ae 5 Saptember 8, 208 CAMPUS

UPEI Cadre

Extra! Extra! Douglas to change the face of UPEI Student Union

_New SU President looks to make changes, for the better to the University —

By Cheryl-Lynn Murray The Cadre

What do you expect from a president?

Presidential qualities? Of course.

But does Justin Douglas, the newly elected president of “the U.P Eil>, Sradent Union, embody these quali- ties?

outlet on the Island buzzing. For those of you who are new on campus, Douglas was disqualified from the initial round of Student Union elections last spring.

Allegedly, Douglas and his campaign team broke elec- tion rules by starting a Facebook group in support of the candidate, and by fail- ing to remove campaign posters from the vicinity of

One would expect C6 voting charisma, passion, I want to polis a real ability to before the rouse the troops, make sure deadline.

inspire, and instill Over the hope into the hearts students feel summer, and minds of the Douglas people who elected proud to be spoke with him (well, maybe Elections from the president a UPEI Pee of the -U.3.4.). have them Charisma is most 9? look over definitely lacking student. to ae

and, in shorts and a baseball shirt, he certainly doesn’t dress the part. So how did he become el presidente?

Douglas is articulate, defi- nite, and possesses a shy confidence that could only be defined as timid, yet he’s not.

Is he an enigma? Oh, please. No one is that com- plicated. But he is intrigu- ee

However, those opinions can be expected when assessing the “newbie”. Decide for yourself.

ELECTION DAY

Returning students know all about last year’s election fiasco that had every media

union’s election laws.

“The whole process fell victim to election laws that didn’t quite work in the realm of elections,” he said. It was not an individual or group out to get him, as many of you may have thought.

“The way I look at it is, they allowed me to run again, and they didn’t have to. It was taxing, and it did take a toll on my school- work, and myself financial- ly, but in the end it worked out well, so I guess I can’t complain.”

dent unions webpage was April 2008. During the sum- mer months, councilors away and the executive is down to a thin roster, with just the vice-president. of activities, Shawn Younis, and the president working full-time.

“I’ve been looking at the organization as a whole and figuring out ways to make it more transparent, make it more accessible, and making sure the organization meets the needs of all the stu- dents.” .

Douglas’ intentions for the transparency of the SU include opening up the lines of communication between

- the union and the population

it represents.

Those lines were down in previous years, especially concerning the SU budget. This year, Douglas wants to make sure students are aware the budget is being presented and they are more than welcome to be there for the presentation.

“T want to be more open with the student newspaper, and there will be more infor- mation available online.”

Whether or not it will be published in the student newspaper is yet to be decid- ed.

“We don’t really have any- thing to hide, the budget is squeaky clean.”

Douglas says all salaries

- and expenses are posted

NO MINUTES? The last time council min- utes were posted on the stu-

online and he has full confi- dence in the bookkeeping and transparency of the

| Justin Douglas:

union’s finances.

SCHOOL OR STUDENT? Douglas believes the stu

“this year who aren’t going to

fold under every pressure that comes up. You can be sure that this year the stu- dent union will be independ- ent of all other organiza-

dent body OVA tions. That’s not believed the C areca what I was elect- union did ° ed for. I wasn’t more for the democratic elected to work school _ sys- . . for the adminis- tem and the organization tration, the administra- provincial gov- 2 sie) than it that S sup- ernment, or to id for the work for the fed- students. posed to be eral = govern- “It’s tough ment. We’re just you know, here to work for

you’ve got a lot of strong- minded peo- ple knocking on your door, and you want to help them all,” he says.

“Tt’s one misperception that I certainly want not only stu- dents, but faculty and staff as well, to know. We are independent, and we will always have the best interest of students at heart.”

Douglas believes the prob- lems with the student union in the past stemmed from not being — here’s that word again — transparent.

“But we have strong per- sonalities on the executive

transparent

and we will THE CADRE bes

the students.”

Again, new students might not be aware of past issues regarding the stu- dent newspaper.

Former editors printed car- toon depictions of the prophet Mohammed (a seri- ous no-no in the Islamic tra- dition), printed the union’s budget without express per- mission from the union to do so, and challenged every issue raised, sometimes just for the sake of controversy.

See Douglas, page 13