Archive for ‘SGA’

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March 23, 2012

SGA election results: Park Radio heard loud and clear, Rolling with Rollins gains traction, and Shook’s four-prong approach wins out

By Ed Veilleux

The SGA executive will have a new twist with a touch of the old for next year.

The ballots are counted and the results are in for the SGA elections at Laurentian University.

Newly-elected SGA President Andy Rollins, VP Issues Jarrod Shook and returning VP Services Iain Park will make up next year’s executive.

The ballot counting started just after 7 p.m. and, by just after 6:10 a.m., the SGA election officials had counted the eighteenth and final polling station.

In total, 914 people voted, equaling roughly 17.9 per cent of the SGA population. Quorum (the amount of votes needed to make the election results official) for the SGA election is 15 per cent, or roughly 765 votes. Having tallied 914 votes, the election results will stand.

The presidential race heated up with 596 votes counted (13 of the 18 polling stations), as SGA presidential candidate Andy Rollins took a 160-vote lead.

Steve Sutherland, the second presidential candidate, made up some ground when the fourteenth station was counted, closing the gap to 114.

But, in the end, Rollins held on to the lead 460-to-327.

The VP issues race was neck-and-neck right to the end, as Jarrod Shook totaled 253 votes, edging Nathan Knott by 32, and Olivia Coady by 46.

The VP Services race was a landslide victory for incumbent Iain Park, as he took home nearly double the votes of his nearest competitor.

McKenna Elsasser  took home top votes for a senator at 406, and never looked back after taking an early lead. Chloe Mirfield took the second senator seat with 364 votes. The third, and final, seat was snatched by Chris MacCulloagh with 318 votes, narrowly edging Sarah Williams (273 votes).

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Official final numbers:

FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT:

ROLLINS, ANDY          460

SUTHERLAND, STEVE  327

FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT ISSUES:

COADY, OLIVIA     207

KIRAGA, JOEY        132

KNOTT, NATHAN GREGORY    221

SHOOK, JARROD  253

FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT SERVICES:

DAVIDSON, KIRSTEN   172

LAPLANTE KELSEY       138

LEBLANC, CAROLYN    65

PARK, IAIN                   332

SUTTON, TOM             140

FOR THE OFFICE OF SENATOR:
ELSASSER, McKENNA  406
MacCULLOAGH, CHRIS  318
MIRFIELD, CHLOË   364

SYLVESTRE, ALLEN  142
WILLIAMS, SARAH    273

REFERENDUM:
YES   518 - NO  352

914 VOTES COUNTED

The numbers have yet to be validated; these results are unofficial until further validation by the SGA.

Posted in News, SGA | 6 Comments »

March 22, 2012

Pride set for referendum

By Matt Rabey 

The mandatory number of signatures was collected to signify 10 percent of the Laurentian University student population being in favour of a new $1 per student incidental fee to fund the Laurentian University Pride Office.

James Spires, Vice President of Pride at Laurentian University explains the importance of this new referendum.

“(This referendum) is important because our office is open to everyone, gay and straight. We host events for the gay community and the straight community and are open to any members as long as they are respectful and they believe in what the club tries to promote: diversity and tolerance.”

The President of Pride LU, Jesse Depatie, added: “Our offices and the resources that we offer are all inclusive to anybody and they are there for anybody who needs a safe space. It is another opportunity for people to come and be themselves and not get judged.”

read more »

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March 18, 2012

SGA candidates in their own words

(PRESIDENT)

(Note: All information submitted via email by candidates. It is unedited.)

-Andy Rollins

In my four years as a Laurentian student, I have always been extremely passionate about making students’ quality of living better! As a Residence Assistant in my third year, I helped the residents of the complex deal with a variety of issues while living on their own. I am currently working as the Residence Program Coordinator where I am responsible for organizing community events for all 1400 students living on campus. One of the events I was responsible for overseeing was the ninth annual “Airbandz 4 Cancer”, where the Laurentian community broke the fundraising goal and raised 21,000 dollars for cancer research. As a current SGA board member, I have firsthand experience with how the association works. Through all of this, I realize that the Laurentian population is capable of remarkable things; I WILL work hard advocating, uniting, and supporting the students to show the potential our amazing school has.

-Steve Sutherland

My name is Steve Sutherland, and I am running for the position of President in the upcoming SGA/AGE Election. I am a 4th year Political Science student, however, this is my first year in Sudbury, as I was at the Barrie campus for the two years previous. I like to participate in a lot of different events, both on the fun side, and the serious side when need be. I have experience in doing this job, having been President in Barrie last year, and I know how to bring ALL students together. I think that together, we can all build a better association, and I’ve got a few ideas on how to do that, and I’m sure many of you do as well, so let’s work together, and see if we can improve life for everyone here at Laurentian University. Remember who really runs this university… L-WHO? L-YOU.

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March 13, 2012

SGA elections information

Elections take place March 21 and March 22, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at most polling stations.

Here are a list of candidates:
-Presidential candidates:
Charlie Andrews, Andy Rollins and Steve Sutherland.
-VP (of issues) candidates:
Olivia Coady, Kimberly Hempell, Joey Kiraga, Nathan Gregory Knott and Jarrod Shook.-VP (of services) candidates :
Kirsten Davidson, Kelsey Laplante, Carolyn Leblanc, Iain Park, Tom Sutton
-Senator candidates [students can vote for three]:
McKenna Elsser, Chris MacCulloagh, Chloë Mirfield, Allen Sylvestre, Sarah Williams

Here are some dates to remember:

Advance polls are on March 19.
Students can vote by special ballot in the SGA office until March 20.
March 13 at 5 p.m. is the candidates open house in West res, W-130.

To hear the candidates debate:
Candidates debate March 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Alumni hall.
The second debate will be held March 20 at 11:30 a.m. in the Great Hall.

To hear the candidates on CKLU:
VP candidates will be interviewed March 14 at noon.
Presidential candidates will be interviewed March 19 at noon.

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March 13, 2012

LU Black History month events to be held in March

By Matt Rabey 

Black History month is traditionally held every February and is recognised by Canada, The United States and Great Britain.

This year, cultural affairs commissioner Precious Gambrah is one of the main organizers behind the events planned for Black History month. Gambrah said, in regards to the timing: “The reason why black history isn’t in February, but in March, is because of the work schedule. (SGA President) Charlie’s and mine weren’t equivalent, which made it hard for us to plan things during that month. Also, many students had exams and reading week. I am not saying that Black History month at Laurentian will always be in the month of March, but this year was started late due to some unforeseen circumstances.”

Some of the events planned this year will include a coffee house night with African art on display and singing. Also to be featured during March will be a movie night where historically-important films pertaining to black history will be screened.

Also contributing to the organization of this year’s events is Vice-President of Services Iain Park. The VP brought the three-time Stylus Award winning dance hall dj, Dj Spex, to a capacity crowd at the Pub Down Under on Feb. 28.

He had this to say: “Black History month is a celebration of culture that helps diversify campus. This year could have been better,

but every event that you throw is a learning experience and we did grow from last year and we will continue to grow in the future.”

Park will also be bringing Canadian band The Weekend to the Caruso Club on March 20.

Working together with Gambrah on some of this year’s black history events is SGA president Charlie Andrews.

“The SGA in the past hasn’t been committed to celebrating Black History month, so it is excellent that we have Precious,” Andrews said. “We’ve been working together to create diverse events to bring the community together to celebrate black history by taking part in art, talks and activities including an African drums workshop with Isaac Akrong from York University.”

The drum circle has limited space and will be held at the cafeteria on March 5.

The Canadian government, since December 1995, has officially recognized Black History month. The history that it honours is very important to all Canadians as Gambrah says: “Many people are able to learn about the history that contributed to where Canada is today. Everyone needs to be aware of how the past has shaped the present and how it will shape the future. Learning the history is important and the events hosted at Laurentian University provide students with a way to be active through their contribution.”

lambda@laurentian.ca

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