BOA Voice Special Edition!

Dear gentle readers,

The lure of free crepes, pizza, and the possibility of an iPod touch have convinced me to come out bright and early and liveblog the debates for the SFUO's elections! Should be interesting.

1848 is quite full. It's nice to see so many students out and getting interested in these elections. A nod to Wassim, Sylvia, and the Elections committee for generating interest! Go team!

There are laptops and macbooks everywhere. Everyone is blogging. THE BATTLE FOR THE IPOD TOUCH BEGINS.


10:22 - Debates begin. Candidates for Finance are going first!
10:25 - Opening statements. Roxanne goes first. Cool and calm. She talks about Café Alt as a new business on campus, and the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done. She wants to organize bartending workshops for students (uhm, awesome!) and
10:29 - Maureen swoops in. Keywords - experience, determination. organization. Three word slogans seem to be a theme this year. Wants a full kitchen for 1848, get an updated budget online (good initiative!), and to create scholarships and bursaries through the fed. saweeet.

10:30 - Campus Print - what do you see in the future?. Working on the interface. It's online right now...

Maureen rebuff - We need to be more competitive - compete with Merriam Print (they are pretty awesome....and fast). More visibility is needed through the SFUO website

Should the SFUO budget for a surplus? How will you reinvest?

Maureen - Reinvesting by creating scholarships. Has 20, 000$ in debt, so she understands! It's student money first, they need to know where they are going,

Rox - We need to be careful...we budgeted for 100,000$ surplus but this is used for other activities and events. Talks about the economic crisis.

1848 - What will you do to improve 1848?

Rox - 1848 is breaking even this year (applause from the audience!!) Programming needs to be inclusive. She keeps talking about a Salsa night. I'm not sure how much of a draw this would be...Sure, a kitchen would be nice, but it would be costly and there's no space for it.

Maureen - Space outside was originally to be used for a kitchen...it's office space right now. Student associations should be using

Does the Fed pay it's employees well enough??? (lawlz)

Maureen - We need to up their salaries. We need to look at all of our possibilities with HR, and how it will effect the budget.

Rude comments from the peanut gallery, so I didn't hear Roxanne's response. Shame!

Open questions...

Aminka - (To Maureen) Being only in 2nd year, do you have enough experience?

Maureen - Doesn't don't think it matters. Has experience. She can bring a Fresh Perspective to the SFUO.
Roxanne - Finance needs competence (interesting...). Believes she now knows the SFUO enough to make the changes she wasn't able to make this year.

Wassim - if you were a fruit, what would you be?

Roxanne asks for the audience's opinion. She will be an avocado. (Because you're mushy and go well with garlic???) Swings back with this line "Because I'm hard on the outside, and soft on the inside". I bet you googled that line.

Maureen - Tomato, since it may be the most contested fruit out there. Nice!


10:45 - Closing Statements

Maureen - Members of the SFUO need to Choose Change. We need to represent students. A vote for Maureen is a vote for someone who wants to work with students, and for students.

Rox - Finance is suparr important!!! Want to build a strong student life.

Cheers and applause from the audience. And the first debate is done!!!