Canterbury students celebrate successful election

University of Canterbury students are celebrating another successful election.

The University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) last week held its annual elections to elect the 2003 President, Vice President and Executive. Turnout for the election was over 50% higher than last year.

UCSA President Richard Neal was re-elected with a majority of over 600, one of the highest polling results for years.

“I’m extremely pleased to be re-elected,” Neal said. “I thank all those students who voted for me. It allows me to carry on the important work for students—which is what all Executive members are here to do.”

An interesting facet of the election was the gender split of the 2003 Executive. “For the first time in as long as anyone can recall, the Executive is split evenly between men and women. This is important, because it shows the UCSA is a truly diverse institution. And it shows that a wide variety of people want to be involved in running the UCSA.”

UCSA elections were an important event, he said, “because it gives students a chance to have their say. Students often query the use of the Executive—well, this is a chance for them to comment directly on the running of the UCSA.”

Mr Neal said he was excited by the election results. “The Executive they’ve selected for 2003 is a good group of people. I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Results Attached

UCSA Election Results

UCSA PRESIDENT 2003

CHAPMAN, P. 731
ENGLAND, P. 526
NEAL, R. 1399
PITT, J. 60
NO CONFIDENCE 189
INVALID 11
TOTAL 2916 -------------------------------------------

UCSA VICE PRESIDENT 2002 (BY-ELECTION)

ANDERTON, G. 543
HOLDER, J. 875
SMITH, D. 810
NO CONFIDENCE 536
INVALID 10
TOTAL 2774 ------------------------------------------------------

UCSA VICE PRESIDENT 2003

ANDERTON, G. 411
CHIRNSIDE, J. 470
HOLDER, J. 723
SMITH, D. 702
NO CONFIDENCE 418
INVALID 9
TOTAL 2733 ------------------------------------------------------ UCSA EXECUTIVE 2003

ANDERTON, G. 643
CARTER, H. 486
CHAPMAN, P. 863
CHIRNSIDE, J. 693
CLEARWATER, L. 933
COUCH, M. 379
GIBBS, M. 480
GRUBB, F. 283
HARDING, B. 492
HAYWARD, M. 562
HOLDER, J. 725
HOPE, F. 392
IREMONGER, S. 611
McCONNOCHIE, A. 260
PITT, J. 282
PURVIS, T. 442
ROBERTS, A. 357
SHANNON, W. 391
SMITH, D. 585
THOMSON, M. 481
TROUNSON, K. 412
VOSS, C. 541
NO CONFIDENCE 396
INVALID 12 ------------------------------------------------------

BASED ON THESE FINAL STANDINGS THE UCSA EXECUTIVE 2003 WILL CONSIST OF:

PRESIDENT: NEAL

VICE PRESIDENT: HOLDER

EXECUTIVE:

1. CLEARWATER, L. 933
2. CHAPMAN, P. 863
3. CHIRNSIDE, J. 693
4. ANDERTON, G. 643
5. IREMONGER, S. 611
6. SMITH, D. 585
7. HAYWARD, M. 562
8. VOSS, C. 541
9. HARDING, B. 492
10. CARTER, H. 486

A total of 3010 votes were cast; 12 were discounted for double voting. 2998 valid votes were counted.

Matthew Plummer Chief Returning Officer

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