Quite frankly, where do I start on this one.
First off, I'm surprised it wasn't closer. I truly believed that this would go to a second round, and that second preference votes would come into play. Secondly, I didn't expect Tom to win as many votes as he did, nor Stuart to get as low a total he did - even Chris' extremely high vote total (higher than mine in last year's Presidential race) is excellent for a candidate who came into the race 4 days before nominations closed and created a manifesto, website and all the rest at such short notice, whereas Tom/Stuart were planning this assault for months.
However, what worries me is Tom himself. As one candidate put it to me last night, Tom is a case of "tick, tock, tick, tock - a bomb waiting to explode". Tom's performance on stage in his acceptance speech was diabolical, and made Tim Cobbett's comments almost look polite. To be honest, I didn't mind Tom's diatribe against me for the entirely reasonable actions I took to protect my intellectual property (as opposed to the ludicrous accusation that I was trying to divert democracy), and was quite touched to get such a large amount of appluase. What frustrated me (amongst other things) was the fact that he didn't even mention his opponents who had worked tirelessly to make the election something; that he made it clear that one Sabbatical had actively helped him in his campaign; that he suggested that Adam Ramsay was the "rightful winner", when the democratic vote (yes, the democracy that Tom is so fond of) had said otherwise; and also Tom's general behaviour on the night.
This is a man who is meant to be in charge of the Association's finances over the next year, and yet doesn't clearly know how to budget £95. His constant cheating and rule breaking frustrates me (as much as it frustrates me that the Returning Officer did nothing), and I am worried for the state of the Unions over the next year. I do hope that the Committee of Management/SRC manage Tom and keep him in line.
I worry also for the state of EUSA if Tom doesn't get his way - Tom has been seen to act like a spoilt three year old when he hasn't got his way before, and if he doesn't agree with things in the next few months, and during his time in Office, then heaven help EUSA. He has to learn how to get on with his colleagues on the Association Exec, and he will need to learn how to mend/build bridges and not destroy them. Last night's speech was the opening gambit to war, not the opening speech to a better EUSA.
Feel free to agree/disagree in the comments.
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11 comments:
Tom French's speech was refreshing. For once someone actually said what he felt and meant, rather than meaningless pleasentries. Not so graceful that he failed to thank his opponents, but he did apologise the next day when he had sobered up.
I think that we can all get a little hung up on rhetoric at times. The simple fact of the matter is that when Tom delivered that speech he was clearly drunk. There can be no debate about that. Find me a person who has never behaved inappropriately when drunk and maybe I'll take the shots fired at his speech a little more seriously.
I have to say that Tom has taken an awful lot of criticism during this campaign and he has been the only sab candidate who has had people ready to run simply to be the 'Anti-Tom candidate'.
Tom's work across EUSA is both extensive and tireless and any prejudgement of his term is, well, prejudged and thus invalid.
I am aware that he took quite a beating from some people over his co-ordination of Fresher's Week. But, I have to say that the main issues that arose during Fresher's Week 2006 were the same old issues that always arise. That should tell anybody with common sense that the issues are institutional and not correctable by one person alone.
I think Tom's speech was poor. He would, I am sure, say the same today. But he has crafted a passionate and ambitious manifesto and anybody who doubts that he will dedicate every ounce of his energy to enacting as much of that manifesto as possible clearly does not know Tom.
I think your very unfair on poor Tom French, and have obviously listened only to those running against him, who have a personal grudge. Wasn't it obvious he was off his head when he made that speech.
ah, but when you elect someone to represent you, you expect them to behave like that at all times. While it was perfectly acceptable for Freddie Flintoff to be drunk as a lord when he celebrated the Ashes win, Charles Kennedy was quickly deposed by the Lib Dems. Tom is in the latter catagory and this should not be allowed to use "i was drunk" whining as an excuse.
Also Ambitious Manifesto to me appears as 'unable to complete manifesto'
I always like to remember the term SLAGIATT
Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time
Wish the lad the best of luck, but you just wonder if JD reviews how each of these 4 do, Toms list will probably be incomplete due to lack of time.
Oh well. If you're drunk it does count - does it? You loose all control and are barely responsible.
I side with whatever old dead Roman said 'In vino veritas'. Tom French is an obnoxious puke who has shown, in the event he does not get his own way, or where a personal failure or proclivity was raised with regard to his appropriateness for any position, he would threaten legal action.
To imagine that he is representing me in some capacity is a distress I shall not linger on.
Personally, I do not believe the freshers week affair can be put down to being 'institutional'. To continue not to open Potterrow on the saturday, or to fail to ensure security have correct instructions, is foolishness, and shows inability to learn basic mistakes from your predecessors mistakes- hardly something you want from a VPS.
I would also say to be drunk when taking the stage is deeply unprofessional, not to mention deeply disrespectful to those standing against him. It doesn't take much self control to make sure you haven't had too much to drink before the results are announced, even with the delays this year.
Finally, yes I am sure he did have some people opposed to him, but he brought all of that upon himself, thus I have no sympathy for him in that respect. Maybe he also lost more and more respect as the race went on because not only were most people involved in the elections aware he was probably breaking rules, but also that he was caught breaking rules, and that the action taken against him was minimal- quite frankly, an embarassment to all those kept within the rules.
How can we keep people interested in EUSA when we have candidates running for two sabbs positions almost hand-in-hand (how can they claim to be running for the good of the electorate?) and when it is more profitable to cheat than remain within the rules?
I agree with what you've written about tom. he does seem to act like a spoilt child. and quite frankly if his performance of freshers week organiser went this 'well' what are the state of the finances to look like when he's through with them! i'm quickly frankly horrified that he's been elected.
What did Tom French do to balls up Freshers week. I'm also interested to know why he fell out with Josh?
Lots of Anon postings, and I'm not going to comment on them all.
He did balls up certain areas of Freshers' Week, but in others he did a good job - I commended him then, and I said as much to the current (outgoing) President.
What is a travesty is how he cheated throughout the campaign, couldn't control himself on the results night and as I said before, failed to act with decorum throughout.
As for why Tom/Josh fell out - maybe that's something they want to answer.
The student election process has left me with a horrible taste in my mouth. It seems like, for all the efforts to get all student involved, the majority of students here don't give a damn who does the jobs as long as they get done. The VPS should stay behind the scenes and just make sure the Unions run smoothly. The problem with Tom is, not only can I see a massive budgeting problem judging from the foul-up that Freshers Week was, but can you honestly see Tom French, a man whose ravenous hunger for the spotlight led him drunkenly to the stage so he could embarassingly ramble on, staying out of the way so the unions run smoothly? I doubt it. In drink, there is truth, and even when one is drunk, it's an easy decision to make to stay off of the stage when you know you aren't in the right state. The best thing Tom can do is not be seen for a few weeks. But for him, we know that's nearly impossible.
Well he needs to pass the year before taking up office.
So if he has any sense whatsoever then he will not step into the EUSA Officers or any Union until those exams are all over. Thats some friendly advice btw. The last thing EUSA needs is another sabb byelection just after Freshers Week.
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