Quoting someone from 10:46, 29th Oct 2005
That's a great idea, Reilly--- "oh, why don't I just sneak it in there that perhaps we should join the NUS?" Brilliant.
Why do you think Brian Lang isn't doing any of it? Because the Union isn't putting any pressure on him.
You're not running a Soviet Socialist Republic, Ben (although you might like to.) The Association is not terribly complicated, its laws are as binding on independent human activity as bluetack and it has 30-odd officers. If you can't manage to marshal them for a campaign other than Simon Pepper's then I would suggest to you that the problem isn't the SRC... it's probably the people who sit on it.
Or run it.
I think two years in a row is all very good, but the lack of experience in leadership, I'm afraid to say, is obvious - at least where the SRC is concerned. Societies seem to have a lot more, *ahem*, success than other dept.s
In 3 SRC meetings you
should be able to:
1) Decide what your policies for the year will be [s](give a few examples and let the rest do the work. leaders are there to steer and guide,
not to do the running around and all the brain work)[/s]
2) Decide if Dr. Laing needs bringing up to speed over anything Association-wise. Two points here, firstly, the [s]small text from 1) above applies[/s],and secondly, I know some say he's not the most something-or-other of Principles, but that it rubbish. You need to find someone who a) isn't scared of talking to him
every week, [s][s]or even
every day[/s][/s] if necessary, b) who can approach him confidently and in a style he recognizes. If someone he's put off by (for whatever reason) repeatedly approaches him, he's never going to budge for them. And I suggest that if you've had little progress in the past, then this may be a reason for it. This is power politics on a smaller stage than some - but it's still the same game. None of this "ooo please can we talk to you about this". Try, "Dr Laing, I have some issues that I need to talk over with you and get your advice on." Try talking to him about how the union could work closer with the University, perhaps? Get him on our side - stop alienating him - subconsciously, as you do (I've heard it all a million times) - you all talk about him when he's not there like he's some sort of monster. Forget whatever you think, it's not applicable in the real world. Grow up and learn to work WITH people, and stop influencing yourselves against the system that's not going to work with you unless you work with it.
3) Decide which campaigns require whom to work on them. Remember, your representatives are meant to be representing - not just in person, but also in act and deed. Take this away from them and you remove their purpose fully.
[hr]
[s]Cogitationis poenam nemo meretur, facias ipse quod faciamus suades - pax vobiscum.[/s]
We are gentlemen that neither in our hearts nor outward eyes envy the great nor shall the low despise.