MSA Elections

[Glasses]

Hi all,

So I just wanted to start this thread to generate discussion re: the MSA Elections coming up.
To start off, do you guys plan on voting? And if so, who for?

[K888]

Jaffy question: what's the go with the MSA elections? Like, actually have no idea what it's for and what the point of it is.

Idk, it's probably not particularly relevant to me, being at the Peninsula campus.

[VanillaRice]

I recently found out that one of my friends is running on the 'Together' ticket. I did not really care for the MSA election before speaking to said friend, but he gave me an interesting insight into the importance of voting and this election affects the students and whatnot. Of course, I realise that given that he's running for the party, what I was told may have been biased, but it's still quite interesting to see the current MSA being contended against, especially with some of the things they have done this year (from what I've seen/heard, anyway) that have been rather unsavoury amongst the student population. Apparently Together also have a majority support of the clubs and societies at Clayton?

Apart from this though, haven't really given it much thought  Too many other things to worry about at uni 

Jaffy question: what's the go with the MSA elections? Like, actually have no idea what it's for and what the point of it is.

Idk, it's probably not particularly relevant to me, being at the Peninsula campus.

I think the MSA is for Clayton only? Could be wrong, but I think Peninsula has its own student association.

[sweetiepi]

Jaffy question: what's the go with the MSA elections? Like, actually have no idea what it's for and what the point of it is.

Idk, it's probably not particularly relevant to me, being at the Peninsula campus.

I don't see it either... but that's probably because I'm on an isolated (I mean Parkville) campus 😂

I've never really understood what MSA/MONSU/MPSU/insert whatever other student body actually really does either

[peterpiper]

what I was told may have been biased, but it's still quite interesting to see the current MSA being contended against, especially with some of the things they have done this year (from what I've seen/heard, anyway) that have been rather unsavoury amongst the student population.

Not from the uni but am very curious with what some of these "unsavoury" things might have been. What sort of power does voting give to the candidates/group/whatever?

[Sine]

what is the current MSA called?

yeh well i don't know much about these elections all I know is someone tried to hand me a flyer in the law library yesterday.

[VanillaRice]

Not from the uni but am very curious with what some of these "unsavoury" things might have been. What sort of power does voting give to the candidates/group/whatever?

First thing that I can think of is when few of their members crashed a meeting held by of one of the Liberal party clubs with a local Liberal MP (his name escapes me) and they basically disrupted the club meeting (which they had no right to do).
My understanding: as a student, you pay a student services amenities fee, of which the student association receives (I think they get all of it? Or maybe its only a part). It goes towards funding things like student events (free BBQs, parties), wages for their employees, etc. They're basically using your money.

what is the current MSA called?

yeh well i don't know much about these elections all I know is someone tried to hand me a flyer in the law library yesterday.

They're run by 'Go!'

Are you a 'pull out your phone and pretend you're busy' type of person when it comes to people handing your flyers?

[K888]

Are you a 'pull out your phone and pretend you're busy' type of person?

The trick is to walk in a group, make sure you're talking to people in that group, and have both of your hands in your jacket pockets. Also, look at the ground haha.

I feel like I have such a different experience at Peninsula - we have MONSU, and they're not politically orientated at all. Like, it's just student representation. They mainly seem to do events during the year, but I imagine they do a lot of other stuff. They're a nice presence - like, they don't shove themselves on to you and aren't really overt, but you know where to find them, and know that they exist.
RE: SSAF though - fairly certain MONSU used part of 2016's fee to build what seems to be an ornamental rock climbing wall thing outside the gym Glad I wasn't here last year, because I wouldn't fancy my money being spent on that...

Side note, but what I love about the Peninsula campus is the fact that there's not a single person or group handing out flyers or pestering you. I can actually look up when I'm walking around haha.

[Glasses]

I recently found out that one of my friends is running on the 'Together' ticket. I did not really care for the MSA election before speaking to said friend, but he gave me an interesting insight into the importance of voting and this election affects the students and whatnot. Of course, I realise that given that he's running for the party, what I was told may have been biased, but it's still quite interesting to see the current MSA being contended against, especially with some of the things they have done this year (from what I've seen/heard, anyway) that have been rather unsavoury amongst the student population. Apparently Together also have a majority support of the clubs and societies at Clayton?

Apart from this though, haven't really given it much thought  Too many other things to worry about at uni 
I think the MSA is for Clayton only? Could be wrong, but I think Peninsula has its own student association.

Yeah I know a couple of people running for the Together ticket, so I plan on voting for them. What I've heard about Together (i.e. their goals and policies) sounds great in my opinion too.

And based on what I've heard and read, students seem to be unhappy with how political the MSA has become; and the crashing of the Liberal Club's lecture with Kevin Andrews by some of the MSA executive definitely didn't do them any favours.

The current party is Go! who have been in power for more than a decade - but since Together pretty much has a full ticket and has the support of the major clubs and societies (e.g. Law Student's Society, Society of Arts Students, Engineering Society, Science Society, Biomed Society and heaps more), I wouldn't be surprised if Go! lost.
Heaps of the people running for the Together ticket also currently hold positions in the major clubs and societies (e.g. the person on the Together ticket running for secretary is the current Law Student's Society secretary) - so they have experience running events and doing all that kind of stuff.

And yeah, the MSA elections basically determine who handles our SSAF money.

[Sine]

how do we find out about any of these policies?

[Glasses]

how do we find out about any of these policies?

https://www.facebook.com/togetherformsa/ is probably your best bet. But they'll be more published closer to Week 9.

Also some info:
http://mojonews.com.au/a-foe-for-go-a-look-at-new-party-together/
http://mojonews.com.au/monash-student-elections-2017-200-candidates-want-your-vote/

Like I said above, I plan on voting for them, so I'm obviously going to be biased, but a couple of their policies which my friend has told me are things like:
- Having live music and things like that to invigorate the campus.
- More events.
- Less political campaigns which don't impact the actual University and students.
- More funding towards mental health services.
- Pushing for all lectures to be recorded.
- Pushing for at least one library to be open 24 hours.
- Establishing a second-hand book store.
- Two-way communication between students and the MSA; so if you have an idea you can share it with them.
- Enhanced transparency and accountability regarding what the MSA is doing.
But there are heaps more too.

Basically, their focus is on enhancing campus life. So everything they do will be intended to make the uni experience better and encourage people to want to come to the campus. So people will be like "hey, I wonder what MSA event is on this week."

In my opinion, the current MSA is far too politically focused; and whilst I agree with a lot of their political campaigns, I don't agree with our student services and amenities money going towards things like protests - considering not everyone will agree with the cause being campaigned for. Like literally every day I walk past protest posters with the MSA logo in the corner.
And I find some of the MSA purchases quite questionable; like for example, I believe they used the SSAF money to buy a car and a van, which in my opinion is quite unnecessary.

So yeah, considering Go! have been in power for so long, I feel like a change will be beneficial.

[Sine]

https://www.facebook.com/togetherformsa/ is probably your best bet. But they'll be more published closer to Week 9.

Like I said above, I plan on voting for them, so I'm obviously going to be biased, but a couple of their policies which my friend has told me are things like:
- Having music performances and things like that to invigorate the campus.
- More events.
- Less political campaigns which don't impact the actual University and students.
- More funding towards mental health services.
- Pushing for all lectures to be recorded.
- Establishing a second-hand book store.
- Two-way communication between students and the MSA; so if you have an idea you can share it with them.
- Enhanced transparency and accountability regarding what the MSA is doing.
But there are heaps more too.

Basically, their focus is on enhancing campus life. So everything they do will be intended to make the uni experience better and encourage people to want to come to the campus. So people will be like "hey, I wonder what MSA event is on this week."

In my opinion, the current MSA is far too politically focused; and whilst I agree with a lot of their political campaigns, I don't agree with our student services and amenities money going towards things like protests - considering not everyone will agree with the cause being campaigned for. Like literally every day I walk past protest posters with the MSA logo in the corner.
And I find some of the MSA purchases quite questionable; like for example, I believe they used the SSAF money to buy a car and a van, which in my opinion is quite unnecessary.

So yeah, considering Go! have been in power for so long, I feel like a change will be beneficial.

Thanks for the rundown.

You had me at less political campaigns.
Hopefully some other groups can match that and make it interesting.