On the Lookout for a GVP

At ten minutes to one it was Colin McFadzean's turn to try and convince people that he should be NZUSA's General Vice-President.

Colin has been involved in student politics for many years, most of them in Australia. In his year in New Zealand, he has worked as an archivist and a research officer for the Auckland University Students Association. Colin has a law degree and has worked with students' legal problems in the areas of drugs, marriage, mental health and in aboriginal rights. He has had close contact with the Trade Unions, has built up many contacts in this way and believes NZUSA and the Unions should become more involved in each others campaigns. He has organised many campaigns, including those on racism and international issues.

Colin showed he has a lot of experience behind him but when time for questions came, some disturbing aspects of his performance and personality were exposed.

It seems that on the Monday night before Council, Colin managed the feat of alienating almost all the people he had contact with. Without getting down to details, his actions portrayed blatant sexism—and this was admitted by Colin during questioning. He apologised for what he said and did and explained that he was "under medication" and drunk at the time. He claimed to be aware of his sexism and was trying to overcome it.

However, the point was made that "medicaments" and alcohol do not make one sexist, they simply allow the sexism to be exposed. It was felt by many people, especially these he had offended, that Colin's degree of sexism was unacceptable in a national officer. And so a split developed between those who thought the apology was enough and those who thought that it was a political consideration which precluded Colin from being able to do the job.

After much heated and oft repeated discussion, the first ballot was taken and lost (at 2.30am) 26 to 16.