SMU Students Vote Over 2/3rds in Favour of Full Membership in Students Nova Scotia
February 15, 2013
(February 17th update: Results released the day after the election show that the referendum question for StudentsNS received over 75 percent support among voting students–which was roughly 12 percent of the eligible student body)
The results of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA) annual elections were announced yesterday evening. SMU Students voted overwhelmingly in support of full membership in Students Nova Scotia. In moving from associate to full membership SMU students will roughly double their financial contribution and obtain full voting rights within StudentsNS.
“We’re very pleased with the outcome of this referendum,” said Jonathan Williams, Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia. “We have to thank the students of SMU for their commitment to and confidence in our organization.”
Williams noted that the referendum results were about more than increasing funding to a student advocacy organization. “The growing popular support for StudentsNS is affirmation that the priorities and methods of our organization are resonating with students across the province. This is more than a win for this organization, it is a win for the student movement in Nova Scotia.”
“This vote sends a clear message: students are ready and eager to work together to advocate for change”, said Kyle Power, Chair of Students Nova Scotia and VP Academic of the Acadia Students’ Union.
The SMUSA membership approval follows on the heels of similar decisions from StudentsNS’ other five member unions last year. The actual number of eligible voters that turned out for the election has not yet been released.
Polls opened for the SMUSA elections on February 13th and 14th, and saw the election of seven Board of Director Members, the Association President, as well as five referendum questions. StudentsNS would like to congratulate all those who ran and voted in the elections.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Williams, Executive Director, Students Nova Scotia
Phone: (902) 422.4068
Email: engagement@studentsns.ca