By Ng Min Xi
Let me be clear on this, I’m writing as myself. I am representing nobody. The following is my views and opinions on the events that occurred throughout the SRC nomination until the polling.
Why bring J-on into the mess? Because the three major players throughout the election were Empower, Open and J-on.
Fact one, J-on is a separate entity from Empower and Open. You guys need to understand that for the most part, J-on aims to inform, nothing more. Views and arguments are only brought up in commentaries like the article you are reading right now or editorials which are the newspaper’s official stand on a specific issue.
Fact two, J-on has members that are connected with people from Empower and Open, but let this be clear, J-on as an organization is a separate entity, we are neutral. There are even some members who were not allowed to write about the elections because they supported their respective parties. Those who dare to dispute otherwise can read my previous article, What Your Future Holds – Empower or Open.
Fact three, J-on has since established a “letters to editor” section for those who have something to say. Visit their Facebook page for more details.
As Winston Churchill puts it, there is no such thing as public opinion, there is only published opinion. So if you are not satisfied, don’t take it out on J-on, get your opinions published by following the steps mentioned in the site.
Fact four, J-on is barely a year old, cut us some slack.
About the Elections
Now that you are hopefully thinking objectively, let me begin.
Empower started their movement before the nominations. Meaning their manifesto that was put on Blogspot and their Facebook group were both created before the nomination.
As you should know by now, Empower is a relatively radical group compared to the previous SRCs and even Open. Their ideology’s modus operandi is as such, work with DSA, but if DSA does not listen, don’t take ‘no’ as an answer. They employ powerful phrases like “fighting for rights” and even suggest resorting to activism.
As aforementioned this is a change of pace from the previous SRCs, people who support Empower simply do so because the old formula is not working.
The election rules stated that there should be “no media coverage”. Empower first interpreted the said “media coverage” as requesting coverage from newspapers like The Star or national channels like TV3.
Let’s for one moment define media as including Facebook and Blogspot or in fact any form of media, then I would like to say that both teams had members that updated their facebook statuses regarding their campaign and that both teams used flyers. Both teams should be disqualified.
Do you get it? Media was not clearly defined as our common sense so conveniently tells us. And ‘media’ is not even the full picture, ‘media coverage’ needs to be defined.
Empower knew what they did was against the rules because they were briefed against using Facebook and blogs for their campaigning. But Empower preached of radical ideas, did you really expect them to follow the rules by the book?
‘I am advocating activism to change redundant policies but I have to follow the redundant policies first.’ Does it make any sense?
In the end, Empower apologized to the management and to Open. Their Facebook group and blog has since been removed. This was a move that contradicted their idealogy. What happened to ‘fighting for rights’? They lose some respect here.
Which brings me to my next point, one of the main reasons the SRC is said to be “useless” is because the SRC comprises of students, ultimately we are at UTAR for our education. Now let me ask you, would you risk your degree just to ‘fight for your rights’?
I believe the answer is “No”, then let me repeat that the SRC are students too.
Empower had already risked facing disciplinary action for what they have done, they were given official warnings from the management and even risked being disqualified to stay on track with their ideology as much as possible.
They have tread on the borderline of the management’s patience and crossing it further would have prompted action. Would you have continued it? I would have if I practiced what I preached, then again holding office might put Empower in a better position to bargain. You balance it out yourself, holding office or sticking to your ideology?
Now as I said, J-on is not part of any other group. During the campaign, J-on managed to record videos of the speeches, however they were –as weird as it sounds- politely intimidated by a certain someone to remove one of the said videos else J-on should face a lawsuit.
Now, usually views and arguments are left out, hard facts are the main points for our articles. But such a move to degrade J-on prompted an action on their part, which brought forth this article. Nothing more to be said about that except read between the lines, people who take things literally should learn to think critically.
Some people realized that although the video was removed, the names were not omitted. Let me set the record straight, the article above was retaliation and there was no intent to submit to the demands of a third party.
Hence the article, not omitting the names, screenshots of the site before and after the video was taken down and the magical appearance of said video on Youtube.
Open should be commended for their efforts, sure beats doing nothing at all. However no matter what they may say, their ideas are built upon the same limitations that the previous SRCs are bounded by, the fear of facing disciplinary action.
In all honesty, I do not know if Empower can really bring change. Personally I think the only way to really change UTAR policies is to use quantity. If everyone is motivated and proactive to a single cause, then of course that voice cannot be ignored.
Which brings me to my next point, the one reason most of us have no right to complain about anything whatsoever. And that would be because we have done absolutely nothing. If we really wanted to change something so badly, why not run for SRC? Or maybe we have other commitments, so vote for those who think they can do it instead of complaining while doing nothing.
The worst are those who actually don’t vote because “SRC is useless so no point voting”, not only are they not supporting their peers in genuine efforts in making life easier here but they are degrading it.
If you had been observing the election like I have, you would notice one of the most down to Earth person talking, one of the members of the previous SRC, Wilson Lo.
His argument is simple. The UTAR portal has a feedback form for students, use it. Get everyone in your network to use it. How can one expect the management to take SRC seriously if there is no data to support their claim? The feedback form is the simplest way.
And finally the election results are out, and behold everyone from Empower is on board the SRC with the uncontested candidates from Open.
The problem is that only 3.82 percent of students voted. So the SRC now speaks for less than four percent of the student population. I thought things might be different this time but looks like some things never change.
Feel free to challenge my opinions but do everyone a favor and really think what you’re saying.
