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No one wants to be RCSU President!

Feb 28 2001 21:54

Mustafa Arif

RCS Union on the brink as virtually no candidates stand for any position.

RCSU President Jason McKee - nobody seems to want his job...

While CGCU's elections attracted the highest number of candidates in recent years (see previous article), the Royal College of Science Union faces an electoral crisis, with virtually no candidates.

At the close of nominations last Friday, there were no candidates for RCSU President, or Academic Affairs Officer. One potential candidate for Vice-President had failed to get the required number of seconders. On the positive side, the RCSU do have one candidate for each of Hon Junior Treasurer and Hon Secretary.

It has been suggested that the appallingly low level of candidates is related to the RCSU's failure to provide any real services to its memebers this year. Cynics have suggested that this isn't really a change, but that for the frist time, the students have actually noticed.

Jason McKee, RCSU President was unavailable for comment. Former RCSU UGM Chair, Joanna Churchill (one of this week's defeated candidates in ICU's Elections) did, however, concede that things were "not too good".

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Discussion about “No one wants to be RCSU President!”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Dinesh

Mar 01 2001 10:14

This reflects badly on all CCUs -- more CCU antagonism will follow, in the meantime all successes / failures elsewhere will be ignored and this will be taken as a choice sample, particularly by the Good News Bible (Felix). ICU Council will start moaning, forgetting about the other problematic parts of the SU, like the Postgraduate Group that represents all of one postgrad, the Media Group that runs a TV station no one watches and a radio station no one listens to, the Social Group that promotes religious conversion as 'another service brought to you by you union', the education and welfare network (except mens officer) which all of about 80 people in IC know about...

2. Rob Cooper

Mar 01 2001 11:12

Proposed motion for the next O&MC/ICU council - offer to RCSU to take over and run their union. As clearly non of the scientists feel they are capable, we could use it as a testing ground for our own exec. Let Guildsmen run the scientist for a year and if they do a good jod elect them to the C&GCU. It's a win-win situation all round, as the Guilds empire expands.

3. Mustafa Arif

Mar 01 2001 17:32

Personally, I agree with Dinesh's sentiments. I think it is quite sad that RCS students have no motivation to do anything for their Union.

Having said that, I understand that CGCU used to be in a similar position 2/3 years ago - so we certainly shouldn't be feeling gleeful. Sorry if my article came across that way.

4. Neil Madhvani

Mar 01 2001 17:39

Time to abolish RCSU? Or maybe merge it with Guilds?

5. G. Mtz. de Azagra

Mar 01 2001 18:36

I've been in IC for two years and I had never heard about RCS Elections

6. Neil Madhvani

Mar 01 2001 21:00

Oi, I didn't post that last comment - who is the imposter?

7. Tony Blair

Mar 02 2001 10:04

An imposter! What an absolute disgrace. Come and see me at no. 10 Neil and we will sort this out.

8. IRN-BRUaholic

Mar 02 2001 16:36

As the only candidate standing for the new post of "RESIDENT GUILDSMAN" in the RCSU Elections I am astonished at the lack of research undertaken by the Guild's reporters. Come on, you're almost as ill-informed as that (in)famous RCSU hack Mishmash.

The RCSU trip to Dublin with Outgoing travel was cancelled by outgoing travel "because circumstances changed" and the RCSU attempt to save the trip was hampered by the fact that there were only 19 seats available on the National Express coach to Holyhead.

The suggestion that CGCU should take control of the RSCU shows more ignorance. I have assumed control of the Honsecs', Vice Presidents', Archivist's and Publications Officer's jobs by 'helping' to the extent hat I now do most of the work of the RCSU behind the scenes besides providing advice and support to those organising events such as the Dublin Trip and the Annual Dinner.

Lots of Love

BRU

9. Editor

Mar 02 2001 18:03

Thank you for your comments, "IRN-BRUaholic".

However, I should like to point out that the issues you raised were in response to comments posted by readers. They were not (as you implied) suggested by cgcu.net journalists who employ a high level of profesionalism.

10. Stef

Mar 06 2001 10:14

Dinesh- some of the problematic areas of the Union you mention cost nothing..CCU's are perceived to be relatively expensive. If you have complaints about the education and welfare networks I'll have a serious words with the welfare officers, dept reps and AAO's, if they are doing such a seriously bad job as you suggest maybe we should get rid of the lot of them at once. The Postgraduate Group has no members it is true, mainly due to the difficulty in being a representative and social body caused it to fracture years ago. Currently the Postgraduate Group chair with reps from across the campus are doing the representation. While the CGCU postsoc is very well doing the social side. Also Postgrads take a huge involvement in the clubs and socs.

Regarding the clubs and socs areas, if you are so unhappy about them maybe you should take an active involvement in discussions about them. No-one from CGCU is taking part in the Budget Advisory Group that makes recommendations to Finance Committee and then Council

If you have a complaint about a Social group email it to Sam Sharpe (dpcs@ic.ac.uk) or the Social Clubs chair (rr198@ic.ac.uk)

11. Dinesh

Mar 06 2001 21:40

I'm not complaining about anything. I'm just pointing out there are problems everywhere.

12. Mustafa Arif

Mar 07 2001 13:30

Hey! Let's abolish everything!

Perhaps we could persaud Sunil Rao, to write such a paper for the next ICU Council?

Closedd This discussion is closed.