Political updates from Guelph

Lets just summarize a few of the main points, or at least the ones that seem most pertinent for the youth vote. 


It seems that Rick's words really hit home, for all of us students.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm proud of my school and the actions that have been taken to turn his rant into a demand, from coast-to-coast.

Guelph first held the flash mob to raise awareness & encourage voting nation-wide.
We then held a vote mob, for Stephen Harper's arrival, to inform all parties of our intent to vote and our interest in what they had to say (so maybe they could direct some of it our way).
Both of these traveled to a huge number of other campuses and have made a pretty big splash in the news.
More on those here (Congrats, Rick Mercer)

Guelph then held a special ballot, for students to vote on campus prior to the official May 2nd polls. This has been done for several elections and is put together by Elections Canada for the purpose of encouraging voting in demographics that are known for less participation. Ie. It's legit.
All the while we've had our University President, Alastair Summerlee, backing us up and applauding us (via Twitter no less).
He agreed to vote, in face paint - as an avatar, if 1500 UoG students pledged to vote, whether it be at the special ballot, or May 2nd.



And so he voted, along with hundreds of others in our University Centre.
But with all the hype and pride that's been echoing throughout campus, there obviously had to be opposition. Who knew it would come in the form of a conservative lawyer,  former-student of UoG, telling us that our special ballot was a violation and that none of the votes were to be counted.
He tried to take away the ballot box.
Curious? Confused? So were we.

Special Ballots have since been cancelled.
And though I see this as a scar on our democratic rights, at least we now know that UoG votes, already made, will be included in the vote count.
I'm really just making this to spread the word, Gracen said it best I think, this won't stop us from voting, "So far, the movement has run on pure excitement and determination for my part, but after the special ballot fiasco I feel twinge of something else that I can only liken to defiance."Please read her post here.

I'm really just having a hard time finding the logic.
I hope everyone is staying informed & keeping their pledge.
Don't let them steal our thunder.

On a completely separate note, this has been written instead of studying for spanish...

Politics are just much more interesting these days...