Anna Belgiorno-Nettis, Secretary of the LSS, details how they intend to improve student engagement. The Monthly’s latest article on democracy in Australia found that the Collingwood Football club has triple the number of paid members than either the Liberal or Labour party.
While we can’t draw the same analogy between the Law Students’ Society (‘LSS’), and the closest thing us law students have to footy (you got it – Mixed Netball), our representative body still needs more participation. Last year’s article on LSS General Elections (‘Elections’) highlighted that JD students were not as informed and engaged with the Elections as they should have been. This is a problem because the LSS Committee represents every JD student. When Faculty or external bodies want the students’ opinion, they often come to the Committee. They also financially help Melbourne JD students through the LSS. It is important, therefore, that the LSS Committee and its initiatives are engaging with the students wherever possible. A survey that accompanied the Elections article has helped us improve that engagement level by asking what you wanted from your LSS. The survey had 60 respondents – an impressive number considering only 201 students voted in the Elections themselves. As LSS Secretary, I wanted to pass on the results and how we – as your Committee - are responding to them: 1. Online Voting and Time Scarcity What Students Said 50% of survey respondents who didn’t vote said it was because they didn’t have the time. 88% said that online voting would make them more likely to. Respondents also commented that they were unsure of where and how to vote. How LSS is Responding This week, the Committee is discussing the possibility of trialling online voting with the First Year Representative Elections. It would work by linking an online form on the LSS Facebook page, Newsletter and website, and would be accessible at any hour during the voting period: Monday March 30 to Thursday April 2. I will report back with reasons on whether that motion is passed. 2. The ‘Popularity Contest’ vs Policy-Based Campaigns What Students Said 20% of the respondents who didn’t vote mentioned lack of inclusivity in the Committee and called Elections a ‘popularity contest’. The LSS was considered to be ‘a small circle of friends’ that was not representative of the cohort. How the LSS is Responding How can we make Elections less of a popularity contest? 55% respondents tied the problem to a need of policy-based campaigning, citing improved ‘actual plans and campaign platforms’ as solutions. Others mentioned the importance of showing that ‘positions are voted for on the basis of merit rather than popularity’. A greater focus on policy and professionalism has already been highlighted numerous times at our monthly Committee Meetings and we are increasing the focus on policies – through detailed descriptions on every LSS position in Elections, and an Advocacy-specific LSS Noticeboard (along with ones for each portfolio’s initiatives) on Level 2. What Students Said Numerous respondents commented on the lack of lecture bashing: ‘the elections were extremely low-key’; ‘no one attempted to lecture-bash or seemed to have any policies about what they wanted for next year’; ‘as much as the lecture-bashing can get annoying, it was disappointing [that] I only had one campaigner actually publicly express their goals’. How the LSS is Responding So big deep breaths, team. Yes, I’m about to spruik lecture-bashing. Because as precious as those class minutes are, public announcements are the best way to put faces to the names of those wanting to represent us. And don’t worry; the LSS Regulations allow only for minute-long lecture announcements. You are technically allowed to stop announcements after a minute. That’d be a little evil, but technically doable. Maybe give them two. 3. Diversity through Access What Students Said 25% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote if candidates were more diverse. This is linked to the fact that not enough people knew they could be candidates to begin with. A staggering 68% of respondents said they heard about the Elections through those few candidates that did lecture-bash, meaning they had missed the chance to run themselves. Greater access to information about elections promotes greater diversity by ensuring that more than just a ‘small circle of friends’ knows they are on. In fact, respondents mentioned the need for more information on who was running and how to vote and ‘greater publicity of what each role entails’. How the LSS is Responding I didn’t have these survey results when I was organising the 2014 October Coopt Elections (held after the September General Elections, which the survey was responding to). But I did know that the turnout for those General Elections was low, and that something in the Coopt Elections had to change. So we held a Coopt Information Session, publicizing it through Facebook, the LSS Newsletter and lecture announcements. The Session was on Level 1 (rather than a seminar room) so more students could participate. At least one LSS member was present to talk about every Coopt position. While in the General Elections most positions were uncontested, the Coopt Elections had triple the number of students apply than positions available. This great turnout shows that interest in engaging with the LSS is there, if these Elections are advertised in the right way. We are therefore running an Information Session for the First Year Co-opt and Representative Elections on Thursday March 19 from 1-2:30pm on Level 1 (for those without facebook see here), and will be holding a similar one for the General Elections later this year. 4. Enthusiasm and Encouragement What Students Said 25% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote if candidates were enthusiastic and ‘really eager to make the Committee’. 25% also said that they did not run because they, ironically, thought too many people would be running. 67% said that they would be more likely to run for a position if they were encouraged from Committee members. In fact, every respondent who nominated themselves said one reason they did was because a Committee member encouraged them to. How the LSS is Responding Knowing what a difference support from Committee Members made when I was deciding to run, when organising the 2014 Coopt Elections I asked every past Coopt to encourage those keen-bean students to consider nominating. Respondents also mentioned the power of encouragement from friends. It is highly unlikely that Committee Members can be friends with everyone at law school. Considering the amount of socializing that would require, it would probably be rather frightful. So, to get those beyond the Committee’s small/large/potentially non-existent circle of friends, we need you! Help us widen the circle. If you know your law pal would be great at representing your cohort in a particular LSS position, tell them. I bet you will make their day. Overall I hope this article has done a number of things: I hope it’s shown the importance of the LSS as our representative body. I hope it’s shown that the level of engagement the LSS has with students can’t be taken for granted, but if it’s prioritised true enthusiasm for that body is there. And most importantly, I hope it’s shown that the most crucial people in all this are YOU. To be representative, the LSS needs to achieve what you want. That’s why feedback like the survey has been so invaluable. On that note, here’s the most crucial question: is there anything in here you have an answer to, or a question about? Have you dealt with popularity contest problems before? Do you know what the LSS can do to increase engagement? Please contact me on lss-secretary@unimelb.edu.au with the subject ‘LSS Elections Article’. I am looking forward to numerous, communal coffee sessions over all of your brilliant ideas. Thanks and talk soon! Comments are closed.
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