The vote is where the stomach is, that's not a shame

So anyone who still cares about how this Canadian society of ours functions and who hasn’t yet gotten tired of voting more frequently than they buy pants was out two Tuesdays ago voting for the new (or, pretty-fucking-much-the-same) government. I, too, participated in this silly little thing we call democracy. And while I was on my way to the polls, I saw something that really made me think. There was a little boy, and his mom, and they were walking from the polls and the little boy was shouting: “Yay! Ice cream!” The mom happily replied: “Yes, if you vote, you get ice cream, that’s the law.” Now isn’t that the most precious thing you have ever seen? What better way to fight voter apathy than instill a reward-based excitement in your children from a very young age. Say what you will, but even though when that kid grows up, he won’t be heading to the polls because he thinks he will get ice cream, he sure as hell will be more likely to show up than the kid who never cared for voting either way.

Not only is this a good model for all parents to get their kids interested in the democratic process, I also started to think that this strategy might make sense right here at UBC. Now, if this is occasionally bandied around as something that could be implemented on the national level (as in, rewards, or other incentives for people to come out to vote) I don’t think that by proposing that this could work in the AMS/constituency elections I am committing some sort of horrid ideological crime. So hear me out.

Put aside, for the moment, the notion that was recently put forth by the Devil’s Advocate that more voters is actually a bad thing and let’s assume that the supposed goals of the AMS to increase voter turnout are noble and true, and we must do everything in our power to pursue them. In that case, what is wrong with using a box of free timbits to attract voter attention? How many times have you walked past a table/booth that exhibited an assortment of food and at least stopped to see what the fuss was about? The concept of having snacks at information or club booths is simple, you capture the person’s attention, and use the limited time you have to try to impart on them as much of the information as you can.

So is there a gastronomical solution to voter apathy?

Firstly, this does not directly tackle the issue. The very fact that we offer snacks at voting booths will not suddenly make people more interested in student politics and elections. However, if you want to talk about incremental changes, why is this not a place to start? Firstly, increased voter turnout will put a slightly larger stamp of legitimacy on the AMS – a little more for the people rather than the insider elite and friends of friends of candidates. Fewer people would be able to say that the council is irrelevant if more people had voted for it in the first place. Secondly, it won’t allow the AMS itself to throw around the classic adage: “Don’t complain if you don’t vote”. Regardless of the fact that I think that maxim is completely moronic on a student government level, it is easy to say that using it will be a little more tricky if more people came out to vote. Thirdly, the voters themselves will be more engaged. Sure, not every student who drops by for a donut will suddenly be transformed by the experience. But a few more people will read the write-ups, a few more people will know the names of the candidates, and a few more people will know of the relevant issues. We know that it will take something apocalyptic to transform this campus into the arena of student engagement some of us dream about. So just because we probably won’t achieve that ideal, does that mean we have to give up on the process of getting there entirely?

It is clear that there will be a number of reasonable positive outcomes in return for a minuscule effort by the AMS. So what’s the problem? The fact that this does not single-handedly solve the problem and does not directly address the issue has been discussed. Resources are scarcely a barrier. The fact that this may encourage frivolous votes just for a free timbit is a legitimate question, but permit me to say the average student is not an idiot. If you really want to weed out those who will put random checkmarks on a page for a free snack, then give out the free snacks even if the student doesn’t vote. But then you say: how will that make any difference, then? Let me use simple psychology: you provide a service, no matter how small, and the recipient (subconsciously, and let me reiterate, in case you have trouble with abstract concepts: SUBCONSCIOUSLY) will want to return the favour. At that point, suggest the pamphlet with candidate write-ups, and the average person will take the two to three minutes necessary to glance over the main issues to make a well-informed vote. Again, don’t pretend that I am coming up with a solution that will result in a ten-fold voter turnout increase, but a substantial increase is possible.

Of course, there will be cries of “but this not professional!” and “What manner of kindergarten shenanigans are these!?” But I propose, that we take that eternal stick, and pull it out of our collective asses to see the light – we are student politics, these are student elections, and, as such, the model of real government does not necessarily apply to our case in every instance. Therefore, we can dismount that extremely tall horse and walk around on some good honest soil. It is not some affront to democracy or our legitimacy to offer some barely-material incentives for students to vote. No general mocking joke is made of the elections or the electoral process – the integrity is still there. If you think that by having food at the booths we descend to the level of some sort of club that doesn’t need to worry about looking “oh so serious” then I am sad that you are of such a poor opinion of the elections that you think a mere couple of boxes of timbits will accomplish this. If you really want to reject this proposal, this reason will not do.

If, after this, you have any other protests against my plan, at least for implementing it one time and seeing if there is a discernible difference made, please let me hear them and I will attempt to dispatch them as thoroughly as possible.

Taking into consideration the preceding discussion, I propose that this will be implemented for the next election. And if the AMS does not agree with my reasoning and reject my proposal, they should provide legitimate reasons for doing so, if there is to be any hope for transparency.

Where have all the radicals gone?

For the original article in Wednesday's Ubyssey, click here.

I have recently had some growing interest in the current activities of the RBF, so when I saw this article, naturally, I was interested. What I have found is that I have a very mixed reaction to it.

On the one hand, it does a good job of informing; a good job of jabbing a few more students in the side to wake them up to the multiplicity of issues on this campus that aren’t passed down from the top to us, but rather which should be handed up from concerned students. Informing is one of the biggest challenges, and is certainly the first major step in the overall battle.

On the other hand, it is this “battle” that I take issue with. When the RBF first started it appeared to me to be built on a platform of giving the campus back to the students. Letting them enjoy their experience without the temperance goals of the RCMP that are little short of policy. It was as much about bringing fun back to the campus as it was about student rights and student control. That was the main reason I was a staunch supporter. However, I find that the lofty noble goals of the RBF have begun to wane. The new form of activism had distanced itself from its doctrine of change, and has too narrowly focused on the party aspect.

Now don’t get me wrong, the party aspect is essential to the success of the RBF. By throwing fantastic parties not only do they solidify their name in the public consciousness on campus, but also remind people of what there would be more of if all the bureaucratic red tape was sent to the paper shredder. But I think the success of these events has gone a little to the RBF’s head.

Case in point, this article. An excellent piece of information that crumbles in the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph, where the “War on Fun” is casually thrown into the mix. The War on Fun is a good slogan. It’s catchy, it draws a line between the “us” and the “them” and it’s a good foothold to build the mandate and future actions of the RBF. But where are those actions? This article makes it sound like the War on Fun is restricted simply to throwing parties. That by holding an alcoholic event we are somehow fighting the evil three-headed dragon (RCMP,UBC,UNA) that tries to quash all semblance of social life on campus.

Well, truth is, parties happened on this campus long before “War on Fun” had ever become a concept. What exactly about these parties that the RBF is promoting, makes them War on Fun? At the end of the article, the RBF proclaims that they will fight this war which limits student options. But in its footnote-like brevity, it just makes it sound like a shameless plug for the RBF designed to little more than unite the students behind them with a cheerful “Rah! Rah! Rah!” Where is the Radical in RBF? What about telling is exactly what is to be done? Where is this plot to give the campus back to students? Where are results? Or at least a marginal semblance at showing how any results will be accomplished?

I still support the RBF. I’ve heard these guys talk about what they do, and unlike a few prominent faces here on campus, their heart seems to be in the right place, their intentions all laudable.

But I want answers. I think students deserve a little more than a simple reminder by the RBF that they are “here to fight that War on Fun”. I want a little more substance to my student activism than a few great parties. I want it to look like, to the outside world as well as UBC students, this isn’t about a right to drink. This is about a right to be. A right to use our campus the way we see fit. I want to hear the RBF’s voice again, and I don’t want to hear it talk of how they’ll get me drunk, I want them to tell me how they’ll get my right to enjoy UBC back.

Wake Up and Smell Your Degree

Coming soon to a wall near you:

Dear Student, Wake Up and Smell Your Degree

Did you notice that funky aroma? I know I did. While the administration and the AMS deal with the pressing issues of the underground bus loop, and spending millions of dollars on joining the NCAA, academic issues have been relegated to a dingy corner of UBC like the poor child nobody wants to hug. But tell me, how many of you really care about what happens to a little grassy hill? You want to go to your classes, get that degree, and get on with your life. Problem is, what has UBC been doing with your education all this time? Do you ever wonder how a professor still has a job, or how a TA ever got hired in the first place? Ever wonder why it feels like UBC doesn’t care about the average student?

In all their bickering and agenda-pushing, the AMS and administration have forgotten about a very important player on this campus – you, the student. You, who cares about fair marking and the quality of your education. You, who doesn’t show up to protest and run for office because you have better things to do. You, who still cares despite what they may think. So show them that you still do. Let your voice be heard. Bring all your complaints and all your rants, about the quality of the instructors and the quality of the courses, and all the hurdles you think should not be there. Send them to me at edenhart@gmail.com and I will let your voice be heard, anonymously. Stand up for what you care about, now what they tell you that you should care about.

I’m not running for office, and I’m not pandering for votes. I’m here to wake up the AMS to the issues that really matter, and to show them that you still want a voice.

My name is Eden Hart, and I’m a UBC student.

Are you?

Welcome to the VFM -- Ur doing it Wrong!

I would like to direct anyone who’s listening to the fact that I had thrown my sombrero into the VFM ring, piling on some moral pressure to deliver the news … through a different lens. So if you haven’t joined yet, go to the UBC VFM side, read-up and sign-up.

What I did suddenly realize, is that behind all the bickering bullshit that I got so emerged in last year, I forgot about a few very important things that also make a difference on this campus. And one of those is VFM.

What VFM sets out to do, is build a population of informed voters that makes democracy work better because educated voters make better decisions. The monetary rewards put pressure on the participating media to put up frequent and engaging content, and the voters decide who’s doing the best job at providing what they promised. A fine premise that I had noticed brought a lot more quality content into the fray. However, what it doesn’t do as well as it should, is get new voters to the polls. But this isn’t the flaw in the project itself, rather than in those participating in it.

Let me, for a second, pick on UBC Insiders, not because there is something particularly wrong with that blog, but rather by virtue of it kicking ass every contest and raking in huge wads of cash. The promise on their blog reads: “the money we receive will be spent on website improvements.” A noble promise; and no doubt one that will be kept. However, I see one problem. Improvements of the blog will benefit only one group of people – those who are already avid or occasional readers. However, what about new readers? What about educating the people who don’t keep up, those people who don’t go to the polls because they don’t care, because they don’t know, and because they think no issue on campus actually affects them in any meaningful way? Of course, that’s our number one challenge. You just can’t pull these people out of a hat and go: “Voila: go forth and multiply” to the sound of chirping crickets and a chorus of quizzical stares. We have to grab them, we have to work for them. If we took it upon ourselves to provide the best of news/opinions on campus, then we need to make sure we’re making an actual difference

I started off in the real world. Out there, with potential readers, postering my opinions on the walls. Only later did I move to internet media, like Facebook and this blog. But even as I now lay in the closed circle of cyber-space, with a select few reading my opinions, I made sure that the circle wasn’t shut. There’s a little more to bringing quality journalism, just like there’s a little more to voter-education than making candidate write-ups available at the election booths. Still I make sure to go out, post excerpts or original material where people who don’t know about my blog can read it. How many take it to heart? Probably not a revolutionary number, but any revolution, be it in the political or cultural sense, starts with the few and spreads to the many. I have had people respond about to blogs through my postings, and I could at least imagine that a few others had read it. I’m not trying to say that this is an either/or issue, rather that VFM and real-world advertising should work side-by-side. It isn’t enough to educate and engage those who are already educated and engaged. We can’t sit back like some latter-day philosophers, twiddling our thumbs and stewing in our own sense of self-importance (read: impotence?), when the audience in front of us is but five people, two of whom are asleep and the third sitting impatiently waiting for us to finish so they can say how utterly wrong we are. One of our top priorities is to reach out wide, cast the net as far as possible, bring the most sheep into the flock. Our first job is to have an audience to bring information to, and then make sure that information is provided to the best of our abilities. In all honesty, I don’t do this as well as I want to.

From this I issue a challenge. To myself as well as my other VFMers and any other media on campus who may be listening. It is all fine and good to refine ourselves, it is a whole different challenge to raise readership. So this should be our focus. Not more or less important than quality, but on par with it, as I don’t believe the two can function without each other. Reach out there and spend some of your winnings on advertising. Put a little elbow grease in posting your information to capture audiences, on bulletin boards or in the classes. Take out a Facebook ad. Continue to reward the voters by spending money on improving content, but spend some of your funds in the real world as well. Readership isn’t that high to begin with, and getting even one more person on board is a victory. The further we stretch out our arms, the more relevant we’ll be.

A part of me died today

Today I have been handed some terrible bone-chilling news. Apparently my Facebook account had died, leaving me severed from the many of you fine folks that have partook in my opinions over the past year.

Here's hoping I can get a little more traffic onto this blog now that my captive audience had freed itself from the shackles. This is the only place where I now live.

Well, that and on your campus ... postering ... pestering ... being myself