Little interest in EUSA first year and by-elections

Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) President Thomas Graham insists he's not worried despite a distinct lack of interest in the lesser positions currently open for candidates in by- and first year elections.

With nominations due to close this week, only 11 people had announced their intention to run for the 106 seats available, with no contested place thus far.

Mr Graham remains confident that the impressive turnout in the general election last March will be echoed in these forthcoming by- and first year elections. He told The Journal: "I am confident that we will encourage many students to stand for positions. The feedback we’ve had from freshers only just in the first week of nominations is promising."

With EUSA’s entire working system under scrutiny for being too complicated and a long overdue governance review expected later this academic year, some of the roles available may seem daunting to any returning student or Fresher who is totally new to the world of student politics.

Out of the positions available, the majority will gain a seat on the Student Representative Council (SRC).

Last year, third year Religious Studies student Chris Champion was elected as a New College Ordinary Representative and explained to The Journal his main role and responsibilities: "I met with students and discussed their issues and relayed them back to the rest of the council. I also helped organise events at New College with the other SRC members."

Asked whether he found the role a good use of his time, Mr Champion replied: "Yes, it was good in terms of voting on issues that matter to students. I also got the opportunity to attend and speak at last year’s NUS extraordinary conference which was something I would not have been allowed to do had I not been in that position.

"Although I guess I felt with the other three positions at New College it did kind of feel that the ordinary member position was there just to make up numbers."

Meanwhile, at Edinburgh Napier University, two vacancies were made available on the Napier Student Association (NSA) Executive - a Faculty of Engineering, Computing & Creative Industries (FECCI) Officer and a Postgraduate Student Officer. Nominations closed on Wednesday 30 September.

EUSA elections will take place on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October 2009. The votes will be cast electronically through the MyEd online portal and only fully matriculated students are able to vote.