It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or at least the most chaotic. Queen’s students are presented with the thrilling and mildly terrifying opportunity to step up and run for a student government role.
Prior to running for Rector last winter, I had closely observed many election cycles. I went in with a powerhouse campaign team and was ready to run the marathon ahead. Yet nothing can quite prepare you for the long campaign days that start with 8 a.m. class pitches and end in late night strategizing sessions.
I wish every single student entering this race the best. You had the courage to put yourself in the often unforgiving campus politics spotlight. Now, the challenge is to stay grounded in your values when the noise gets loud, and I promise the rest will work out.
While a small number of our student population will be putting themselves on the ballot, the rest of us shouldn’t just kick our feet up. The Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) campaign period has already begun, with AMS and faculty societies following soon. It’s time to tune in—and lucky for us, it’s not difficult to find information.
Read platforms online. Watch a debate. Submit a question to a debate. Visit candidate booths on campus. Pick up The Journal. Follow your student government channels. Look up from your laptop when a candidate gives an elevator pitch at the onset of class. And most importantly, VOTE!
We will never find a candidate that perfectly aligns with our opinions on all matters. Look for people who are genuine in their motivation and ready to grow into the role. For me, serving and leading Queen’s students means spending a lot of time listening and holding multiple perspectives—not just my own.
I started attending Queen’s in 2019, when the winter referendum saw a 30.1 per cent voter turnout. There was a steep decline when our world moved online during the pandemic, and since then, students haven’t come out to use their voices on the ballot in the same numbers. This is concerning because student leaders have a lot of responsibility, and should be voted in with a high degree of confidence from peers. It’s also harming us through a lesser known consequence: Loosing funding for student initiatives.
Most ballots use a sliding scale to dictate the threshold required to a fee. As an example, the fall 2024 AMS referendum saw an 11.9 per cent voter turnout, meaning student fees needed at least a 60 per cent “yes” response to . Seven fees failed, all of which had at least 51.6 per cent “yes” votes, and most came just shy of 60 per cent. If there was a 20 per cent voter turnout, it’s likely that more would’ve ed.
I’m not advocating for more fees, but I certainly don’t believe less than 12 per cent of students should decide if an equity grant or a 55-year-old volunteer-based camp for disadvantaged youth doesn’t see another penny. This is where student groups across campus can play a role in facilitating robust get-out-to-vote efforts. And you, can nag your friends to respond to those pesky reminder emails from the AMS and SGPS ballot systems.
Election season is the most wonderful time of the year because it brings a mix of new voices to the table and just enough optimism to keep things interesting. I’m excited to welcome the next crew of hopefuls to the table after you place your online votes.
At your service,
Niki
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