A stitch in time saves nine. Grab time by its forelocks. Make hay while the sun shines. These are some of the sayings that are used to qualify the need to act when the moment demands, in doing the right thing as and when appropriate. Last semester, still fresh in our memories, was filled with its own unique set of drama. But then, drama is not new to us as a union; every successive administration has taken it upon itself to be more ridiculous than the last. One thing they all claim, however, is that they are doing what they think is best for the union. One can only hope this is the case as, so far, their actions have directly contradicted their words.
Last semester, after taking heat from most of the students, the student union executives called for a congress. At the time, the issues at stake were the disparities in fees, student loans, fee deadlines, registration and accommodation issues, among a myriad of other issues facing the students in the course of their academic endeavours in the school. It was a moment of anxiety and uncertainty for a lot of students, and so many of them waited on the UI'SU to allay these fears. The student union on its own part put off the congress for as long as it could. When it eventually did call for a congress, at the behest of the Students Representative Council, it took being accosted at their offices by their fellow students for them to decide, arbitrarily no less, that the congress would be a security risk and then proceed to cancel it again. Perhaps their decision was due to the generosity of their hearts, concern for potential rowdiness or just cowardice in the face of reality. The conclusion on that is up to anyone.
What is certain, however, is that the beginning of the session was a period where almost every single student, as well as the union as a whole, had issues to take care of with impelling alacrity. The Union, however, defaulted in this regard. Instead of calling for a general assembly of the students, Team Auspicious opted for a town hall meeting with the heads of student bodies in faculties, departments and halls of residence, an act that brusquely denied the majority of the students the right to be involved in the decision-making process of their union. What is even more ridiculous is the titled “stakeholders” that has been pinned on this set of individuals. By implication, the SU executives have made it crystal clear that some people—the presidents of faculties and chairpersons of halls of residence—hold more stake in the affairs of the students than the rest of the students. This is further affirmed by the fact that barely two weeks into the new semester, they have called for another meeting with these “stakeholders”.
Be that as it may, one cannot say that everything did not work out. For a set of union executives that avoid facing issues head-on, everything definitely went the way they envisaged it. After handling matters of great concern with minds of arrogance and perceptible languor, they then proceed to label the decisions they reached in their executive council meeting as the resolution of the entire union. It is further obvious in the list of achievements they posted on social media following their 100 days in office, the number of offices they visited, and the number of hands they shook. Meanwhile, the students who are their constituents are left struggling to figure things out for themselves.
Interestingly, one excuse being used and reused is the “due process” excuse. Surely, due process, rules and regulations have to be followed in every civilised context. As the John Wick franchise put it, ‘Without rules, we'd live with the animals.’ But in the name of due process, our dear student executives have fashioned out escape routes for failing in their responsibilities. These systems are supposed to enable smooth running of affairs. If it ever becomes counterproductive, adequate adjustments must be made. The twist, however, is that even the student executives are not following the slated due process. The incident in which the SU executives failed to adequately mobilise students for a congress called by the SRC and even ended up cancelling the same is a perfect example of this.
The part of proper protocol and due process cannot be trifled with in the same way that the natural course of things must not be ignored. The decision of the executives in writing to the SRC to call for a Congress this semester is a positive one. But the time when a congregation like that would have had more effectiveness was first semester. The right time to collect rainwater is when it is obviously raining; it will be absolute lunacy to want to do the same when the scorching sun is up in the sky. In the same vein, the right time to call a general meeting of the student populace is at the very beginning when nothing has escalated, not when the milk has already been spilt. It is almost as if this administration is trying to cross holding a congress out of its bucket list in order not to give the appearance of a union that does not endear itself to its students.
A lot has been said about the UI'SU needing to be consistent and doing the appropriate thing at the appropriate time. The actions of our union so far have made this notion look too idealistic. We have tolerated mediocrity for so long that we now celebrate the bare minimum, making the past victories and successes of this same Union look like fairy tales. The executive council of the UI'SU needs to be more proactive in every area in order for it to be more effective. Yes, it is foolish to be reactionary, but what is even more foolish is a preemptive action that has yielded no results.
