A few months ago they called for nominees for the positions of “Class Captain” and “Class Co-Captain” of the University of the South Pacific’s 2011 MBA Program. Initially I was not interested, but soon received a number of nominations for “Class Captain”. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. Finally, I said, “OK, let’s do this.”
I went into the administrative office to ask more about the process. I was told that you nominate people for the positions, and that once the nominations close you vote. That did not make much sense to me, so I asked, “On what basis are people voting?” No response. I made a point of the issue, and it was agreed that the nominees should present themselves before the students vote.
On Monday March 14th at 1:44 pm the MBA students received an email:
“Dear MBA Students,
You are all invited to attend the Student Election night to exercise your voting right.
DATE: TUESDAY 15TH MARCH, 2011 (TOMORROW).
TIME: START 8PM
VENUE: THE MBA CONFERENCE ROOM DOWNSTAIRS.”
That’s right, on a Monday afternoon we received an email indicating that on Tuesday night we would be voting.
I arrived at the venue to engage in the process. The candidates were asked to sit at the front. We were given three minutes each to present ourselves to our colleagues. I highlighted my ambition to add value to the program by increasing corporate relations so as to provide networking and internship opportunities, organizing knowledge and skill based seminars, creating peer-to-peer tutoring sessions, planning regular and entertaining social events, and ensuring constant lines of communication between the students and the program management by means of regular office hours.
I even teamed-up with one of the nominees for “Class Co-Captain”, which we thought made sense because the people occupying the two positions should share common values and have similar vision. People do not vote-in the “President” and “Vice-President” of the United States separately. Nominees have running mates. You remember the McCain and Palin bill I’m sure. Back to the story…
After I made my pitch, the other candidates proceeded to take the podium. When we were finished, the students voted. Finally, the votes were counted.
Now, before I finish the story I must explain one more thing: In what was not the only peculiarity of this “election process”, students were allowed to be nominated for both positions simultaneously and the person I was running against for “Class Captain” found herself on the ballot for “Class Co-Captain” as well.
To the punch-line of this affair...
A part-time student with a full-time job who campaigned on a platform of ensuring that enough milk and coffee were available for students at all times and that the lights and computers would consistently work, won BOTH positions.
Lessons:
1) Cover the basics.
2) Know your constituency. 