Confluence Official CNCSU Publication
APRIL 29, 2014
END OF SPRING SEMESTER THE BARRY McKINNON CHAPBOOK
AWARDS
The
JOHN HARRIS FICTION AWARDS
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SUSTAINABILITY SHOWCASE
Ryan Urban White Editor-in-Chief
You’ve done it, you’ve finally done it. School is out, exams are done, or close to done, and the summer time is barreling upon us. This is the time of the year to embrace the sun, go have some fun, create some memories, travel abroad, eat pizza in your underpants, and meet new friends. Now, I am sure that a large majority of the student body will not be relieved until their final grades are in, but it is important to remember that whatever the grade, you students know more than you previously did before starting the school year and that is pretty awesome. For those of you in programs that are still continuing, such as anyone in trades, ESL, etc.., you’re coming through that home stretch. Don’t lose sight of what is important and keep on working hard. It will pay off.
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In other news, the College of New Caledonia’s End-of-SchoolYear party went into full swing on the 25th of February. The night celebrated the success of the students and the school year and continued to encourage the sense community within the student body that the Prince George campus is famous for. Of course, the event featured DJ Obi, who is by far one of the best DJ’s in Prince George, and a hardy supply of free pizza. For you writers, The Confluence will continue printing during the summer intersession on a monthly basis until the beginning of the 2014 fall semester where we will go back to our typical bi-weekly issue. That being said, we need stories over the summer to continue printing. If you do anything interesting over the summer, write or photograph it and we will be more than happy to consider publishing your material. Have a great summer and go cause some trouble.
A Warm Welcome
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
The Confluence and the College of New Caledonia’s English Program would like to introduce Dr. Charity Matthews, who has accepted a probationary full-time appointment teaching English. Dr. Matthews completed her Doctor of Philosophy in English Studies at the University of British Columbia in 2013 and brings expertise in Canadian culture and literature, Eco-Feminist theory and literature as well as First Nations literature, an area she is currently researching. Her arrival is good news for the English program as her expertise only increases the likelihood of developing ones own knowledge base. Dr. Matthews has previously taught at CNC in the College and Career Preparation program (CCP), in the Aboriginal Resource Centre (ARC), in University Transfer English, and at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). The CNC English program is excited to welcome Dr. Matthews as a full-time colleague, and the Prince George writing community is encouraged to sign up for her courses. If you need an English credit next semester, see the CNC course schedule for specific listings and enroll in one of her classes. You will not be disappointed.
Comfort Zone Blood Drive Last Day of Classes
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The Confluence is produced biweekly at the CNCSU office on CNC’s Prince George campus by Ryan White and Harman Dandiwal. Submissions, inquiries and requests can be made to news@cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC V2N1P8. All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication. Advertisement rates are available upon request. Ryan Urban White
Harman Dandiwal
Editor-in-Chief, The Confluence
Production Editor, The Confluence
Sustainability Showcase Farmer’s Market
SPN Selling Pizza n Pop
Vote Count Farmers’ Market
SPN Selling Pizza n Pop
3rd Annual SKI TRIP
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Exams
Exams
IMPORTANT DATES 30 April 2014: A reminder that this is the last day to return your locks for your deposit refund. To avoid penalties or confusion, check your locker for any paperwork to ensure correct dates. Locks can be returned to the Student Union during office hours. 19 May 2014: The Student Union Office will be closed for Victoria Day so go out and enjoy the May long-weekend as you see fit. Regular business hours will resume the following workday. 24 May 2014: Convocation Day. The Confluence news team and the Student Union would like to give a hardy congratulation to all those who are graduating. All that is left for you to do now is to walk out these doors and make the world a better place. Good luck.
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School’s OUT
Joseph Cunningham (Evenings dull, bland, teeming with anguish.) (Vitality falling from my grasp.) (Slithering from my lips the soft whisper of a sigh.) (Memories plague my mind dancing among the room as apparitions.) (As fast as it began, it ended.) (My conscience feeling tinkered. My hands raddle uncontrollable and violent.) (Insecurity oozes from my pores.)
Fear...
(I feel it run the length of my face, gradually slow then savagely taken by gravity plunging to my shirt.)
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(The urge to flee overcomes instinct to stay.) (As if I am thrust off my sofa, my legs raise me up only to fall into a fast approaching blackness.) (Evenings dull, bland, deeply clouded.)
ARLAN GOODVIN
SPACED
OUT
Editorial Note: Enjoy some well composed prose poetry about the greatest of astronomical philosophy, that of space and our thoughts about it.
We are immeasurably extended in time and space. We form the material universe, the cosmic ebb and flow. This is all revealed with purpose and unfolds with systematic exposition; a demonstration of this inescapable cosmic process. We are the substance of substances. We are constituent elements. We are vital components. We are raw matter. We are stardust.
ARLAN GOODVIN
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Coasting stately, effortlessly through the Sun’s prominence becoming our magnificence. Without these bright badges, brilliant buttons, and dazzling décor of heavenly bodies as twinkling slogans advertising themselves on a black canvas, we’d be sailing alone amidst black seas of infinity. The boundless, endless, unlimited, unforgiving, exceedingly great nature and extent of outer space. Tantalizing us, provoking us, taunting us, frustrating us, tempting us, enticing us to step outside our fraction of a dot. We must take direct aim with our sight and strive to take flight far out into the uncharted black waters, that is our target. Our imagination is already waiting for us, beckoning us. It’s only a matter of time before we find the necessary strand of knowledge and erupt into space. You say, “impossible”, while impossible says, “I’m possible.”
RADIO: THE FINAL FRONTIER
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by : Garrett Perry and Karl Wyssen
Editor Note: Please find below the insatiable writing of Garrett Perry and Karl Wyssen, two Prince George residents who write about each other so that they may share their love of Canadian Rock with the masses of listeners. Garrett and Karl prove on a weekly basis that radio is not dead, and it is our duty as music lovers to ensure that it is not buried alive.
CFUR at the university right above the Thirsty Moose and 2nd Thoughts located on Second and Brunswick. The original idea for the album was to feature purely local, small town B.C. artists and friends that both Garrett and Karl had made over the years. As the project progressed and was getting close to completion they found a new confidence and decided to ask a few bigger names to be attached to the album. “First on the list of hopefuls was Chilliwack,” Garrett recounts. “It was at Chilliwacks concert in 2013 when we were first introduced to community radio. We were sitting front row, and the person beside me was telling me about how he heard about the concert through community radio station CFIS. I don’t know why, but community radio really captured my imagination.” Don’t fret; this isn’t the top for Garrett and Karl. Sometime this fall they are planning to release a second compilation album having already agreed to feature Jaegerbone, Komodo Wagon, Whiskey Fingers and Scott Dunbar. “Keep on rocking in the free world.” - Neil Young. Want to enquire about volunteering, listen to radio online, or see how you can qualify for your own radio show? Visit www.cfur.ca
Pictured: A Radio Listener
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MUSIC SHOWCASE
Two small town boys hailing from Kitwanga B.C. have come to the big city of Prince George to revitalize community radio by providing a show filled with ups, downs, good ol’ rock and roll and a couple of burps here and there. With little more than an idea and an unprecedented enthusiasm for radio, D.J. Garrett Perry made his way to Prince George’s community radio station 93.1 CFISfm and pitched his show idea: Classic Canadian Rock. With a 100% Canadian playlist fitting in with the demands of the CRTC nicely, program director Reg Feyer gave the green light for the show. Recorded out of their home, Classic Canadian Rock is hosted by Garrett Perry and Karl Wyssen and airs on 93.1 CFISfm Thursdays at 10 p.m. With one show not enough to cure the two D.J.’s insatiable lust for radio, they soon found themselves at the door of the university station, CFUR. To become volunteers at CFUR they had to complete a few steps before being let on the air. Eventually they syndicated Classic Canadian Rock (Thursdays at 7 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m.) and let Garrett and Karl do a new show, this time live in a studio. Playing a majority of the music on vinyl, Garrett and Karl 2000 airs live Mondays at 7 p.m. with repeat broadcasts Fridays at 7 a.m. As if being on the radio wasn’t enough in itself, the duo had an idea of making a C.D. in the format of their radio programs. Classic Canadian Rock is the name of a compilation album featuring local Prince George talent such as Meat Monster, Mike Vigano, Mathias Rock and Phos. The album also includes many artists from all across B.C., like Blind Vinyl, Brad Reddekopp and Theresa Forsyth, Playback, Mama Guroove, Fifteen to Freedom, Joe Daniels, Karl Wyssen, B.C.s best teen band of 2013 The Racket, Rachelle van Zanten and Chilliwack. Along with Chilliwack the album also features two bands from the 70’s hailing from Ontario: Heat Exchange and Goddo. This project was put together as a fundraiser with 100% of all proceeds benefiting both of Prince George’s community stations 88.7 CFUR radio and 93.1 CFISfm. Albums are available now for only ten dollars at Studio 2880 on 15th ave,
by : Shane Darroch
The 9th annual Barry McKinnon Chapbook Awards was held on April 12 at the Twisted Cork. The event was hosted and organized by Andrew Kenway with help from Matt Partyka. The crowd, although small, was comprised of dedicated poetry aficionados. The readers at this event included longtime fan favorites as well as new and upcoming writers. The poems were well read, the drinks flowed liberally, and a good time was had by all. The night started with the very caucasian Kenway busting out some sick rhymes in his rendition of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” with Ryan White accompanying him on the keyboard; the musical number was then followed by Kenway’s opening statement. The first poet to read was Ryan White; his poem “Cariboo” had a wonderfully melancholy tone and spoke of conflicting emotions while journeying through Mexico and upon returning to Prince George. The next reader, Shane Darroch, continued upon the theme of travel; his poems articulated a message of isolation and detachment despite being surrounded by people. In quite possibly his last reading in Prince George, at least for a while, Garett Svensen read a set of three
poems from two chapbooks. His poem “Empiricism” opened with a powerful image: “Modern mental colonialism/ Plants a flag in your mind”, and left us with a hopeful message, “the truth/ That is yours and yours alone./ Your perfect observable reality.” At her first reading, Shannon Hornick, made us all laugh with her innuendo laden poem “Nice Ride” about a Harley Davison. Paul Stricklend also delivered a powerful performance. His strong political message reminds us that we must struggle to keep our humanity in a world that seems to only value our labor. The last person to read was Penny Douglas; her poem “Leather Jacket” provided a darkly humorous insight into the male gaze. Before the winners were announced, Matt Partyka delivered his keynote address. A loving tribute to the man, Barry McKinnon, who has labored tirelessly to foster a poetry culture in Prince George: “What
McKinnon is after is a poem that will convey the vicissitudes of life with utmost clarity and simultaneity of thought and expression. The poem is the journey and not about the journey.” The night concluded, as you might expect, with the announcement of the winners. Brianna Ireland won the award for best poetry by a First Nations author from Northern BC. Her poems address several issues facing First Nations people; these residential schools, the highway of tears, and life on the reservation. Her writing was powerful and thought provoking. Finally, the winner of the Barry McKinnon Chapbook award was Paulina Nielson for her trilogy of books entitled
The Second Breath, The Silvered Breath and The Swallowed Breath. Her reading included some powerful poems such as “The Generator Cabaret”, “Splitting Hairs” and “Driveway Girl” which left us with the haunting line “Digging you nails into one good moment.” After the event, Paulina said, “I appreciate the support for the writing community and it’s an honor to be in such good company.” I would like to thank Barry McKinnon for being the inspiration behind this event, The Twisted Cork for always being a gracious host and everyone who submitted. Furthermore, I would like to point out that all Chapbook submissions are available at the College of New Caledonia library.
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THE BARRY McKINNON CHAPBOOK AWARDS: A ROUND UP
MASH-UP
JOHN HARRIS
FICTION AWARDS
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Editor’s Note: It is a rare occurrence when I get two submissions that cover the same event. I decided to do a mash-up of the two articles rather than go with my original plan which encouraged the writers to fight in a combat-pit for their publishing rights. When an AK or a GP is used, it is referring to the writings of Andrew Kenway or Graham Pearce respectively.
GP: For a general overview, on April 10th, 2014, the 5th Annual John Harris Fiction Awards was held in room 1-306 at the College of New Caledonia (Prince George campus). The John Harris Award celebrates the life and work of John Harris, a dynamic writer and constant source
of support and inspiration to young writers. CNC alumni, Shane Darroch hosted the Awards, and Ryan White, the Editor-In-Chief of The Confluence, alongside Jaypee Muldoe opened the night with a banjo and spirited singing. Jocelyn Coupland read from “Starpunch and Cryo,” which was handed out in chapbook format at the event; Kael Walske read from “The Last Dream,” a science fiction short story; and Dennis Schreiner, CNC English Instructor, asserted his authorial presence in an inspired reading from his novel, Kate Carlo. Jordan B. Kinder, Northern Lights College English Instructor, gave the keynote address, and John Harris gave a talk on the Prince George poetry war, specifically the rise of the postcolonialists in academia and the sanitization of Western thought. AK: To be more specific, the show opened with an introduction by Shane Darroch who provided a review of John Harris’ work, which appropriately framed the evening. He discussed topics associated with John Harris and the importance of the award in relation to the writing community. The awards then continued with the banjo and acoustic stylings of Whiskey Fingers, a two-man string band composed of Ryan White and Jaypee Muldoe. It set an unusual and intriguing tone and captured the audience’s attention with ease.
While you generally wouldn’t be opening a reading of fiction with acoustic guitar, a banjo and songs about tobacco and backyard airplanes, the John Harris Awards made it clear that this was not the expected dull affair. Following the band were the stars of the evening, the writers. Jocelyn Coupland’s unique superhero fiction took a self-reflexive view of the genre’s recent turn towards dark material. The story was a sexually charged review of her original created superhero conflicts which reminds one of the light-hearted fun of the golden-age of comics. While breaking the facade of nostalgia with extreme realism in terms of super-villain and superhero troubles, Coupland managed to highlight the absurdity of the situation by discussing wardrobe troubles and situations where a low-level supervillain might have to haggle over $450 in toonies. Kael Walske’s excerpt from his sci-fi fantasy was successful and examined the immense significance of fantasy and juxtaposition. His reading was practiced and paced to build a connection between the characters and the audience. It showed a powerful ability to put the
characters before the lore while letting them draw out the stories in an intriguing manner. It was all about building an oppressive air with strict house hold laws and it read beautifully. Before his reading, Dennis Schreiner took a moment to put writing into three categories: That of what he knows (which he considered his smallest category), that of the ego driven 20’s and that of the writers surrender to pulp fiction. His intense opening showed a cool and practised experience with the writings of human interaction, especially that of the physical. The descriptions of his characters movements, even in heated conversation, seemed not only believable, but natural. Overall, his reading was energetic and enthralling. CNC alumni, Jordan Kinder, served as the keynote speaker, illustrating not just his opinion of John Harris, but how his work has affected others. With his focus on Harris’ humour and lack of poetics, he built the blocks that reinforce Harris as a quintessential Canadian author and human being. The lack of distance between Harris and his reader is especially emphasized and Jordan discussed John Harris’
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by : Andrew Kenway and Graham Pearce
GP: From 37 entries, Mercedes Minck, a first year University Transfer student at the College of New Caledonia, won the 5th Annual John Harris Fiction Award and $1000 for her short story, “Futureshopping with Gordon.” Minck’s story features biting satire and generational insight: “Gordon looked up at the Future Shop sign, a sign that had inspired so much hope in his efforts to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. While other people went on Instagram and posed with fancy cars and pretended their lives didn’t suck, Gordon was at a place, no a store, that promised the future.” Highly imaginative and stylistically confident, Minck’s reading was fun, dynamic, and unlike anything that has ever been submitted to the Harris Award. Betsy Trumpener’s “The Sound You Call a Scream,” an experimental narrative about a child’s experiences with lawyers, courts, and therapists was the runner-up. Nicole Morgan, a CNC Social Work student, won the award for Best Fiction by A First Nations author from Northern BC. Morgan’s untitled work centres on a young woman recovering from childhood trauma. The CNC Aboriginal Resource
Centre awarded Morgan $400. AK: The 7th Annual John Harris Fiction award was a night of music, laughter, vital discourse and great company. With an impressive line-up of readers so full of personality, a great key-note speech from Jordan Kinder, John Harris’ condemnation of the assassins of intellectual thought and interesting stories, and two amazing winners, no one can call the awards anything but a complete success. GP: If anyone is interested in literary events at CNC, please contact me at pearceg@cnc.bc.ca.
JORDI HAMILTON
SCOURGE OF THE MASKED In the mists, a fire roared Unpleasant wheezing chords Acid rain falling down Hissing as it struck the ground Plumes of smoke kept rising Under the orange and seeping red Of a bleeding sky; The sun was falling, Dying, leeched by a frivolous spirit. As lightening lit the shadows Of the twisting winds Both moved as one, on a vengeful path Shredding through every last stitch Of humanity And the people cried out in brooding silence, None wary of another’s pain. All assumed that they were the one
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work as a humour that is not racist, sexist or reactionary. He summed up much of his talk on John Harris’ use of humour in his work with a joke from Slavoj Zizek: “Humour is risky, and it places faith in the reader’s competence and intelligence.” John Harris’ speech opened with his observations on the poetry war, commenting that poetry wars are not just allowable, but natural. To Harris, disagreement and discourse is essential for the purpose of entertaining the reader. What do readers want? John believes in telling readers about serious situations in a fashion that reveals their comic side. During the reading, he said bluntly, “If you are rational you see life as comic, if you are emotional you see it as tragic.” He further explained that people have ethical agendas for art, commenting that, “The part of the audience with an ethical agenda is dead.” From his perspective, the moral majority has concerns with language and content that are not fueled by critical thought, but by mainline Christian and capitalist values. To summarize Harris’ discourse, if you try to shock the moral majority or attempt to appease them by changing your values, you’re ‘fucking finished’ in terms of your writing. By vocally dismantling a narrow-minded view and explaining why his writing works, Harris summed up his speech, and what is wrong with modern academia.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” came the impatient knocking on his apartment door. Joe opened it hesitantly, and three officers of the Personal Responsibility Police pushed their way in with an official, regulation rocking chair. “We have reports from members of the community that you aren’t working and you haven’t yet reached the age of sixty-five – the traditional statutory age of retirement,” said Officer Dort Geneve.
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by :Paul Strickland
Editor’s Note: Here is a short story from one of Prince George’s talented writers, Paul Strickland. On a weekly basis, Paul wades through the murky depths which constitute Canadian law and social norms in regards to the blatant disregard for ageism and work-related issues. If you ever see Paul in the streets, be sure to tell him to “give’em hell.”
“That’s against the regulations. You know that.” “But I’m starting a new career as a self-employed freelance writer,” Joe responded. “Show us your income-tax return proving you received most of your income this year from your so-called self-employment,” Officer Geneve said.
“It’s in the mail to Revenue Canada,” Joe said. “Likely story!” Officer Geneve growled. “I also advise college and university students about writing,” Joe added. “How much money do you make from that?” Officer Geneve demanded. “It’s mostly volunteer right now,” Joe admitted. “I also . . . “ “Don’t waste our time,” Officer Geneve interrupted. “You’re just one of these freeloading boomers relying on society to support you and draining the nation’s resources.”
They untied him, but Officer Geneve warned, “Don’t come back into town pretending you’re not retired, if you know what’s good for you – if you get my drift.” The officers left as quickly as they had arrived. Joe rocked back and forth in the chair. It was a warm, sunny late spring day. Joe liked the opportunity to speak to the horses, the cows and the ranch dogs. At least they listened past the first five words of whatever he had to say.
Officer Geneve ordered Deputy Officer Knox Dundee and Deputy Officer Luther Mather to push Joe down into the rocking chair and strap him into place. Then they carried the rocking chair out of the apartment, as Officer Geneve closed and locked the door to the suite. The three continued down the stairs and out to a flatbed truck in the parking lot. The three officers chained the rocking chair down on the deck so it wouldn’t move while the truck was being driven out of town. With Officer Geneve at the wheel, they sped out to a pasture and, on arriving, carried Joe in the rocking chair well out into the middle of the luxuriantly grassy land.
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ROCKING-CHAIR RIDE
Asked for his resignation, Joe went home to start a new phase of his career as a self-employed freelance writer. He also joined Scribes Unanimous, sponsored by the public library, for the chance to try out writing fiction and have his short stories evaluated by fellow members. In addition, he participated in poetry readings in the community. On top of that, he advised some college and university students about his writing techniques and about how to build a writing career.
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by :Marv West
BRINGING THE CHANGE
SUSTAINABILITY
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by : Garett Svensen
What does sustainability mean to you? We asked this question to the hundreds of students at CNC during the 3rd annual Sustainability Showcase. We at the CNC Students’ Union were overwhelmed with the response: hundreds of suggestions, meaningful quotes and helpful bits of advice were given to us, and shown to the world as leaves on our recycled sustainability tree. Matching the student interest in guaranteeing a sustainable future were the exhibitors who provided solutions for making the sustainable dream real. Exhibitors ranged from the political, like the Stand Up for the North Committee who were holding a forum on sustainable logging, to the practical, like the City of PG’s plan for improving bus service in town with an express route. Advocacy and research groups like REAPS, PGPIRG and CNCSU provided solutions and alternatives to non-sustainable products. REAPS provided a list of recyclers in Prince George for almost every conceivable consumer product. PGPIRG showed off a sustainable biofuel energy source made from sawmill waste. CNCSU provided free reusable water bottles to help curb the use of bottled water on campus. The most pragmatic advocates for sustainability were to be found in the CNC Farmer’s Market vendors. Products ranged from upcycled arm warmers made by CNC’s very own Julia Whittaker, to a range of locally produced spice mixes, to many small businesses providing unique products and services in Prince George. Judging from the range of community involvement, student interest and a cornucopia of great ideas on how to operate in a sustainable fashion, the future is looking bright and green.
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SHOWCASE
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SUSTAINABILITY
Student Q&A: Democracy Edition Q: What was your role in the election? My role as a Student Elections Officer was to check the student names list and student identity cards while giving the ballot(s) to the eligible voters, all while making sure they ticked their choice(s) and put their ballot within the ballot box. My other roles were getting the students attention by making them aware of the elections, which included answering any questions any voter had. I also participated in the counting of the votes and also went through the final electoral report to make sure there weren’t any mistakes. Q: Was the election enjoyable for you? Yes, the election was enjoyable for me. The whole atmosphere was nice and playing good music made the process lively. Most importantly, I think the music helped attract many people who didn’t know about the election to come and vote, so that was a good idea. Q: What did you think of the by-election? The by-election and the whole process before it were very interesting. The fact that both candidates tied at the Prince George campus and the Quesnel campus was unusual. It showed that both candidates had done a great job with their campaigning by making people know about the election. As for the by-election, although it lasted for only a day, there was still a good voter turnout. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I’m glad to be a part of it. Q: What’s your view on democracy? (Why do you think it is important?) Democracy, which is demonstrated in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, is important because including everyone in a society or organization to participate in deciding the future of that society is a good thing. Most times, people want their opinion to be heard, and that’s what democracy does. In democracy, everyone’s opinion matters. As per the elections, every vote matters because at the end, one vote can make a difference. Q: Why do you think students should vote? I think students should vote because they have the right to participate in choosing the people to represent them in advocating several matters. First of all, I think students should know that the roles of the Student Union Officers aren’t focused on student governance, but on student advocacy. So, students should vote to determine those people who would always support their causes or interests. Q: What do you think would increase student turnout at voting booths? I think publicizing the elections for a month or two before it begins would increase student turnout at the voting booths. When publicizing the elections, the students should be made aware of the reason why they need to vote, why their vote counts, and the roles of the elected officers. If people don’t know why they should vote, then they won’t be inspired to vote.
by : Kenechukwu Obi