Editorial
Get Behind the Posters And Flyers
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I just took a sip from a water fountain in the Hall building. Before I leaned down to take the sip, a bulletin board caught my eye.
As I leaned down to drink freely from the tap, I noticed a posters edge that was peeking over and into the water fountain.
It was a campaign for a Water Bottle Free Campus.
It caught my eye because it shocked me. It surprised me. Walking back to the office here, at The Link, it stayed with me and I thought about it. Do I want a bottle water free campus? Do you?
You should think about it.
This week saw every possible poster space at Concordia plastered with campaign posters. The usual and mundane device of handing out flyers to uninterested students around escalators proved to be a less-than-inspiring thing to watch, to say the least.
A member from either slate has still yet to show up at one of my creative writing workshops to reach out to me. Or actually try to talk to me somewhere other than by an escalator—that isn’t working by the way–when I am obviously headed to class.
Is this really the best that you can do, student leaders? If you really want change, you should start with your campaigning. For starters—and you know who you are—change up your layout from last year’s election poster so it’s not apparent you are the same, exact student union clones.
These campaigns aren’t all about the posters; don’t let that be all you see during this election. This campaign is also about the people behind the gloss—and speculative liberal use of Photoshop by one slate.
You don’t get a face-recognition image beside your vote. Get to know who wants your vote and ask why they deserve it. Ask what they will do with it.
Instead of spending time trying to out-campaign the other team by handing out useless pieces of paper—that are both expensive and destructive to the environment—break out of your bubble and demand that students listen to what you believe in.
It’s what you’re there for. Use your voice. Unlock your slate’s Facebook wall.
We, the students, the deciding body of politics at this school, have the power to do nothing when it comes to elections. We also have the power to do something and ensure the integrity of our student union. We have the power to ask questions that matter to us and bring up issues that are on our minds.
So what are you waiting for?
—Ashley Opheim,
Fringe Arts Editor
