News

Harriet Geoghegan is seeking re-election to the role of OUSA President.
At the time of printing last week Geoghegan was the only person to publicly announce their candidacy.

If Geoghegan is re-elected, she will be the first person to serve a second term as President since Paul “The Governor” Gourlie in 1979-1980. Gourlie famously wore a suit and tie and carried a cane, and allegedly embezzled funds from OUSA to prop up his café, Governors.
   Geoghegan has unfinished business at OUSA and wishes to complete the implementation of the new Exec restructuring, as well as finishing other reviews. She says she has an advantage over other candidates, as she has connections around the University and Dunedin, and “won’t need to spend the first six months of the year learning the ropes and building relationships … Next year is an important year of change both within OUSA, the University and local and national government, and a year that needs someone with the knowledge and experience to get the best outcomes for students.”
   Clubs and Socs Rep Dan Stride says he is likely to run again, but is undecided as to which position. Currently Stride is in his second year as Clubs and Socs Rep, which he says makes him the first person in 15 years to serve two years in a position. 
   According to Stride, OUSA Presidents don’t tend to run for a second term. In part this is due to the full-time, low-pay nature of the job. Stride says that it is also due to campaign policy, which states that OUSA Executives who are running again can’t be in the OUSA office during the election period, lest their presence in the OUSA office is seen as an OUSA endorsement of the candidates. As a President’s hours are around 40 hours per week, a President running for a second term could find it challenging to continue their duties during this period.
   Geoghegan says she will cope with these difficulties by avoiding the main entrance and removing herself as an admin of the OUSA Facebook page.
   Nominations for the 2011 OUSA Executive positions opened last Monday 2 August and closed last Friday 6 August. Students could be nominated for any one of the ten Executive positions under the newly adopted structure. Voting will commence on 16 August and run until 19 August. Critic will have full coverage of the election campaign and blurbs from all the nominees in next week’s issue. Get excited.