News

The happy family that is the OUSA Executive has gained two new members after a by-election was successfully held last week.

Art Kiojarunchitt has been elected as the International Student Officer and Thomas Koentges has been elected as the Postgraduate Representative for the remainder of 2011.

 
Kiojarunchitt has served on the Executive representing international students for the past two years. He chose not to run for the position again in the elections for the 2011 Executive as he was not expecting to return to Otago. Running unopposed, Kiojarunchitt received 64 votes, with 10 votes recorded for no confidence and 28 votes abstaining from voting.
 

Critic is unsure as to why anyone would subject themselves to the voting process only to have it recorded that they don’t want to vote. Clearly, the 28 international students who abstained from voting have too much time on their hands. Critic suggests that these students make a visit to local holiday destination Mosgiel to use up some of their time.

 
Of the election, Kiojarunchitt says that “it would have been more interesting with competition” but he is still “happy to get the position officially”.

 
Meanwhile the position of Postgraduate Representative has been filled by Thomas Koentges, a 30-year old German. Koentges received 83 votes, exactly half the amount of the total votes cast in the election for the position. Again, another 14 dimwits voted, but chose to abstain once they were at the crucial decision making process. The other candidates in the election, Ely Rodrigues and Brent (Bert) Holmes, received 32 and 24 votes respectively. That sneaky devil “no confidence” also crept in there, garnering a total of 13 votes.
 

Colleges and Communications Representative Francisco Hernandez told Critic that “votes are up on last year a bit”. (Critic suspects things were very dire indeed last year if this is indeed the case). Hernandez had implemented a polling booth in Abbey College, the postgraduate residence, and wanted to do the same in other colleges but “there weren’t enough international students to justify this. We will try harder for the next election”. Critic is left wondering exactly which election exactly he is talking about, and whether another by-election is brewing. (Speculation is an addiction, once you start it’s hard to stop).

 
President Harriet Geoghegan is “glad we have filled the positions and now have a Postgraduate Representative and an International Student Officer”. She says she is “really looking forward to working with both Art and Thomas for the rest of the year, particularly Art as he has done a lot of hard work already for OUSA”.

 
A source of Critic’s, who wishes to remain anonymous, is part of both the international and postgraduate communities. She tells us she is “thrilled beyond words that a sector of the student body which has for too long been denied representation, has now, only now, finally regained a voice”.

 
Critic would like to let Thomas know, as he may be unaware of meeting etiquette, that it is his turn to bring baking to the next Exec meeting, and we like afghans.