Student Politics Kills Idealists
November 23, 2004
In September we tasted power and howled in the streets. Back then we loved student politics: the future was ours, we were doing good deeds and winning impossible battles. But everything changed in three months.
Now we’re disillusioned and tired of WLUSU — the machinery has conquered us. Huddled in corners, we’re crying in exhaustion, our throats sore from arguing in vain about democracy and justice. The desire for change has shrivelled up inside us like testicles in cold water.
WLUSU has killed the idealist within me; I never thought that it could do that. But over time, the organization has perfected its way of crushing souls. WLUSU’s method looks something like this:
- Force board members to spend at least six hours in meetings that accomplish nothing.
- Make it difficult for them to pursue projects that personally interest them.
- Schedule meetings late at night or early in the morning in order to cause maximum sleep deprivation (i.e. if Monday’s meeting finished at 1:30AM, Tuesday’s meeting should start at 9AM).
- Build inefficiencies into each of the committees to prevent projects from going anywhere.
- Strategically place illogical first year students on each committee to make board members lose hope in the future.
The above method is guaranteed to turn idealists into monsters of cynicism in just three months. And now, three months after it all began, those of us once full of ideas and desires are weeping in agony.
Posted by Tudor at 11:31 PM in Politics | TrackBackNolite te bastardes carborundorum - don’t let the bastards grind you down good buddy!
Posted by: Ikabod on November 24, 2004 at 12:20 AMTudor,
I have a start up idea that you might be interested in: World Domination.
I’ll need a dictator for Eastern Europe when I come to power and you’ll be allowed to be as naked as you want to be.
Now is the time to get in on the ground floor.
Posted by: TMH on November 24, 2004 at 12:28 AMTwo words: Mass Resignations.
Posted by: Borrelli on November 24, 2004 at 08:29 AMThis is the kind of thing that made me cringe at the thought of student government at Trent; this is the kind of thing that made me abstain from voting. I observed, in my first year, an ineffective government defending itself from fellow students who cried that they had abandoned their ideals; I witnessed the same thing in my second year.
The problem is that “the administration” (for lack of a better term) is not regularly elected and thus is not responsible to the electorate, which means that they can do anything they want with almost no repercussions.
Democracy, freedom, and justice aside, university students live under a totalitarian regime and are granted only the illusion of power. If you are truly distraught at the situation, you have only one recourse: violent overthrow of the existing system. Dstroy the old regime and build a new and just one from its ashes!
Just a thought.
Posted by: the zero god on November 24, 2004 at 08:55 AMI still have to decided what to do about this whole WLUSU thing. Mass resignations might be the answer (thanks Borrelli — I do love you).
And Josh, I’m pleased that you as a conservative are now advocating the violent overthrow of the existing system. Revolution is so Marxist and sexy! Wow!
Posted by: Tudor on November 24, 2004 at 02:43 PMI never thought They would get to you. How sad.
Posted by: Shirley on November 24, 2004 at 04:58 PMWell Tudor, I’ve been re-evaluating some things… and I’ve decided that fiscal conservatism appeals to me, but that it’s necessary to embrace a more (if only slightly more) socially liberal attitude. Because (let’s face it) you’re right - revolution is sexy… and it can still be good for the economy (both fiscal and social).
Ahem… </rant> .
Posted by: the zero god on November 24, 2004 at 08:09 PMSo if this a sign of defeat Tudor? Have the powers of Steve Welker gotten the best of you? Say it ain’t so.. the last soldier has fallen.
Posted by: Aaron on November 27, 2004 at 10:12 PMI’ll continue to be a gadfly until April, but I’ve given up on the idea that I can bring positive change to the Union. Thus, whenever Welker fucks up I’ll be there to remind him (e.g. I read him the letter to the editor at this week’s meeting), but I’m not sure I can go much further than that.
Posted by: Tudor on November 28, 2004 at 12:37 AMI would really appreciate it if you made people cry.
Posted by: Borrelli on November 28, 2004 at 03:03 PMWhat was the letter to the editor about?
Posted by: Aaron on November 28, 2004 at 11:27 PMDoesn’t that happen every November/December?
Posted by: Rick on December 07, 2004 at 09:13 AM