s so much unhinged mascot content. Lucky you.
Anyway, the other thing this meant was that (much like local government positions across the country) OUSA’s governing body was ripe for the picking. Unhinged, unqualified, unashamed students are free to list themselves to run, mostly unopposed, for every position in OUSA. Apparently someone told ski club (was it us? Who knows) about this because they've just stacked the ballot with their club members. There’s someone from ski club running for almost every position. Ski club could run OUSA.
It’s like how there are far-right nutso’s out there trying to subtly take over government positions by taking advantage of woefully low engagement. That’s scary because it has real implications. Ski club is doing the same thing, but it’s less scary. Instead of campaigning for banning climate change research, they’re campaigning on having a designated piss tree on campus where you can urinate without copping a fine which, in my opinion, is WELL overdue.
The OUSA student democracy scheme is so incredibly exploitable that it’s honestly depressing that coups don't happen more. A few years ago, the rowing club realised this and called for an election. They put up a bunch of motions that benefited their club, stacked the room with club members, and went for gold. Last year, Sign Up Club did the same thing, and were only thwarted by a last-minute bit of red tape. They were THIS close to greatness, and would’ve netted themselves all sorts of perks, and changed the official signature of all OUSA emails.
Now, those same SUC members (crossover with ski club of course) are running for the OUSA exec ballot. Are they better than literally nothing? Time will tell. But I’m all for it. If student engagement is this low, maybe an unhinged exec body is exactly what we need to make it exciting again. After all, it’s your money. Do you want a piss tree or not?
Also, unrelated, it’s the crime issue, so a few thoughts. First, congrats to drugs for winning the war on drugs. Legends. Second, true crime is not a new obsession, it’s been the backbone of conversation since forever, it’s just podcasts are a thing now. Third, ACAB applies to Paw Patrol. That’s all for now.