Woroni: Election Edition, 2013 by Woroni

Artwork: Eric Chan

Who, What, When, Where, Why

How to Vote

Who are You Voting For?

CASSANDRA WILKINSON

LILLIAN WARD

ANUSA and NUS Elections begin on Monday August 26 and end on Thursday August 29. Voting is completed through two ballots in the Refectory next to Union Court.

THE ANU Student Association (ANUSA) is the representative body for students of the ANU with a mandate to advocate for students and provide them with services. This ANUSA election many of the candidates have run unopposed but there are some contested positions including one executive position, Education Officer, as well as the College Representative of Engineering and Computer Science, International Officer, Queer* Officer, and General Representative positions. Running parallel to the ANUSA elections are those for the National Union of Students (NUS). Candidates elected for NUS will attend the NUS conference in an attempt to represent the interests of ANU students in a national forum responsible for national student representation. The ANUSA Education Officer is responsible for advocating for students at the ANU education committee in an attempt to deliver excellent and

The polling times are: Mon Aug 26 11am - 4:30pm Tues Aug 27 12 - 6:30pm Wed Aug 28 10:30am - 3:30pm Thu Aug 29 10:30am - 12:30pm, 1:30 - 4:30pm Votes are counted by an optional preferential system, with two alterations; votes for candidates voted after the primary round are distributed and votes distributed by preference are distributed on a diminishing scale.

accessible education for students in all Colleges. The Education Officer is the ultimate student authority in campaigning for improvements in courses, degree structures and teaching quality.

Candidates elected for NUS will attend the NUS conference to represent the interests of ANU students in a national forum responsible for national student representation. College Representatives, such as the College Representative for Engineering and Computer

Science, liaise between students and faculty of their colleges and the rest of ANUSA. They report to the Education officer and work to further the educational opportunities of students in their colleges. The International and the Queer* Officer are the head of the International Students Department and the Queer* Department respectively. Departments are inclusive bodies that represent all their constituents. Their roles are to advocate for and serve their community and represent their interests to the university through ANUSA. The General Representatives of ANUSA assist the members of the executive and the college representatives in their projects. The General Representative role is relatively undefined which allows them to purse independent student advocacy as well as work to further the aims of the association.

Why Vote?

ANNIKA HUMPHREYS

SOME of you may have heard that a number of positions for ANUSA 2014 were filled last week, but a number of other representatives, including those running for General Representative, National Union of Students (NUS) delegate or Education Officer, have not yet been elected. This is where you as a student can change the game. Election week, with Union Court full of colour unlike any other time of the year, is your chance to ask questions of candidates and decide who will represent you and your student experience over the next year. Every single person running for a position has put a significant amount of time in working towards well thought-out and achievable policies. What people often forget is that although there are some positions that have a more directional role within ANUSA, every representative is just as important as the next in contributing to ANUSA running as well as possible. Without hard working General Representatives, new ideas for projects, running events and holding meetings would not be possible. Without Faculty Representatives, ANUSA would not have a point of contact between the academic colleges to monitor proposed changes to our education. The NUS delegates are crucial in providing a voice for the ANU and working on lobbying priorities. It is easy to think that what goes on in the offices looking over Union Court doesn’t affect you and by that extension, there is no need to vote. You are directly involved with ANUSA if you have attended Orientation Week, been along to an event thrown by a club or society, or have participated in academic forums. More commonly and not always as apparent, ANUSA filters throughout the university in other means. If you study at libraries on campus late at night or if you listen to recorded lectures when you miss class, you can do so because past ANUSA representatives have worked incredibly hard to work for students. By not exercising your democratic right to vote in the ANUSA elections, you are losing one opportunity to have your say in what you see as the most important issues facing ANU students. Annika Humphreys is a member of Bounce! and Vice President-Elect 2014.

How to Make a Ticket

SAMANTHA BRADLEY

1. The first step is obviously to find yo-self some fellow ticket members. It is important to remember during your recruitment process that it is not ‘what you know’ but ‘who you know’ that matters. Thus, your ticket should be 30% Burgmann, 10% Johns and 25% other Daley road residents with the exception of Ursies; don’t worry about them. The remaining 40% should be 15% Griffin, 20% well-connected international students, a couple of token UniLodge kids and maybe one from Fenner. Don’t question my maths. I study politics. 2. Throughout your recruitment process you should also keep in mind that, ideally, about 2530% of your ticket should look like catwalk models. 3. About 10-15% should be exceptionally endowed (either upstairs or downstairs, pursuant on the situation). 4. Never say either of the above two points out loud as they are politically incorrect and inappropriate. 5. 10-15% of your ticket should have either famous or rich parents. 6. Everyone else should be popular and well liked on campus and have the capacity to produce quality banter, even when no-one is listening or cares.

7. Be careful that you don’t have too many Arts/Law students on your ticket as well. They shouldn’t exceed 70%. 8. The next step is brainwashing every single person on your ticket into actually giving a shit about student politics and believing your policies. This way they will willingly go out and harass tell their friends about your ticket, well before the actual election. 9. You need a campaign name. This should either be a short and catchy verb (eg. Jump, Stretch, Laugh, Scream, Ejaculate, Energise, Vomit etc…) or a variation on an inanimate object (cotton, gold, ugg-boot, tampon). 10. Now, several months ahead of the actual election you should also go out and order a heap of T-shirts. The colour of these T-shirts is quintessential to the success of your campaign. Lurid and bright colours (yellow, orange, pink, emerald green, royal blue, salmon, puce, maroon, navy) are the best options by far.

Inclusive of vegan, vegetarian, gluten, soy, lactose, sugar and preservative free options.

13. During campaign week, make it the responsibility of every single person on your ticket to personally facebook message, text and email every single one of their friends that go to ANU and instruct them to vote.

14. A high profile Facebook page is a must. You should also get every single person on your ticket to get every single one of their friends to ‘like’ and ‘share’ it.

15. This is only if they still have friends. By this point they have ideally been so pesky that every single person they have ever met on campus is avoiding them like the plague.

16. Post funny videos, photos and memes on said Facebook page. Realistically, this is the only way that anyone is going to look at it.

Finally, camp out in Union Court for a 17. few weeks until people are so worn down by your 11. During campaign week, it will help your cause incessant perkiness that they go and vote in the massively if you recruit a Labrador (preferably a futile hope that you will finally go the fuck away. puppy), and put it in one of the above T-shirts in Union Court. Inform constituents that they are only entitled to a cuddle if they first vote. 12. Ditto if you provide free food to the masses.

An Overview VINCCI LEE

From Deep within Union Court

IT is hard to believe another year has just gone by when it feels like yesterday I just finished campaigning in the freezing, wet and gloomy Union Court. This year, Union Court may look slightly colourless – no more massive pink yarn or goldenyellow stickers around the poles. It may be good news to people who always remember to avoid Union Court one week every year. But having campaigned at Union Court since my first year, I feel sad because campaigning was certainly one of the best parts of my uni life. You may not believe it, but this is a week you can know your university peers better. Some students choose to avoid Union Court in election week, some may even crazily map a route in advance, but quite a number of students do not. In fact, most of our ANU peers are friendly and patient to listen to your advocacy or even go into a deep discussion about a particular issue at the university. The campaign week can also tell you who are your good friends. Most of your good friends would show their support by votes, but some may even come visit and campaign for you. You would certainly get an exclusively big smile from peers running on the same ticket, but fellows on

nation. Perhaps this is also the reason why at least half of the ANUSA positions are uncontested this year. But one more important reason to note is that being a student politician is very tough work. When you are a full-time student and have casual work, duties of your ANUSA position could be beyond your capacity especially when you are keen to bring a change to the ANU. It can be even more frustrating when it takes at least five years to make your change come true - unless you are an Asia-Pacific/Law student, going to ‘Year in Asia’ for 10 months, doing Honours and under-loading every semester. Otherwise, you can hardly see your change come true. It seems I am ending the article with some sadness, but certainly the ANUSA election week is one of the best and memorable things to me when I campaigned for Golden Ticket and for myself with Common Thread. Working at ANUSA has been an awesome experience where you can meet interesting uni staff and great friends you won’t forget for the rest of your life! Last but not BEN LATHAM least, I would like to send my best wishes to this years’ candidates who are still contesting and BULLET Train for ANU will not be contesting look forward to see another interesting contest the 2014 ANUSA and NUS elections. Initially peron Monday! ceived as a joke ticket, running the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine as President and running on a plethora of locomotive-related puns, the ticket considered legitimately challenging the elections and posing as Bounce!’s only competition for positions in the ANUSA executive. For many, Bullet Train represented a ray of hope for student elections. A tongue-in-cheek mockery of one of the worst weeks in the year, taking the piss out of hacks and insufferable politicking. A spokesperson of Bullet Train, stated that “a considerable amount of pressure was placed on us not to run by Bounce! ticket members and [Stand Up for Your Education]. They were scared! To the extent of pleading with us not to run. This had no influence on our decision not to run however.” The spokesperson further explained, however, that Bullet Train would be continuing its campaign throughout election week: “Bullet train not source a speaker in time. There was no pub- attendance. Although they are hosting a Student for ANU believes it can create change as an indelication of the First Year Guide and the promised Forum about the CASS tutorial cuts and held a pendent lobbying group, rather than a soulless smartphone application with a budget of $15,000 similar one earlier this year about CASS educa- political ticket. We believe that social movements tion committee changes, these have been largely are the key to change at any.” has so far failed to eventuate. At the time of print, Bullet Train had accumuANUSA’s first OGM in March failed to reach underpublicised and too little, too late. In the quorum to pass motions, reflecting the apathetic absence of a strong ANUSA voice against cuts to lated 385 likes on its Facebook page making the it, attitude of the student population towards this the student experience, the Educational Action at least by social media, the second most popular year’s ANUSA. This low attendance was repli- Group has risen to fill the void, hosting a protest ticket of the elections. One fan of the ticket explained her disappointcated at the OGM last week. It seems that despite march with over 100 students to the Ethel Tory ment regarding Bullet Train’s absence from the ANUSA’s employment of a Communications Of- building on August 15. On a positive note, ANUSA’s Brian Kenyon Stu- 2014 ballots: “I was hoping Bullet Train would dent Space has continued to be maintained well run because I was feeling disillusioned about the this year, providing free tea and coffee, an infor- entire election. Bounce! is just plain dodgy and mal space for students to relax, with pamphlets, Stand Up is full of ALP supporters. I would have advice and assistance readily accessible. The free rather liked the Fat Controller as ANUSA Presiyoga classes on Wednesday morning and free dent. That would have been great.” other tickets aren’t enemies. However, you may consider some peers at college as friends, but disappointingly they could try avoiding you and tell you ‘they are not interested in politics’ and turn you away when you have not even asked for a vote. Perhaps this is why our ANUSA election remains at such a low voting rate, but ironically we are studying at Canberra. Are ANU students indifferent to politics? I can certainly tell you ‘NO’, when most of our Facebook newsfeed was flooded by ‘#ruddmentum’ on the night Rudd beat Gillard. Last year, half of my college friends were watching the US Election when exams started the next day. So why such low turnouts? Simply because ANUSA is student politics – a game within a small group of people. Having gone through student elections at the ANU twice, I cannot deny that student politics can be very dirty. Some candidates would run on a ticket because they want to bring changes with peers sharing the same vision. But some candidates would form a ticket under the insistence of experienced ex-officers, or may try holding a party to remind their peers to vote ‘appropriately’ a day before the week starts. Well, yes, this is politics – dirty beyond imagi-

Bullet Train, Where Art Thou?

Common Thread in Review

LINDA MA

IT has been a lackluster year of student represen,tation from the Common Thread ticket. Elected last year promising greater financial accountability, a focus on student mental health, and greater -engagement and communication between ANU-SA and the student body, their promises have ylargely sounded hollow. This has been especially -concerning in a year where student representation and services have been particularly important, with the Gillard/Rudd Labor Government’s .huge cuts to university funding and the disemrboweling of the College of Arts and Social Scioences. Common Thread soundly won a highly contested election last year, sweeping the entire .executive and most faculty representative posittions among a tough field, as two other tickets -The Front Row and A Naked ANUSA also had a full spread of candidates across these positions. Compared with this year’s paucity of candidates sand the uncontested elections of the vast majority eof executive and faculty representative positions on the Bounce! ticket, one would think that Common Thread would be more careful to live up to athe promises and expectations. However, it seems rthat this year’s ANUSA has become complacent eabout its responsibility to deliver outcomes to the student body. ANUSA has failed to deliver several key promises relating to student engagement. The traditional Commencement Address, a light-hearted opening to the year typically delivered at ANUSA’s O-Week party, failed to eventuate as ANUSA did

It seems that this year’s ANUSA has become complacent about its responsibility to deliver outcomes to the student body.

ficer on $60,000 p.a., they have failed to widely engage the student population and effectively advertise and market their events. The First Year Faculty Camps were dogged by poor ticket sales and many were combined. In the important field of student advocacy and representation, Common Thread has failed to live up to expectations. The rally which was organised last week in coordination with the NUS National Day of Action had less than 20 people in

breakfast in the Student Space have also been welcome changes for students, complementing the already-existing regular weekly Universal Lunch Hour between 12 and 2 in Union Court on Thursdays. This week’s launch of the Student Assistance Unit will further highlight this ANUSA’s focus on student service aid and assistance provision. With three months left to go in their term, we can hope that these positive changes indicate that Common Thread is moving in a productive direction for the rest of the year, and that the faith students demonstrated in Common Thread back in August 2012 does not go misplaced.

The Tickets

The Big 5

Stats

1. Responding to cuts by campaigning on the quality of education, not the cost

Number of candidates:

2. Investigate banning campaigning within 100 metres of polling booths during election week.

Number of positions contested:

3. Creating a comprehensive Clubs and Socities List

31 Number of positions already won:

4. Increase dialogue with students through regular forums and consultations

Number of Facebook likes: 428

5. Run information sessions with Youth Law ACT and the Student Assistance team 1. ‘Stop the Tute Cuts’ campaign and lobbying 2. Cheaper textbooks by banning parallel import restrictions 3. Ensuring all lectures are compulsorily recorded 4. More 24 Hour computer labs and libraries

Number of candidates:

Number of positions contested: 19 Number of Facebook likes: 254

5. No exams on Saturdays for working students 1. Information packs to new students on assault and harassment and counselling services 2. Sessions to promote healthy body image 3. Fight against the tutorial cuts to ensure student learning is not compromised for profit 4. Lobby for national policy that ensures no funding for anti-abortion socities 5. Encourage another survey on women’s Safety on Campus in 2014

Number of candidates:

Number of positions contested: 10 Number of Facebook likes: 51

The Tickets

The Rundown Bounce! was the first ticket to launch their 2014 election campagin, complete with everything students have come to expect from their politically-minded peers; a flashy colour, a snappy name, and an undeniably attractive bunch of candidates handpicked from around the university. Bounce!’s campaign was given a major boost when fifteen of the ticket’s candidates hopped straight into office uncontested. But how will this affect Bounce!’s battle for the remaining positions, including Education Officer, Gen Rep and NUS delegate? Supporters of Bounce!’s already elected candidates may not see a point in turning up,

Stand Up for Your Education was the second ticket to the party, contesting Education Officer, Gen Rep and NUS delegate. Stand Up’s policies are, surprise surprise, focused on education, spearheaded by opposition to the tutorial and course cuts being introduced to the College of Arts and Social Sciences. It should be noted, however, that at least eight of the ticket’s thirteen candidates are affiliated with Young Labor, and most students needn’t be reminded that it was the Gillard/ Rudd Labor Government that introduced the higher education budget cuts to begin with. So, come September 7, will most Stand Up candidates be voting for a

Strong Unions Need Women was the last ticket to launch its 2014 election campaign, and so far has been the least publicised. Little is known about the ticket’s policies, but Strong Unions, as its name might suggest, is strongly advocating for the better representation of women’s welfare around campus and at the NUS. The ticket also ran last year, and all candidates are affiliated with Young Labor, including Charlotte Barclay, President of the ANU Labor Students’ Club. Only one member of the ticket is an active member of the Women’s

while undecided voters may elect to that the policy might disadvantage vote against a Bounce! ‘orangewash’. independent candidates and smaller candidates that wouldn’t have the Bounce!’s policies were headed by manpower to campaign all throughthe proposal to ban campaigning in out the university or engage students Union Court during Election Week with debates and large-scale events. 2014. By extending the campaigning Even for the apathetic, the fact that ban from 10m to 100m from the poll- campaigning and politicking will ing booths, the ticket hopes that can- spread from one easily-avoidable lodidates will be compelled to engage cation might be a bad thing. students in more meaningful interactions than shouting slogans and wavHypocritically, Bounce! will still ing flyers in Union Court. On the sur- be campaigning in Union Court this face this seems like an instant hit with election week to stay competitive voters, considering that a majority of after discussions with other tickets the student body is apathetic towards and candidates to follow suit failed. ANUSA elections and avoids Union Bounce! will, however, be vacating Union Court for at least one hour Court like the plague. every day to pursue other more enHowever, students raised concerns gaging avenues of campaigning.

political party that doesn’t advocate the slashing of university funding? Almost definitely not. But ticket have at least criticsed the ALP’s actions and will be launching a ‘Hands Off Our Tutes’ campaign around campus and fighting the cuts at the NUS Conference. Stand Up is also focused on reducing the up-front costs of textbooks by allowing books to be added to HECS debt. The ticket also advocates the removal of parallel import restrictions on books (similar to the geoblocking of online software purchases), which currently prevent booksellers from sourcing cheaper editions of the same title from the world market.

these changes to textbook costs? By lobbying the NUS – which is a difficult avenue for change considering that the ANU only has five delegates due to our small campus size. Now that the University of Canberra has disaffiliated from the NUS, however, the ANU is the controlling power of the ACT branc of NUS, while NUS delegates elected from Stand Up may have some sway through Student Unity – a major NUS faction from the Labor right.

Stand Up is also campaigning for greater equity for international students, including lobbying the ANU to reduce unnecessary international student fees. It is not clear, however, how Stand Up proposes the univerHow will Stand Up bring about sity cut these fees without cutting

Collective, however the collective has healthy body image through free been consulted regarding the ticket’s sessions. At the NUS, Strong Unions will be lobbying for the banning of policies. campus societies funding anti-aborLike Bounce! and Stand Up, Strong tion advocates, and encourage the Unions plans to lobby against the undertaking of a Women’s Safety university’s tutorial and course cuts, on Campus survey. This survey is however the ticket is yet to properly particularly pertinent to the ANU, outline any specific details of their because a survey conducted by the Women’s Collective last year found policy or a tangible plan of action. severely inadequate lighting around However, what sets Strong Unions campus, but was not acted upon. apart is its focus on women’s representation in both ANUSA and the Feminist sentiment and posiNUS. Strong Unions is advocating for tive action is predicted to win at an information pack on assault and least one NUS delegate position for harassment to be given out to all new Strong Unions based purely on the students, as well as the promotion of ticket’s name.

Education Officer

Laura Wey

Tom Nock

Stand Up for Your Education

Bounce!

Bio

I’ve had an amazing student experience by being involved with clubs & societies and ressie life, but I’m at the ANU because of opportunities to do research, smaller class sizes and our ranking. As a Peer Mentor I’ve contributed to ANU’s academic support network of tutorials and PAL. As an ANUSA Science Rep I’ve worked with Zaiga to improve the class rep system so students can have a say about the quality of their education. As Education Officer, I will keep the discussion focused on the quality of our education, not the costs. This means only changing degree programs or education delivery methods for pedagogical advantage.

Do you want the education you expected when you applied to ANU? So do I – that’s why I’m running to be ANUSA’s Education Officer 2014 with Stand Up for your Education. I’m a 3rd years Arts/Economics student. The College of Arts and Social Sciences is the epicenter of damaging restructuring at this university and I’ve experienced it first hand. Together, the Stand Up team has developed policies based on the principles of quality, equity and practicality. Our policy is coupled with action points to lobby for quality education, smashing additional course costs, and getting the university to respect our education.

Policies

Connor Drum Independent

I’m an English/History student towards the end of my Second Year officially, although I’ve been around the ANU since 2010 chopping and changing my degree. I’ve done lots of activism around education with a number of groups at the ANU, including the Law School Reform group, the Education Committee, and this year with the ANU Education Action Group. The EAG has had a number of successful protests and I’m looking to bring the EdCom and the EAG closer together, and get heaps of onthe-ground resistance going, alongside continual lobbying and working with national and state organisations, like NUS.

1. Keep discussion focused on the quality of our education and not the costs

1. A smart, targeted campaign to stop all tutorial and course cuts

1. Employing a professional historian to document education changes at ANU

2. Keep students informed about changes to their degree programs

2. Lobbying to remove parallel import restrictions thus lowering the price of textbooks

2. Making public shows of strength with ANU students through protests

3. Ensure that the interests of ANU students are represented at the National Union of Students

3. Launching a review of how ANUSA creates awareness of educational issues

At the end of the day, student experiI firmly believe that we take our educa“ence, “ to me, comes second to the qualtion at ANU very much for granted. I first ity of education that we get here. I came to ANU...because of opportunities to do undergrad research projects, the smaller class sizes, and the ranking. I started getting involved with ANUSA because I wanted to protect what we have that’s so amazing. And I want to keep doing that as Education Officer - to protect the reason why I came here and why other students came here.

”

realised this at the beginning of the year when I walked into my Australian Foreign Policy tutorial...there were people sitting on the floor, there weren’t enough desks or chairs. It was a travesty... We formed this group and started floating around ideas about how education should be treated at the ANU, and came up with three core principles; equality, equity, practicality.

”

3. Making the mental health committee a department by itself, with an officer and budget autonomous budget

Last Word

The problem with the ANU is not the “consultations themselves. They’ve been bad, in that they almost haven’t happened, but that’s not the problem. ...They are not appropriate ways to run a university. There needs to be a much higher level of student engagement, and much higher staff and student influence in how courses are constructed...I’ve got a very quiet, but a very deep anger about the way education is being treated.

”

Contested Positions

Lachlan Main

Independent

What I offer the ANU Queer* Collective is an organised, passionate and determined individual who will strive for community at all times. I acknowledge that the Queer* community is greater than just ANU and would love to see us expand ourselves and branch out. We have made enormous progress this year and I can only imagine what we will accomplish in the year to come.

I have a strong passion for the queer* collective, as I have seen how it has helped people in significant, life changing ways; by creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable just being themselves. I believe that the collective can have a greater positive influence on campus, and the greater Canberra community.

Rama Fatah

Suzy Nopamornbodee

Independent

I am currently a 2nd year Bachelor of Economics student. I come from Indonesia. International students faces difficulties when they arrived here, they face the issues that most students face when coming to university, and in addition to that, there are cultural differences. I run to ensure that international students are able to get the best out of their university experience at ANU, that includes solving the cultural boundary issue amongst others.

I’m a Commerce/Law Student from Thailand, the Land of Smiles. I am currently the Vice-President of the ANU Thai Association am currently organizing the Thai Interstate Sport Games. I have in mind a 3 tier approach to address the issues of international students as ISD President in 2014: reaching out to clubs and societies; reaching out personally to international students; advocating the issues and concerns the international community raises.

Probie Offner

Ramya Raghavan

Bounce!

Independent

Bounce!

I’m passionate about ensuring there are effective feedback systems in place at CECS. Working with Ramya, I will work towards setting up a class representative system based on the successful implementation at from the current combined College of Science ANUSA representatives. Studying both Engineering and Computer Science, it is important that we work together to ensure that the CECS student experience continues to be positive.

I’m in my 4th year of Software Engineering/Science. I’m the president of the Computer Science Students Association. I’m running for CECS rep because of a historical lack of representation for Computer Science amongst ANUSA CECS reps. If elected I will ensure that Computer Science is properly represented.

I want to help improve the experience in the CECS department and am really enthusiastic about representing your voice in ANUSA. Together with Alan, I will ensure that the interests of both Engineering and Computer Science students are represented on CECS SRC and the Education Committee. We have also investigated opening the Ian Ross kitchenette which has been received positively.

College Representative of Engineering and Computer Science

Alan Babaei

International Students’ Officer

Queer* Officer

Ben Gill

General Representatives

Gabriella Andrews

Scott Armstrong

Charlotte Barclay

ANUSA has eased my entry into university life and I am keen to help other new students at the ANU. I’d love to see the roles and duties of ANUSA publicised show students how they can get the most out of their university experience.

I believe that a university education is an opportunity to broaden the mind like no other. However, with callous course cuts to a wide range of disciplines, this opportunity is diminished. We will Stand Up to the course cuts!

University is a place of learning, socialising and our home. Women have a right to feel comfortable and represented which is why I will be lobbying for ANUSA to hand out harassment and assault information packs and lobby at NUS to promote Pro-Choice policy.

Josh Bolitho

Jamie Bryce

Gemma Butler

I have been campaigning for issues that matter from a young age. That is why I am so passionate about improving the lot of international students at ANU. I will oppose any University plan to increase international student fees unnecessarily.

I’ve decided to put my hand up and run as a Gen Rep because I’m passionate about the quality of our education. Our team has some really dedicated individuals and I’m proud to be a part of it!

I want to be involved with ANUSA as it represents and supports students. It’s important to effectively communicate with students and ensure that they know ANUSA is the place to go should they have questions or concerns about their university experience.

John Casey

Clare Cavanagh

Beng Chang

I want a deeper engagement with students by actively opening up dialogue about all issues, big and small. I will be easily accessible by going out to events and meetings to constantly get student feedback. By getting your ideas, we can create the university you want.

I’m passionate about issues that affect women on campus as well as making ANU a fun place to study and live. I want to lobby NUS to establish welfare policies at residential colleges and start working on making universities a safer place to be.

I am concerned with the transparency of financial matters within ANUSA and want to further enhance the existing internal control measures. I am also looking to work towards creating an ANU identity that makes students proud to say where they study.

Karina Curry-Hyde

Caitlin Delbridge

Karan Dhamija

I believe that we should all have a voice in ANUSA and NUS. I am passionate about achieving a national welfare standard at all residential colleges. I also believe that course and tutorial cuts are not okay! We have such a great university, let’s make it even better.

Everyone deserves to have their voices heard but all too often women are under-represented in forums like the NUS and ANUSA. Having previously attended NUS, I understand how important it is for women’s voices to be heard.

I am a first-year originally from the hipster wasteland of Melbourne. As a first year, I believe that ANUSA-hosted information nights explaining the basics of an ANU degree would be of great value to all students – both new and old!

Daisy Ewan

Peter Ferman

Amy Foster

To me, ‘saving the tutes’ is not just a catch-phrase, but a personal vendetta; tutes are essential to my Arts subjects. It’s hard to imagine my creative writing class flourishing when there are no small groups to talk about writing.

I’ve decided to run because I can’t accept what is being planned in regards to tutorials. Tutorials remain a vital part of our university degree and I will fight tirelessly to preserve them.

Friends of mine have complained that they do not know what ANUSA does. In fact ANUSA often acts on students’ behalf to advocate and enforce their educational rights. We will ensure that students know that ANUSA will fight for them.

General Representatives

Bianca Hennessy

Jacob Ingram

Ali John

I’m continually in awe of ANUSA, an incredible organisation that can deliver real support to students. I want to help ANUSA continue to strengthen their Student Assistance Office and make sure that awareness of mental health services reaches more students.

I’m interested in practical student issues, and I’m driven to solve those issues with diligence. That’s why I will concentrate my efforts in lobbying for more 24-hour computer labs, no exams on Saturdays and compulsory lecture recordings.

I’m a second year Commerce student running and aim to work towards establishing strong communication between the student body and ANUSA. I want to make visible improvements to campus life concentrating on the issues that an ordinary student has.

James Kovall

Meg Lane

Tom Lonsdale

sAs the Social Justice Officer of SASS I know just how important these clubs and societies are to the educational landscape. I will ensure that ANUSA Fac Reps engage with these clubs and societies to further educational outcomes at ANU.

We want to engage with the ANU to make sure that all students are able to access the services they need to make sure the ANU continues to provide the high quality education we all signed up for.

ANUSA played a big role in easing my transition from school to university, making my first semester a success. The next step for me is to give back and help the next group. I’m keen to work on distributing information about access to mental health services.

Ella Masri

Ethan Moody

Tom Nock

Until I got involved with Bounce! I didn’t know all of the services that ANUSA has to offer. Effective communication with students is very important, not only in regard to services offered but also in providing information to help students with the issues they face.

When I arrived at my first tutorial this semester I realised that I was sharing my tutorial with 29 other students. I believe that tutorials are the most important pedagogical tool at university. I will fight to freeze tutorial sizes.

Since being General Representative in 2012 I recognize there is potential for the SRC to really hold the ANUSA executive to account. As a Gen Rep I’d support removing the ‘rubber stamp’ tag the SRC has had for many years.

Josh Orchard

Evan Packard

Em Roberts

I’m running to ensure that the standard of education we get now is the same as when we applied, and remains so into the future. The tMusic School cuts devalued my friends’ degrees and CASS cuts will do the same.

I have taken advantage of many of the services that both the ANU and the ANUSA provide. I would love to now enhance both the accessibility and quality of existing ANUSA services as well as create new ones with the creative and dedicated Bounce! team.

I’m passionate about being involved in the ANU university environment we live in and I strongly believe that we all have a responsibility to contribute in some way to campus learning and life. I would be thrilled to be one of your representatives for 2014.

Alicia Turner

Daniel Wall

Ian Young

I am a strong believer that the pastoral capacity of ANUSA should be expanded to show support and initiative in response to issues such as body image. It is important that ANUSA represents and looks after its students!

I want to help clubs and societies have greater accessibility of funds. This in conjunction will providing information on how to market and run successful events will give clubs and societies further outreach and a greater presence at ANU.

I heard about these ANUS elections through the Canberra Times and I believe that I’m just what a weak union needs. As a member of Flop! I think that students should sit down, shut up and enjoy what’s left of their dwindling education.

National Union of Students Delegates

Charlotte Barclay

Josh Bolitho

Edward Byrne

Clare Cavanagh

I believe that our relationship with NUS has so much unexplored potential. I want to see the National Union and ANUSA communicate more effectively and will, if elected as a delegate, concentrate my efforts to this end.

Karina Curry-Hyde

Alice Dawkins

Caitlin Delbridge

Ben Duggan

An NUS delegate has a responsibility that extends far beyond the few days at the conference. I’d like to see a consistency in consultation with students and coherent engagement on key issues. I want to make NUS relevant and important for ANU students.

Former Chair of ANU Union who has been at ANU for too long. If you haven’t been asked to help him ‘stimulate’ the union in the past, he’s probably asked you to join Raising Hope change the world.

Stuart Ferrie

Amy Foster

Meg Lane

Tom Nock

I have been involved in activism around the ANU, specifically in my role as Queer Officer for 18 months. I believe that the relationship between ANU and NUS can be a valuable one, which, as stands, is under utilised.

We want to see NUS take an active role in the fight against tutorial and course cuts at ANU. The national clout that NUS brings with it will be invaluable if there is any possibility of reversing the cuts.

Universities Australia recently reported that 20% of uni students skip meals to make ends meet. Textbook costs force students to make undesirable choices between educational and living expenses. Texts on HECS would mean avoiding these difficult choices.

NUS is the peak representative body of students in Australia. I primarily want to go to NUS to encourage it to lobby for the removal of parallel import restrictions – thus reducing the cost of textbooks, a real win for students.

Josh Orchard

Evan Packard

Alicia Turner

Laura Wey

Academic casualisation is a huge issue nationally, with some Universities employing over 30% of their staff on casual contracts. NUS must engage with all stakeholders or the quality of our education will be put at risk by this dangerous trend.

Maintaining a strong connection that allows the interests of ANU students to be represented on a national level is important to my idea of what the role of an NUS delegate is at ANU. Staying loyal to the students and ANUSA is vital.

I’ve had an amazing student experience by being involved with clubs & societies and ressie life. As a Peer Mentor I’ve contributed to ANU’s academic support network of tutorials and PAL.