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===Build-Up=== | ===Build-Up=== | ||
By around week 6 of the summer term some members were talking about leaving the society to avoid the politics and in-fighting or because they didn't like the way the station was being run. The following day, James sent an email to officers asking if he had their support. By his own figures, 7 out of 11 people said he had their full confidence, with the rest preferring not to respond. However the definition of "full confidence" was debated as there had not yet been a single incident that warranted such a statement, more a general concern | By around week 6 of the summer term some members were talking about leaving the society to avoid the politics and in-fighting or because they didn't like the way the station was being run. The following day, James sent an email to officers asking if he had their support. By his own figures, 7 out of 11 people said he had their full confidence, with the rest preferring not to respond. However the definition of "full confidence" was debated as there had not yet been a single incident that warranted such a statement, with the style of leadership more a general concern. It also put officers in an uncessarily uncomfortable position by having to proclaim their support or feel they were "dissenting" and thereby causing problems themselves. In short it was not something that was really in the spirit of YSTV. | ||
===Decision To Call A Vote=== | ===Decision To Call A Vote=== | ||
The decision had not come easily, and was always a last resort. Much private debate (mainly via group MSN conversation) centred around this decision and the likely implications. Calling a vote which would subsequently fail would be disastrous. It would split the station in two and undermine James just as the new academic year with the associated recruitment drive was looming. Finding a consensus was important, yet asking people how they would vote in a hypothetical | The decision had not come easily, and was always a last resort. Much private debate (mainly via group MSN conversation) centred around this decision and the likely implications. Calling a vote which would subsequently fail would be disastrous. It would split the station in two and undermine James just as the new academic year with the associated recruitment drive was looming. Finding a consensus was important, yet asking people how they would vote in a hypothetical poll was difficult. There was much debate about who would propose a vote given the likely atmosphere should the vote fail, so [[Ed Jellard]] volunteered to do this at least in part because he would not be in York the following year and in any case was gradually moving towards spending more time in Ents over YSTV, but still felt strongly about what was happening to the society in which he had spent most of the previous two years. It was seconded by Richard Ash. There was also the question of who would take over as Station Director should the vote succeed, and over the need to ideally get this procedure started before the summer break due to the need to present a united image to the freshers arriving in October. Once those proposing the vote had satisfied themselves that it was the right thing to do, they submitted the request. | ||
===The Vote Itself=== | ===The Vote Itself=== | ||
An EGM was called to discuss and take the vote of no-confidence on Thursday 10th June 2004 following transmission of [[YSTV Week]]. It took place in G/020 and was attended by virtually everyone who was involved in the station some form, as well as some others. | An EGM was called to discuss and take the vote of no-confidence on Thursday 10th June 2004 following transmission of [[YSTV Week]]. It took place in G/020 and was attended by virtually everyone who was involved in the station in some form, as well as some others (see later). | ||
An impartial chair was needed, and as such [[Chris Thornton]] was chosen as he would soon be leaving the society, and had been away from York and out of contact with the station on an industrial placement since January and so had no knowledge of the disputes at all. It was widely regarded that he did a good job, keeping things in order and keeping things moving whilst ensuring everyone got their fair say. The only criticism which has been levelled at him was in regard to a discourse he gave at the end of the meeting | An impartial chair was needed, and as such [[Chris Thornton]] was chosen as he would soon be leaving the society, and had been away from York and out of contact with the station on an industrial placement since January and so had no knowledge of the disputes at all. It was widely regarded that he did a good job, keeping things in order and keeping things moving whilst ensuring everyone got their fair say. The only criticism which has been levelled at him was in regard to a discourse he gave at the end of the meeting, where he expressed his justifiable disappointment at the state in which he had found YSTV on his return, however many felt that he implied everyone had all immediately turned to in-fighting without proper justification. It was pointed out that had he seen YSTV earlier in the term, he would have seen a happy and united society working together on a variety of projects. However, overall, he was a wise choice of chair. | ||
Without minutes of the meeting to publish it would be unfair to | Without minutes of the meeting to publish it would be unfair to attempt to recall the specifics of what was discussed many years later, however considering its subject matter the meeting was satisfactory if lengthy. Generally the discussion was formal, avoided personal insult, and provided a reasoned discussion on recent behaviour and James' actions since becoming Station Director. The discussion did get heated when reference was made to the legitimacy of some of the attendees. [[Jen Ayerst]] pointed out that two members (in fact housemates of James) had turned up to the meeting having not been seen around YSTV recently, and it was implied that they had turned up simply to help swing the vote his way, and that they had not seen his actions from a YSTV perspective. One of these people suggested that people did not realise the amount of effort that James put in to YSTV, and that he worked a lot at home on YSTV-related matters. The response to this was that James' effort was not in question, rather his leadership style and decisions. | ||
The vote was not unanimous, but there was a clear majority and the motion was passed. James stood down as Station Director, and [[Chris Thornton]] suggested that previous [[Station Director]] [[Dave Baker]] should stand in temporarily. Dave was also largely uninvolved in the debate partly because James was due to live with him the following academic year, so he was seen as a fair choice of interim leader. It was widely regarded that most attendees of the meeting behaved well, including those who did not agree with each other, and that all sides were well-argued. | The vote was not unanimous, but there was a clear majority and the motion was passed. James stood down as Station Director, and [[Chris Thornton]] suggested that previous [[Station Director]] [[Dave Baker]] should stand in temporarily. Dave was also largely uninvolved in the debate partly because James was due to live with him the following academic year, so he was seen as a fair choice of interim leader. It was widely regarded that most attendees of the meeting behaved well, including those who did not agree with each other, and that all sides were well-argued. | ||
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James left the society, although to his credit he attended the [[YUMAs]] the following week. He went on to become chair of Halifax College, and returned to YSTV the following year in this position as a panellist on [[Bona Dicta]]. Finally he stood unsuccessfully for YUSU President in March 2007 before graduating from York that summer. | James left the society, although to his credit he attended the [[YUMAs]] the following week. He went on to become chair of Halifax College, and returned to YSTV the following year in this position as a panellist on [[Bona Dicta]]. Finally he stood unsuccessfully for YUSU President in March 2007 before graduating from York that summer. | ||
The period between the AGM and EGM of No-Confidence was just four week and three days, however it's fair to say it felt like longer for those involved. It is hoped that future members, who have either heard the tale from those who were there or by reading this account, will learn from the mistakes made during that period | The period between the AGM and EGM of No-Confidence was just four week and three days, however it's fair to say it felt like longer for those involved. It is hoped that future members, who have either heard the tale from those who were there or by reading this account, will learn from the mistakes made on all sides during that period, and avoid the politicised in-fighting that made Summer 2004 such an uncomfortable period. | ||