Richie Phloe

Richie Phoe has been living in Brighton for five years now, and makes critically lauded dub and reggae. So why come to Brighton to play and produce reggae? “Before the move I was coming here on the weekend to buy reggae vinyl… there was just nothing in Portsmouth. Brighton’s got the reputation, and I knew it already…why not?”
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Unravelling voting systems is a daunting task

Predicting the effects of a particular voting system on the outcome of elections is as potentially rewarding as it is difficult – but, before being able to predict how systems affect outcomes, it’s necessary to understand how each system works. At Sussex the Alternative Vote (AV) system is the electoral method used to decide which people will be next year’s Sabbatical Officers.

According to the AV system, voters rank their choices according to preference; the voters put their preferred candidate in first place, their second choice in second place, and so on. After counting, the candidate with the least ‘first’ choices is eliminated, and their second choices are redistributed amongst the remaining contestants. This dynamic repeats until one candidate gains an absolute majority, and thus their chosen position.

Most candidates seemed well versed in our university’s political machinations, with practically every would-be sabbatical officer offering their own explanation of the AV system.

Is the AV system good for democracy at Sussex; does it ensure that the most popular potential officer gets elected? This from Adam Klug; “it’s the most democratic way to get people into office; it’s the best way, I think.”

A key strength of the AV system is that it produces one candidate, who will necessarily have a large amount of popular support, both from their base, and from those that didn’t consider them as their first choice, but as a good choice none the less.

Tom GK, who is running for president, said that the system suited Sussex well. “At the moment there’s a strong group of candidates… and it (the AV system) allows people to say there are a number of candidates that people are interested in.”

Indeed, a perhaps uncommon consensus seems to have been reached amongst the sabbatical candidates, with all crediting the AV system with being ‘democratic’, ‘fair’ and able to ‘genuinely reflect the mood’ of Sussex students.

Some candidates however were a little unsure as to how the system worked. When asked about the system one sabbatical hopeful, who understandably wished to be quoted anonymously said, “to be honest, I’ve not really thought about it.” The same candidate also said, somewhat naively, that they thought the electoral system at Sussex was “working really well so far.”

What strategies could potential sabbaticals use? Two strong candidates could agree to encourage their base to vote for the other as their second choice, and thereby jointly work against candidates perceived as relatively weak, but still potentially dangerous. Similarly, two candidates who felt that they would not get many ‘firsts’ could suggest that their hardcore supporters put the strongest candidates as their fifth choice.

Has anyone been planning strategies to capitalise on the current system? Klug said that he had been “a little bit. Getting people to vote me second, if they’ve made up they’ve decided about their first choice.” Another candidate said sheepishly (and off the record) that they’d considered it, but didn’t see it as necessary, as they felt “pretty confident anyway.”
Most candidates that The Badger spoke to claimed that they were more interested in pushing their own policies than planning strategy.

Voting is Today, Tomorrow and Thursday across campus.

Prospective Presidents

Home made campaign banners sagged, seeming desultry after a few hours in the morning rain. These flags neatly contrasted with the energies of the various campaign teams working the crowd this morning, on the first day of the USSU sabbatical elections week.
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Lecturers can’t brainwash students, recent study suggests

A new study has criticized the conventional wisdom that lecturers influence the political views of their students. The research from the U.S, to be published in the spring, has claimed that their evidence shows that the development of the student’s politics “tend to run counter to claims of academic indoctrination.” The political views of the lecturers are often unrecognized, and do not “instigate political change in students.” Read more

Stand-off continues over restructuring plans

Meetings have been held (and missed), decision-making groups set up, positions filled, petitions signed and poll results counted. The result? For better or worse, the University of Sussex is rapidly, drastically changing.
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UK students using prescription drugs as study aids

Early morning library users will be familiar with the sight of bug-eyed third years, surrounded by empty cans of energy drink, exhausted after having pulled yet another ‘all-nighter.’ However, The Badger has discovered that for some of them it is not just caffeine that they have been taking to keep themselves awake come exam time. Read more

Engine Rooms license fiasco

Last week the Engine Room club was barred from being allowed to play pre-recorded music, as the club did not hold the correct license. Read more