Bonnie Ryder - Nominated for Association President

[Bonnie]

My name is Bon, Ryder Bon.

You know the drill. Ask me things and I'll answer.

[hr]

I love cheese.

[flossy]

My usual question for all potential sabbs: wnat are your plans for next year if you don't win?

[hr]

Not to put too fine a point on it, say I'm the only bee in your bonnet

[Bonnie]

International super-spy.

Teaching English in Japan or Taiwan.


[forgot that I needed to sign every one of my posts with my full name and nominated position]
[hr]

I love cheese.

[Bizarre Atheist]

Is there a particular thrust to your campaign other than James Bond references? Not that they're not welcome, but I'd like to know what improvements or changes you'd like to implement!

[hr]

Nolite te bastardes carborandorum.

[Sid]

Oh, I'm going to do that. Japan or Italy, Italy because I love the men and the food, Japan because it's far far away from Scotland.

I have a question for you Bonnie, why o why would you want to spend another winter in this country? Why are you punishing yourself in this awful way? I've been here for 24years now, and it's been like a triple life sentence. Soon I shall be free, free of this pain and misery that is Scottish driech weather.

Quoting Bonnie from 21:15, 11th Mar 2006
International super-spy.

Teaching English in Japan or Taiwan.


[forgot that I needed to sign every one of my posts with my full name and nominated position]
[hr]

I love cheese.

[Bonnie]

Why do I want to spend another winter in this weather?--- Trust me, Sinead, it's far worse where I'm from!!! I appreciate the snow today, but when St Andrews starts measuring a night's snowfall by the foot, then it can say it has harsh winters.


What else will my campaign entail? What else do I promise? Well, I hope to get the "don't vote for me" posters out on Tuesday. "Ya Mum" will follow soon thereafter.

Bonnie Ryder: Association President and/or the new "B"
[hr]

I love cheese.

[Bonnie]

Quoting Bonnie from 00:10, 13th Mar 2006
Why do I want to spend another winter in this weather?--- Trust me, Sinead, it's far worse where I'm from!!! I appreciate the snow today, but when St Andrews starts measuring a night's snowfall by the foot, then it can say it has harsh winters.


What else will my campaign entail? What else do I promise? Well, I hope to get the "don't vote for me" posters out on Tuesday. "Ya Mum" will follow soon thereafter.


Bonnie Ryder: Association President and/or the new "B"
[hr]

I love cheese.

[hr]

I love cheese.

[Dave the Explosive Newt]

This question goes out to all the AP candiates - no copying from each other, kids.

Following on from the other thread, it's a great shame how under-advertised this election has been thus far and the high number of uncontested seats can only be deleterious to the quality of candiates being elected. Do you believe that the student population is, by and large, quite apathetic towards union politics and how would you go about solving this problem?

[hr]

It has been brought to my attention that certain people refer to me as a legend. Should you meet one of these people, maintain a safe distance and telephone the police. Under no circumstances attempt to deal with them by yourself.

[Bonnie]

Warning: this post is really long because instead of avoiding the answer, I'm going to honour the question with as much truth as I can honestly give. I haven't got a chance to make it the most structured argument-- maybe I need to go to the Debates training.

I think the problem stems not from apathy to elections. It's ignorance of all that the Students' Association does. How many times do people say "The University's LGBT Society" or "The University's theatre".
There are student groups who work like beasts, the majority of them affiliate with the Students' Association and thus they are allowed to use the Unversity's name, but oftentimes we lose the connection between Students' Association and, well to be honest, the majority of what happens in St Andrews including education and social life.

I hate the terms "Union politics" or "student government" which are banded about. I think that has a lot to do with it.
Students don't usually notice the SRC or SSC until something goes wrong. They won't know that it was the SRC that got them their essays back within three weeks. It was the SRC that got them their exams back (when I was in first year-- you were not allowed to EVER see your exam again or ask questions about your specific examination paper!)
It's the SRC who tells ITServices and the Library how to best serve our educational needs. (and much more)
It's the SSC who funds plays, runs RAG Week, funds music, puts on all Union events, hosts all debates, etc. This is where a lot of students also forgets that the Union provides many many many services which they would sorely miss if it weren't run well.

So part of the solution has to be getting students to appreciate how integrated their Students' Association is in their university experience.

How: The Book (what a great title! It used to be called The Bible until we realised that you can't print a book called The Bible and get away with it.); the SRC, SSC, and all subcommittee members (so Mermaids has 10 committee members plus Debates' 11 plus Charities has millions etc.) do need to talk up what they're doing and why it's good for St Andrews all year long-- word of mouth, internet websites, in their weekly e-mails. No one doubts Mermaids-- the power of the Mermaids logo on all Mermaids plays proves to everyone visually that Mermaids is involved. But where's the connection to the Students' Association? I'm not picking on Mermaids. The connection and communication is lost all over the place.
Before students even get here is a good start! Everyone goes on about the website-- I'm a bit nuts about making sure things are done. Update the website every week. Wednesday mornings seem like a good time for this. I know you won't have time for this, but if you look in my folders and computer from last year, everything is in its place: the website is the place for information to students and the wider community. We're a technological society now.
If you start them young, eventually, it becomes common knowledge what the Students' Association and its officers do. Look at Ben Nicholoson-- it's not only him that knows but I have full faith that a lot of hsi friends know too becuase he tells them things. Academic families tell each other the real story of St Andrews. The Students' Association needs to get the information out there year in and year out to make sure everyone gets the story.


Then we get to the election time itself. To me, election time starts at least a month beforehand. Assign at least 5 officers and SRC or SSC members plus a bunch of subcommittee members to every hall for a night. They are to sit in that common room for not one hour but ALL EVENING to talk to students. Why halls? That's 3000 students who live in a hall! I can't invite people into other people's homes, but that can be arranged if need be. A month before elections, you've got the officers themselves telling normal students what they've done and what can still be done. Inspiring the next generation, these ambassadors also make the Students' Association look real-- not a concept in the clouds.
I'm not into self engrangisement or trying to stack the place with my buddies in order to build some weird personality cult.

Three weeks before elections: with the elections officers and myself (I'd have nothing better to do because all the international terrorists will have been dealt with already in my night job in superspy) outside the Union, the library, in the quads, down in Physics: talking to students, encouragign them to run and answering any and all questions they have. If theatre and societies can stand outside in the cold selling thier tickets, why can't the Students' Association sell its wares?

Two weeks: one final push for nominations. If students haven't got the e-mails, website, The Book, academic families telling them all about it, seen someone in halls, seen someone in the streets, etc-- well, they must be purposefully hiding away. But we'd try to get them anyway.

One week: now it's concentrating on getting students to vote instead of stand. Hecklings in the Union are great, but voluntarily attended hecklings in halls, society events, informal meets during the day out in the Physics common room (what a great venue that has never been used before!). Imagine: get as many of those running who want to meet up at 10:45 in the common room, 11:00 start. Have the 100 words booklet and description of each post for any passing student who wants it, a little description written about how students can ask any questions that are in order, we don't have the other candidates leave the room, it'll be almost like Question Time. Candidates give a two minute speal, any students there can follow up with questions. Candidates and other students stay or go as long as they want (the other students might stay for quite some time because a lot of them eat lunch in that common room). Finally, science students feel part of the process (one of the most common complaints is that arts students are paid attention to while all the others are ignored). End this at 3 pm.

Another informal session under the cloisters outside the chapel one afternoon or outside the library. Yes, it'll be cold, but if the candidates want votes, then they'll have to do it.


Now, stop all this with serious questions!

Quoting Dave the Explosive Newt from 01:30, 13th Mar 2006
This question goes out to all the AP candiates - no copying from each other, kids.

Following on from the other thread, it's a great shame how under-advertised this election has been thus far and the high number of uncontested seats can only be deleterious to the quality of candiates being elected. Do you believe that the student population is, by and large, quite apathetic towards union politics and how would you go about solving this problem?

[hr]

It has been brought to my attention that certain people refer to me as a legend. Should you meet one of these people, maintain a safe distance and telephone the police. Under no circumstances attempt to deal with them by yourself.

[hr]

I love cheese.

[Sid]

No I don't, what am I missing, who is this person?

[Fawksie]

Quoting Sid from 13:46, 14th Mar 2006
No I don't, what am I missing, who is this person?

Wrong thread Sid. Thackaray is Oli.

[Sid]

It's not the wrong thread, it just seemed inappropriate to carry it on in the other. But, really! Thackery is Oli?! Why was he being mean??

Quoting Fawksie from 14:19, 14th Mar 2006

Quoting Sid from 13:46, 14th Mar 2006
No I don't, what am I missing, who is this person?

Wrong thread Sid. Thackaray is Oli.

[Magus]

Bonnie, for those of us who were not able to attend the hecklings, and are absent from St Andrews this week, could you please give me a rendition of your heckling speech?
And possibly a copy of your 100 words..?

[hr]

When I would pray and think, I think and pray to several subjects.

[Cain]

Quoting Magus from 16:18, 16th Mar 2006
Bonnie, for those of us who were not able to attend the hecklings, and are absent from St Andrews this week, could you please give me a rendition of your heckling speech?

And could you please give us a rendition of the Gaudeamus?

[hr]

I hold an element of surprise

[Bonnie]

I say never say never to standing again. You only live twice afterall. Diamonds are forever, so are bops. They’ll live to die another day.
The Library: live and let die.
The world is not enough for egos here.
There’s no communication; it’s like information is marked for your eyes only.
Money grabbing goldfingers expect to us be from casino royale. I have my goldeneye on them and I say “Dr., No! Do no leave us shaken AND stirred.”
I have no licence to kill but I will promise vodka martinis and pussy galore.
From Ryder With Love


Arts/ Divinity Senatus Academicus Representative
International Politics Association Committee
member sine suffragio of SRC as former Director of Services
member of Sheugh Productions
Vagina Monologues, Laramie Project, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Made for Each Other
co-founder of "Bonnie is the Shortest Person in the World" Appreciation group
Union Debating Society


[hr]

I love cheese.

[Bonnie]

You're not reading that wrong. I DID put "Bonnie is the Shortest Person in the World".

[hr]

I love cheese.