MikeSmit.com -- Journal Entry -- day 4 wrap-up

day 4 wrap-up

Mar 14th, 2008 at 03:30am

I need to start by saying that collectively, the people who submit to my tips line could basically take over my job. Some of the stuff that comes through there cracks me up. Maybe next year I'll just give out a free account to everyone who wants to post.

Here now, the wrap-up.

"Imagine a DSU where the President and their VPs are constantly at each others throats..." Yes folks, it could happen. There is mounting tension in the campaign. Gault and VAJ are at odds over the Council thing. Gault and Larkin, current VPs, are no longer speaking. Kris and Krista are at each other's throats more and more. It's negative campaigning, but not the fun kind, the whisper-campaign kind. Speaking of campaigning, how would you feel if you learned Hillman had fathered a mexican child with a Zapatista rebel in Chiapas? I'm just asking.

75 comments today. You should read them all, but the highlights are: Rehash of Kings, society, and the Gazette; the Gazette is elitist, no it isn't, yes it is, no it isn't; renewal referenda for levies; the Gazette should be the propaganda arm of the DSU; the old Grawood, the Gorsebrook, and the T-room; Gazette staff defend the Gazette and King's students; apparently, VAJ threatened physical violence toward a sitting exec; "Vajitarian" defends VAJ's support among homosexuals; how candidate's handle criticism; what does JSB stand for?; JP calls Larkin hot, and Debo insinuates she's a 'scaly iguanna'; on the purpose of King's students (hint: it involves fries).

Speaking of comments, this week's Gazette came out. I haven't examined it in detail yet, but I'll refer you to Ian's comments.

Scott Wetton was definitely on a roll at the sexton forum, asking questions of each position and then going on to ask more to the whole group of candidates. Commendable, and his questions were certainly all legitimate. I do find it a bit strange, though, as it seems he designed and hosts Courtney Larkin's website: http://www.scottwetton.com/court/. Is he an impartial advocate for Sexton, or is he schilling for Larkin? (Update: About 75 people kindly took the time to tell me Scott also designed and hosts Gault's website. Mea culpa; about 5 seconds work would have been required to figure that out on my own.)

Via the tip line, I heard some defense of VAJ for her Council tantrum: she was launching a defense of her innocent society and she doesn't like Jen Bond very much. Sorry folks, not good enough. This is a Council meeting, it's run a certain way for a reason. It's not preschoool. Don't get me wrong, if she was blamed inappropriately, it shouldn't have happened, that's bad, and someone is at fault. But there's ways to handle that.

If the cattiness of some of the tips I am getting is to be believed, Mark Coffin will be the only competent exec next year, and that's only because "Mark Coffin - No" doesn't have email access at home. IF you believe everything I hear: Gault is 'smarmy'. Larkin is "just so bitchy". Gault is "petty". Larkin is "conniving". Gault is "yay mediocrity". Larkin is a "megalomaniac". Krista and a massive army of volunteers can barely keep up with Kris' single-handed effort. Larkin ran the DSS into the ground and then ran away to Management. Kris "seems to be a strong candidate during most forums, but that's only because he's hopped up on energy drinks. Soon his liver will start rejecting the sugar-liquid and he'll be back to singing Emo songs at the infodesk making everyone in the lobby want to find their way to the roof." Krista "lacks experience and vision". Kris' posture at the forum was reminiscent of a porn star being serviced. Victoria Jones is 'useless', a 'resume padder', and has people "cheering for a leprechaun". A member of DAGS contacted me to say that VAJ had come out and told them that being VP Internal is "an important next step for HER". Boyle is a 'kilt-wearing waste of poential'.

Shit son, if that's what they are saying about each other, I can only imagine what they are saying about me.

Deboxerxes calls the full-time staff "middle aged dogf***ers", and encourages us to "get the whip out". He also wanted to let us know he slept through the presidential debate on Thursday night. PROTIP: the debate is Friday night.

As of about 1am Atlantic, the only candidates with updated websites were Dan Boyle and Eric Snow. (Update: I figured 1am would be a safe time to stop checking, but it's now 4am and Larkin is STILL updating her Facebook page).

Dan Boyle, apparently inspired by my comments on his poster, has launched a bit of a contest to determine what the phallic blue thing in his hand is. By all means, enjoy yourselves.

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Comments:

Disconnected and Lovin' It says:
[Mar 14th @ 03:47am]

One can only hope that The Vagina Monologues that I'm seeing for the first time next week is as entertaining as The VAJ Chronicles.

Otherwise, I've just wasted $40.

Gregory Debogorski says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:38am]

Thank God I did not miss the debate. I have been waiting all year for this.
It is about time someone states the straight and narrow on the exec's bull.

Anonymous Coward says:
[Mar 14th @ 08:45am]

Hahaha re: the Scott Wetton comment about Courtney's website. For what it's worth, Scott designed BOTH Tara AND Courtney's websites.

Jen Bond says:
[Mar 14th @ 09:54am]

Annnnd the DSU elections have spiraled into this:

Sighted: TG and CL not speaking to each other.

VAJ seems to be taking everything personally while DB keeps his cool.

Will KA's efforts to one up KO backfire?

Poor MC, he doesn't know what he's getting himself into.

xoxo
gossipgirl

Scott Wetton says:
[Mar 14th @ 10:35am]

Just to make it even more confusing, I have designed and am hosting both Courtney's and Tara's websites.

I had made promises to make their websites for both of them before they were running for the same position. I did not go back on my promise, even though it is certainly an interesting situation.

PLR says:
[Mar 14th @ 12:08pm]

Is it sad that I only read mikesmit.com for all my info on what's going on at Dal?

Any news on DAGS' AGM last night, I'm curious to what they have gotten themselves into wit the gradhouse and DOMIS.

Yes, all I care about is the grad house, the rest of campus is boring. I only like the grawood because it keeps all the youngins out of my beloved GH.

C. Larkin says:
[Mar 14th @ 12:21pm]

I was at the DAGS AGM so I will comment on some of the things that were discussed:

- Each executive gave their year to date reports

- Reviewed constitution changes, and then voted (passed unanimously) - one change in particular was changing the VP Internal to VP Student Life to reflect more on all aspects of the position

- HSA referendum question representative (Mike Tipping) gave a presentation concerning the question

- All candidates in attendance gave their speech to why graduate students should vote for them

- Gradhouse: DAGS President (Andre Arsenault) is setting up a meeting with facilities management to work out the costs of the new gradhouse (it will be located across the street from the current location) - the amount $400,000.00 was given - but this is not set in stone. It was also discussed that the new Gradhouse will be reviewing its current practices and finding ways to be more sustainable. Domus Legis was also mentioned in the Gradhouse conversation - DAGS and Domus are looking at sharing the Gradhouse (space, revenue, and loss) 50/50 - this is not a final decision, they are simply discussing the possibilities.

Hope that fills you in on what was covered at the meeting.

PLR says:
[Mar 14th @ 12:31pm]

Thanks for the DAGS update, hope they plan on getting some student (staff) input on the new bar, not that the staff know anything.... ;-)

Could be a great move, but my distrust for all things student council gives me little faith. And thats not even touching my fears of Domus....

mike says:
[Mar 14th @ 01:21pm]

Scott, thanks for the comments, you'll find the original post has been updated.

Anonymous Coward says:
[Mar 14th @ 02:20pm]

kris is NOT giving a "single-handed effort" by any means. all his ideas are just repetitions of what vpsl did this year. and they always seem to be together...think about it.

Kris Osmond says:
[Mar 14th @ 03:58pm]

Just for the record, when I decided to run for VPSL I thought it might be a good idea to do some research on the position to find out aspects of the position that I was unfamiliar with. This included what has and has not worked in the past, plans for the upcoming year and the opinion of the current VPSL. To do this you need to ask questions, which I have been doing constantly since I decided to run. I'd also like to point out that I have contacted all the current exec regarding one issue or another along with the sustainability office, reps from residence, societies and unaffiliated students face to face. All of these resources are available to Krista as well. If you would like to continue to criticize me for doing an extensive amount of research on the position go ahead.

mad cow says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:08pm]

Theres actually a rumour that Krista tried to meet with the current VP SL, but was stonewalled. Not a total refusal to help, but the next best thing...

Kris Osmond says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:09pm]

On a lighter note I'd just like to say that my posture at the forum yesterday was mostly sitting with my clipboard in hand an arms crossed. More reminiscent of a high school girl riding the bus to school. As far as the energy drinks go, I don't drink coffee or tea, and I'm sure the number of energy drinks I've consumed this week does not even begin to approach the amount of coffee consumed by the average drinker. Also I'm interested to know how drinking energy drinks makes you a strong candidate, I'm sure the marketing departments for these companies would be interested to hear about this.

mike says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:17pm]

I doubt Larkin would refuse to help Krista. Candidate or not, she doesn't get to anoint a successor. Speaking to potential candidates is part of her job, and she's too smart to not do it.

Kris, while I can't speak to the motivation behind the "accusations" people are throwing out there, I can tell you the posture was described as "leaning back in his chair, arms behind his head, looking satisfied and relaxed". :)

distant observer says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:35pm]

Courtney did in fact stand up Krista's meeting. After Krista tried to reschedule the meeting with the current VPSL again and again, Courtney continued to cancel. Also, it was actually Courtney who suggested Kris to run for VPSL only a few days before the deadline. Whereas Krista has thought about running since mid January. I think this says a lot about both candidates.

HillmanGirl83 says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:49pm]

If you want to know the truth about John Hillman, it involves gimp masks, heart shaped ass paddles, and mexican hookers. NOT illigitimate mexican children, I would never tolerate that.

Kris Osmond says:
[Mar 14th @ 04:53pm]

I'll admit I was sitting like that as well and I guess all I can say is I like to be comfortable no matter where I am. : )

I'd also encourage people to check my latest blog which addresses the issues (or lack there of) between myself and Krista.

AEB says:
[Mar 14th @ 06:11pm]

HillmanGirl83: In the words of my hero, Paris Hilton, "that's hot."

A Voice of Reason? says:
[Mar 15th @ 04:50pm]

Yes cause that's the real issue here, who decided to run first. Better yet, perhaps people should base their decision on who ever can fit the most marshmallows in their mouth or a chariot race down university ave. That makes a lot more sense than quality of a campaign platform, knowledge on key issues and plans for the upcoming year.

Word of the Day
obfuscate
To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand.
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