Before They Were Heroes
December 10, 2004
Mike McMahon, the most powerful bureaucrat in the Students’ Union, grunted at me while pissing this morning in the third floor washroom. It’s rumoured that he controls the entire organization, and I wondered what he did before he became the puppet master. I raced out of the washroom, pants unzipped, and found the answer in The Cord archives…
In 1995 a young and ambitious Mike McMahon ran for the WLUSU presidency on a dull and uninspiring platform. He wanted to “represent the student body consistently” and address “issues.” “Leadership,” he wrote, “is as essential as financial, academic, and social issues in campus life.” Nobody understood what that line meant, but Mike was certainly a leader — he expressed an inordinate desire to cut ribbons at the grand opening of the new WLUSU building.
His main rival was Scott McCormick, a man with a reputation for streaking and bashing diversity. McCormick was arrested in Halifax before the election after an altercation with police. “The cop called me a faggot,” he explained in an open forum, “and I told him to ‘kiss my ass.’ Looking back it wasn’t the wisest thing to say.” He also got drunk and ran naked through Grand Bend while on a WLUSU conference. Unlike McMahon, McCormick was not a good role model.
A lot of dirt came up in the campaign and most of it stuck to McCormick; McMahon’s victory seemed assured. But on election night something went awry — Mike lost by a large margin. People preferred the drunk, naked man to the ambitious Mike McMahon.
While browsing though dusty Cords this morning, I regained my faith in student politics. Naked people can get far — let’s take off our clothes and run through the campus ejaculating wildly.
Posted by Tudor at 11:49 PM in Politics | TrackBackScott McCormick did, however, create the first WLUSU-funded course evaluations [and is therefore my idol].
Also, he was in office during the Ezra Street riots, and violently-opposed the implementation of the horrid Code of Conduct, his reaction to which I think you would find wonderful. I will have to show you the minutes [they were done word-for-word back then] one day…they are great indeed. There’s more, but I won’t bore you.
Scott also was I believe the only VP:UA to run and win President afterwards, so unlike big Mike, he did have a big advantage in that sense [name recognition and the like]. I don’t believe it was an as out-of-the-blue victory as you inferred.
I would especially debate you on him being a good role model. In all the things I’ve learned about WLUSU, I find him to be one of the best! Just walk down to the Health Plan office and mention his name to Charlene [who was “Tina” at the time] - that will explain a lot.
So, this demonstrates two important things: streakers can be great WLUSU presidents and…Jen is a big loser.
Posted by: Jen Mitchell on December 11, 2004 at 12:47 AMJen, I certainly agree with you that there’s a lot more to the story — Scott’s victory was not out of the blue and he did do a number of wonderful things as VP:UA (and later as president). However, I looked mainly at the news articles leading up to the election, which didn’t cover any of this wonderfulness (they only covered Scott’s extracurricular activities). And this gave me a lot of contrast to work with.
But yes, there’s a lot more to be said about both contestants. For instance, can we say that because Mike lost the election he was condemned to remain at Laurier for the rest of his life? Is Mr. McMahon the spectre that haunts Laurier?
Posted by: Tudor on December 11, 2004 at 02:30 AMI think this is probably one of the best stories you’ve ever told.
Posted by: Inferno on December 11, 2004 at 02:40 AMTudor,
You’re funny.
I’ll be back in Waterloo between the 22 dec and jan 6th. Can we get together? I’m at a retreat for world peace from 27 dec - 30 dec.
Peace,
david
Posted by: David on December 11, 2004 at 08:54 AMI’m glad you find it funny — the other David deserves a lot of credit for looking through The Cord’s morgue.
Posted by: Tudor on December 11, 2004 at 12:35 PMSpeaking of extracurricular activities, Scott also boycotted the Dean’s Trip both years he was on the MC. He started the Health Plan. It’s unfortunate the articles around the election were so sensationalist. I don’t think streaking at a conference violates our risk management policy…
To be fair, Mike had nothing to do with WLUSU before the election and was therefore doomed to failure against someone like Scott. And since we’re making these connections - are you condemned to stay at Laurier too? :)
Posted by: Jen on December 11, 2004 at 02:12 PM