While students wait patiently for the results of this week’s student elections, here are some pertinent facts.
The webvote poll that closed at 9 a.m. this morning was for elections to the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) Board of Directors. Last year, the overall voter turnout for this election was 18.83 per cent, or 3050 out of 16796 eligible undergraduate voters at the time. This is compared to 20.9 per cent in 2012 (3410 students), which was considered roughly average or slightly better than based on previous years’ polls that had been conducted with paper ballots.
The polls for student elections to the university Board of Governors and university Senate are still live at webvote.uvic.ca until 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 7.
The UVSS board votes on policy and disbursement of society funds for things like clubs, course unions, campaigns, and events. While any member of the board can put forward motions, influence the course of discussion, and vote against other directors’ motions, only the five executive positions are paid. The chairperson and executive directors of events, student affairs, external relations, and finance and operations are each paid $29 184 annually before taxes or benefits. Together with the 11 volunteer directors-at-large and constituency representatives from the Society for Students with a Disability, Students of Colour Collective, Native Students’ Union, Pride Collective, and Women’s Centre, they meet about twice monthly to report on their activities and vote on student society decisions (usually every second Monday in the Upper Lounge). The directors also sit on committees, many of which are open for any student to attend and contribute to, that help the board learn best courses of action on things like renovations, clubs, finance, and policy. The execs also frequently work with the full-time UVSS staff, including General Manager Dale Robertson, Support and Administrative Services Manager Al Bishop, and Research and Communications Co-ordinator Ben Johnson, in completing their day-to-day duties.
There are two slates this election, and one independent candidate running without a slate. Slates are basically groups of candidates who agree on enough platform ideas that they wish to support each other’s election and perhaps work together in office. Vision UVic went into the polls with one candidate for each exec position and 10 director-at-large candidates. Link UVic put forward candidates for all exec positions except for finance and operations, and has five candidates for director-at-large. Casey Lazar ran independently for executive director of events.
The Martlet looks forward to reporting the results of the student elections as soon as they are released.
Thank you for your patience.
