Election Campaign. Nomination Day Friday 15th.

I am running for election this year for our student union (again). I am aiming to do regular blog posts about it… So here’s the first one!


Nine hours down and we have finally done it. At 11:20 (is Rich trying to give me a heart attack?) we handed over to the SU 33 PDF files. Yes, 33 PDF files. I recan it took us over 15 hours of hard slog to get to that lofty figure - not to mention the numerous tea fuelled sessions at bens flat trying (a) to come up with something creative but realising (b) that people don’t really care, so resulting in, (c), ridiculous campaign slogans such as (my personal favourite), ‘all aboard the change bus’, and Andy’s personal favourite – ‘Beautiful Buildings Deserve Beautiful People’. In the spirit of democracy we put all our ideas to the vote with our 12 team members and came out with Labour 97’ election song ‘Things Can Only Get Better’. Usually I don’t mind stealing Tony’s campaign ideas (and not his foreign policy choices I might add) precisely because he is the first British politician that has been super moulded by ‘brand consultants’ – great for winning elections, not so for actual government. Ultimately, you’ve gotta get in some way.

So now, amazingly, we have a team of 12 people, with me, Rich and Ben going for full time positions. I’m going for Campaigns and Communications again, Ben for El Presidente and Rich for Services. It’ll be an interesting campaign. It looks like Virender is running a full team this year, and with the Nigerian society running a similar amount it is going to be bloody competitive. As long as I just focus on winning, and talking to people about why I care, what I’m going to do, and importantly working my arse off, hammering those 6 hours of each voting day. I need to be dogged, single focused. We need to get into lectures - so important – we need to talk to cultural societies. We need another election meeting. I think we can do it. Virender isn’t running this year, and he is a literal vote machine. He will come up to you and grab your arm and force you into the voting booth. It is against rules, and it is unfair. People should not be bullied. But in a brilliantly Greenwich Politics move Virender’s cousin is running in his place! Greenwich SU is literary going to be a monarchy! It will be interesting what he is like – undoubtedly he will be determined, both being schooled by Virender and from the same political background. Hopefully he won’t be as effective… We will see. Virender is dead! Long Live Virender!

I am running against Natalie Choi. She is a formidable competitor, likable, popular, pretty, half Far Eastern (and from Avery Hill) . She will definitely be feisty and dogged. As for what ever Virender crony that is running against me, I don’t know, but at least he is not Virender. I’ve got to have faith in my own ability to enthuse and charm people – this is where I shine. I just need to put the hours in as well...

Beautiful thing I saw today
Geyser-esk exhaust fumes lit by a single street lamp in Greenwich