Landslide victory for Action
slate in DSU election

> Annual election draws impressive voter turnout

Mercedes Deutscher
News Editor

 

he DSU Representative

Committee election
drew to a close on March 4
after a week of polling and
another week of intensive
campaigning the week prior.

Ultimately, Action proved
to be the successful slate,
winning around two votes
for every vote received by
their opposition, NeXgen.

Action brought a variety of
newcomers to DSU politics, with
Jerzy Mazurek being the only
member of last year’s committee
to be re-elected. Three other
members from the previous
committee were also running for
re-election; however, one was
disqualified from the election
while the other two candidates
were defeated in their positions.
This was the second election
for Aran Armutlu, the recently
elected Treasurer
from Action, and
his first victory.

“We had a couple
experienced members
on team
Action, but
mostly first
timers,” said
Armutlu. “We do
our best to prepare
and it showed during
the election, but no
matter
how

Image via thinkstock

much you prepare for
elections they are still one
of the most difficult things
you can do. Between the
long hours and balancing
classes and campaigning, it

can be pretty stressful.”

The evening of March 4
was the culmination of weeks
of hard work for Action. The
slate provided good turnout
for the all-candidate forums in
the campaign week, and they
could be found in the concourse
of the New Westminster
campus throughout both
campaign and polling week.

Now elected, Action
looks forward to an optimistic
year in the DSU.

“The first thing will probably
be planning,’ explained Armutlu.
“We feel as though it’s important
to sit down and really map out
the year, set
goals, have
some long

term plans.
We are not
here to just
think
about

our year and move on. We are
planning to settle in a foundation
of planning that will hopefully
continue on for years.”

Action campaigned on
promises of providing a variety
of events for students of all
ages, groups, and interests.
These included social nights,
more support for the athletics
department, advocating for
reduced costs to students,
and promotion of Douglas
clubs. They also campaigned
on stronger support for
the growing population of
international students and
advocated for increased
transparency in the DSU.

“The DSU is a place that
can foster student growth
and excellence, and we
want to see it reach that
potential for years to
come,” said Armutlu.

This was also an
impressive election for
voter turnout. Last
year, only four per
cent of students cast a

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Sunshine Coast

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And more!

ballot; This year, that number
rose to 19.5 per cent.

Armutlu had this to say
to voters: “Thank you! We
appreciate you, more than you
can imagine. Every vote matters
because each vote was a student
showing they believed in us and
our vision of what the DSU can
become. Over the past week we
have been congratulated by many
students and as much as we love
hearing it, the congratulations
is to you as well. You have
actively engaged in a way to
positively change things for
yourself and other students and
we are proud of you, humbled
by all the support, and excited
to take on the challenge!”

   
    
    
       
     
     
       
        
         
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 

  

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Full election results

College Relations
Coordinator

Monique Paulino.......1573
for, 303 against.

David Lam
Representative

Meredeth Graham.....1344

Chad Conley..............4:- 656
Treasurer

Aran Armutlu ............. 1304
Pardeep Jaswal.............. 651
Internal Relations
Coordinator

Jerzy Mazurek............ 1281
Derek Goundat............. 698
External Relations
Coordinator

Surya Viswanathan....1310

Members-At-Large:
Manuel Pena .............. 1343
Prabhjot Kaur Hundal
1290

Paul Wittayaworapat 1234
Taylor Hochban............ 702
Mustafa Haq..........: 634

Aboriginal
Representative

Sahara Tom.....1268
Alex Gibbons....642

Pride
Representative

Tanysha Klassen .....1314
Jacquoline Martin........ 667

Disabilities
Representative
.

Sy ., Sterling Hillman 1240
~~ Simran Bir............. 722

Women’s
Representative

Iman Abdulla ............. 1283

§ Taylor Woodwatd......... 653

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