Reaction to Action

LettersMelanie Thompson — Published March 29, 2011

Over the past two weeks of CSU campaigning, I’ve grown increasingly disgusted that a team that evidently prides themselves on their “actions” has been displaying a complete lack of respect towards Concordia students.

It has become clear to me that Action doesn’t care about student representation; they care only about winning. Beginning with poster night, they showed that they are unable to carry themselves with the sincerity and integrity that union representatives should possess. Arrogantly assuming endorsements from members of the Concordia community only further highlights their view that this is a popularity contest more than an election.
We don’t need a CSU that is content with throwing parties and staying out of the important issues. Looking at the Action slate through a critical lens, I can’t see them being anything more than that, regardless of what they say. We also definitely don’t need a CSU that is happy to be elected through shady campaigning rather than because students believe in them.

Not to mention the clear fact that Action is a reincarnation of Fusion (…and Vision) – and we all know what a great job they’ve done. They can distance themselves all they want, but anyone who has ever read a student paper can tell that they are exactly the current CSU.

The Your Concordia slate has, on the other hand, demonstrated a true concern with what students think. They’ve spent their time during campaigns building actual relationships with students at this school, rather than just yelling to vote for them. I believe they will actually maintain this dialogue with students after being elected, and that they really will change the notoriously toxic nature of Concordia politics.

I take the protest outside The Link as a very clear hint at what we can expect next year if Action is elected. Their enemy is the informed student, and they demonstrated that by trying to silence the media, by keeping their Facebook page private and by keeping all their YouTube videos closed to comments. This total censorship makes it pretty plain that they don’t care to hear what students think.

I’m tired of student “politicians” walking around with a sense of entitlement. The CSU should not be elected based on who has louder friends or who makes the most empty promises, and I really hope things change this time around. That’s why I’m voting for Your Concordia.

—Melanie Thompson,
Communication Studies

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 28, published March 29, 2011.