March 2010 – Aly Says…Smile!

Hey everybody!
Guess whose your new General Officer?
That would be me. 🙂
I apologize for not posting earlier regarding the results and to be honest, since I wasn’t at The Gallery on Monday evening when they announced the results, I didn’t even know that I won until I was congratulated hours later.
What can I say but WOW?
Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for your support, whether you joined my Facebook group, Googled or even slightly stalked me to see how I really am in person, or you voted (for me). Thank you for the emails where you pledged your support. Thank you for paying attention to the elections even if you’re in another faculty. I am overwhelmed and seriously want to bake everyone I know a brownie or give them a hug. It means a lot that so many people, not limited to those (who voted) in Arts think I am qualified and suited to do this job, as broad as the General Officer agenda is!
Campaigning was fun too-go paperless campaigns, meeting some really cool AUS people, going up to random people and talking to them, and let’s throw in some midterms in the midst of that too!
Here are the results (I just got them in my email):
General Officer – Two Elected
Alison Chan Ivan Staeheli Lisa Anderson
Electronic Ballots 158 145 125
Paper Ballots 39 34 37
Total Votes 197 179 162
Percentage 36.6% 33.3% 30.1%

So I decided to run for a General Officer for the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS). Why?
1) I’ve always wanted to get involved with the AUS because I am an extremely proud UBC student, specifically being in Arts. You engineers, scientists, dental hygienists, musicians, foresters, business (wo)men work and solve the world, we interpret the world. Every year after Imagine Day I really feel the Arts pride and truly believe that we, the largest faculty on campus with a population bigger than some towns in Canada, are united together.
Sadly, reality waves hello.
It also doesn’t help that 75% of UBC students are commuters. If I could wave my wand, then more students would come out to build more community through the events held. But students have work, homework, or they just want to go home. The point is, I don’t think that we have enough of a connection, although effort is made. I’ve watched AUS run around these past two years doing a lot of things right to get people engaged and promoting events, but I look at them, and see the ideas that I have that can make student engagement and involvement bigger and better.
2) I can’t go a blog without mentioning my world, FAACT eh? Pretty much true. Anyways, we have 2 or 3 LTLs (Learning Team Leaders) who are super involved with the AUS and they often talk about the fun things they do and the cool people they know (from AUS). I’ve inquired about getting involved another way other than running for candidacy and the super nice people there said “Just hang around here and you’ll be involved.” However, I kind of want an excuse to get to know more people, and I figure, elections time is the best event to go up to random people and start talking! I genuinely like people, and I like the different adventures and memories I go on with them/you. It’s the different personalities, backgrounds that make up a person that I like interacting with.
3) I’ve always been interested in politics and (student) government but never took the plunge. I am familiar with the structure and things that officers do though, since I am educated in it and I was in youth parliament. It’s one of these life experiences that I want to have, and I will definitely bring my commitment, drive, diligence, energy and of course myself to the position! I’m a pretty laid back and bubbly person (is that a contradiction?) and I would say that I’m a pretty easy person to get along with. I would be really happy if you voted for me, or if you’re not an Arts student, support me by joining my Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=388694441210&ref=mf) and telling any Arts student to vote for me! Thanks =)

Fire away, if you have any questions.