The Students’ Association’s hiring of surveying and polling station workers signaled the beginning of the election season.
The preparations for bringing in new blood to the SA hasn’t been without its problems however. Students had difficulty earlier last month sending in their resumes because of changes to the email system, which is moving to Outlook 365. The transition has caused many emails to be bounced back to the sender, requiring students to print off their resume and hand it in in person.
Rachel Santos, a first year electro-mechanical engineering technician student, experienced the setback firsthand.
“There’s not much information on the page,” said Santos regarding the job positions. “I just looked at the page and handed in the resume.” She was forced to hand in her resume in person.
A job posting for Algonquin students to do work surveying and at polling stations appeared on Facebook within the past few weeks. The posting is not on the SA’s website, but a link to the Facebook page was put up on Twitter.
Annie Thomlinson, the manager of marketing and communication for the SA, is responsible for taking the resumes as well as student timetables.
“We posted on Facebook, and hung posters around the college. It is a paid $11.25 per hour. We always work around their schedule, so they give us what their class schedule is and we try to fit them in between their classes.” said Thomlinson, hoping to entice students. “Quite a few” resumes have already been received said Thomlinson.
According to Thomlinson, March 21-25, students will be going around and speaking with other students asking them if they are interested in voting or if they’ve heard about the election. The surveyors will then explain the importance of voting to those students.
March 28 to April 1 is the actual polling week. Tables will be set up around the college with two people at each table for the whole day, encouraging people to vote.
“The entire election will actually be taking place online and there will be laptops and iPads set up at the polling stations for students to vote at. Alternatively, students can take a card that reminds them to not forget to vote,” said Thomlinson.
Santos is hoping to be part of the surveying team. A surveyor works the week of March 21, and must go out and talk to other students in order to tell them why it is important to vote.
“I was actually looking for a job and my friend actually invited me on Facebook to the Facebook group and I decided to just apply; to get experience of course,” said Santos.
The candidates will be decided at the annual general meeting which is taking place on March 11.
Resumes can be sent in until March 6. By this time next month, a new SA president and vice-president will be chosen.