Student "edition" found at {csi dot journalspace dot com}.

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Last Tuesday I had a meeting with the newly elected Student Council president, because two of the people they were planning to appoint to the new council were not qualified due to disciplinary records. It was too late though for the oathtaking Friday two weeks ago, so the Election Commission Chair just announced them as "acting" officers to fill the stage and not let their formal wear go to waste. In fact, so they won't stand out, all appointed officers were called "acting". That was one indication of the problem - pride - which I had anticipated when they requested the meeting.

I knew they were going to appeal their cases to be allowed to serve. But I would rather that the Election Commission be known for its sticking to the rules than have some people complain again next year saying we should accept them even though they're not qualified because we accepted their predecessors.

Besides, I threw the concerns back to the Student Council, that (a) the disciplinary records have to mean something to the students, and that (b) there has to be an increase in student involvement again to prevent further recurrence of appointments.

Of course the prideful "appointees" came up with excuses I had prepared for, such as the fact that they had taken an oath (which was wrong anyway, because it said "as elected officials" which isn't true) and that they are trusted by the elected officials, and that they had already made "plans".

I had to tell one of them straight out that if he appeals formally, that means he insists that out of their batch of scores of students, that he is the most qualified for the position, when in fact the limited time frame is what made the rush in judgment in the first place. Not everyone had been asked.

I even told the new President we could put out posters for qualified applicants if he wants.

Besides, during the presentation of platforms, this was the guy who called the current council "stagnant" to their face. And he didn't win. He had no opponent and he didn't get 50% + 1 of the votes. So I know that if he appeals, there will be a counter appeal by his batchmates, and even by those who are not his batchmates but just don't want him to get what he wants.

This is where I'm going to try that forgiveness trick I read about. Because otherwise, it's really very easy to get lulled into throwing the book at people who obviously have gotten used to shortcuts in the half-baked procedures "implemented" in some areas of this school, so they are not used to someone sticking to the rules and not backing down from their "charms".

Session 2081 doesn't have to wait until graduation for a rude awakening. Class dismissed.