As the election saga continues our man in EUSA has brought some new information to our attention.
First of all: http://www.freewebs.com/adamramsay/
This is Adam Ramsay’s old website for an NUS Campaign. In case he takes it down (and we think he will) we’ve provided you with a screenshot. Basically this shows Adam publicising his ties with University Rector, and EUSA election appeal committee member, Mark Ballard.
Secondly: During the 2007 Presidential Election there were allegations that Ramsay had been cheating, or at least making inappropriate use of his relationship with Ballard. Once a cheat, always a cheat….eh? ;)
The incident was as follows:
When Adam was running for president last year he made a youtube video, part of which was filmed in a committee room in the Scottish Parliament. There were also concerns on and off campus about the role Mark Ballard was taking in Ramsay’s campaign.
The first problem this posed was that Adam had been given an access pass to the Scottish Parliament building which was sponsored by Mark Ballard, who was at the time an MSP. Mr Ballard did not give such passes to the other presidential candidates. It seems fair to say, looking at all the evidence, that Ballard and Ramsay enjoy a close relationship. As a result of this relationship did Adam achieve an advantage in the 2007 election?
In the views of some these created a situation where Ramsay was receiving help from Ballard. The question to be answered was whether Ballard was giving this assistance in his capacity as a Green MSP or in his capacity as University Rector? Either seems an abuse of power.
An arguably dubious situation arises when looking at the first possibility, that Ballard was acting in his capacity as an MSP. There are rules governing MSPs’ use of the Holyrood parliament building. These rules prohibit the use of the building for party-political campaign purposes. Ballard denied knowledge that Adam intended to film in the committee room, and claims he gave no authorisation for such filming. No further action was ever taken about this issue.
That leaves the possibility that Ballard was supporting Adam in his capacity as Rector. This presented the equally serious problem that by advocating Ramsay, Ballard was disassociating himself with all the students who supported other candidates. Clearly, if indeed Ballard was supporting Ramsay, it was a monumentally negative step for him to take to alienate some members of the student body in such a blatant way.
For the full story read http://ww3.holyrood.com/nav/news/stories/story.asp?story=elec1187
For someone who comes from the countryside you’d have thought Adam Ramsay would have learnt that mud sticks. With so much evidence mounting up it’s increasingly hard not to dislike the guy.
We’ve emailed Adam asking for a full explanation of his actions. More on this tomorrow.
24 comments:
The students who prompted that article, are the three mentioned in it:
Tom "O'Brady" (chair of uni labour students at the time, campaigning for Josh)
"Tom" Goodwin (labour students member and EUSA president at time, friends with Josh))
and
Josh macalister (labour students member and EUSA presidential candidate, campaigning against Ramsay)
Funny that they got two of their names wrong.
Ramsay had access to the room because he sat on a cross-parliamentary group on environmnetal consultancy, or something. It had nothing to do with volunteering at the parliament, and any student could have applied sit on this panel, and therefore have had a pass.
I really don't see what the issue is.
For an impartial blog, it's bizarre that you say it's "hard not to dislike the guy". Anyone who believes this blog doesn't have an agenda is an idiot. There is a LOT of stuff could be said about all the other candidates, but Ramsay and his supporters seem to be too dignified to engage in mud-slinging.
This is trial by media, not impartial and constructive debate. It is an unfair witchhunt against someone who wants to campaign to make their uni better. As do Cole, Ward, and Arafa.
Then why did Adam get fired from parliament?
Because he abused his position for political goals.
This blog is hilarious!
You've taken a rope, and hanged yourselves. Have you any idea how stupid you all look!!!
God no-one cares about all this "Ramsay should stay, Ramsay should go", nonsense. It's much more fun to watch you said, bitchy hacks squabbling with each other!
Ramsay is a cunt and deserves to be shot.
I'd load the gun for you!
I'd lend you the gunpowder ;)
Nay, you could have it free infact...
Nick Ward fails at life.
smooth attempt to change topic there onto nick ward and away from Mr Ramsay's indiscretions.
It is that sophistication that explains how Adam keeps getting caught.
I'll dig you a hole, six by six by two.
We're onto something lads.
I'm not sure how immoral is your idea.
Certainly though it will make an easier solution than waiting weeks of turmoil before the appeal is commenced.
Perhaps this is in the better interests of the students associations!
Isn't it funny how suddenly Ward and Cole are best of pals. Becoming friends with each others' friends, joining all the same facebook groups as ech other, it's quite sickening really. I liked them better when they hated each other.
I'd like to chop of Adam's balls and stuff them down his dirty, lying throat.
Oh wait, he doesn't have any, lol!
You guys are getting so worked up about adam. I know for a fact that nick ward cheated as well. I couldn't care less whether or not ramsay wins, loses, gets disqualified or anything else. Just so long as that fool nick ward doesnt win. Ramsay, Cole or Arafa would all be fine. Just not Ward
who hasn't cheated in this election. Most candidates last year made extra posters took others down and slandered each other. It happened again this year. Clearly Adam is taking the flak for abuses which have gone on for years. Furthermore what is the pint of puttin up inaccurate articles to support Adams cheating, He was not disqualified last year nor did Mark Ballard give him access to parliament. An explanation was given he had acces to parliament anyway
Your worse than he is if u need to sensationalise the situation with exaggerated and inaccurate stores such as this. Grow up
In what way did Nick Ward cheat?
I find it hard to believe that Nick cheated.
If you look at the number of posters he had up it was significantly less than the others and that is because like 200 got destroyed by the bad weather.. but he didn't secretly print up more like Adam probably did he just accepted it. That must have been frustrating as hell.
Also even if you think Nick Ward might cheat, although I honestly don't because although I disagree with some of his politics he is a very moral person, the people in his campaign team and associated in it would never cheat.
Katherine Sellar? No chance.
Naomi Hunter? Wouldnt know how.
Laura Jane Baker? Would damage her for next year.
Thomas Graham... well okay maybe Graham might.
As someone that knows him personally( and didn't first preference him) I just don't think he would cheat.
As for him and Cole being buddies. Well... they seem to get on very well at the pub and social occasions.
Also at SRC Harry was enthusiastically clapping along whenever Nick made a speech (which was actually quite often, Nick did lots of socialist bashing).
The only time I have seen them coming close to an argument was at the debate and in Cole's defence he was taking a bit of a pummeling and in Nick's defence he was probably quite pissed off about Eusaless.
So the candidates:
I gave Adam my first vote. I wish now very much I hadn't. At first I wasn't so sure about the whole disqualification thing but the Student article was so biased and pro Adam. Once I had talked to a few people and read the facebook group I knew he deserved to be chucked out.
Gabe... without Tim Goodwin whispering into his ear I don't think he has a clue. He seems to be buckling under the pressure quite alot as well.
Harry... I want to like him, I do. I just can't get over my anti-conservative bias. Sorry.
I hate Adam Ramsay. He's power hungry and he doesn't care about the students: if he did then he'd have come out with a detailed explanation about everything that people are saying about him on here / facebook.
Grow some fucking balls Adam. You're a member of a really minor political party that is never going to get into government during your lifetime. Stop fucking forcing your PnP views on us.
I totally agree with everything who has previously said that the sad thing is he's going to take this issue to a GM and fill the place with People and Planet folk.
Manipulative lying cunt fuck.
Why the help would Adam get involved and waste his breath defending himself and explaining the TRUTH instead of the lies here and on facebook? Clearly none of you are prepared to listen to his side of the story. I did not vote for Adam but I still think the way people are treating him now is a disgrace. I know nick ward cheated - he told me it was ok to cover other candidates poster with his own and take down any where i could without being seen. People in glass houses...
This whole thing is way out of proportion. The main thing that seems to have been the problem was merely postering out of hours? Someone else commented saying that Adam Ramsay wasn't the only one to do this. The rest of this just seems to be digging just to find some other piece of dirt (or making some up) just to try and guarantee that his appeal is unsuccessful. I think that, if you are going to vote for someone it does not matter about a few extra posters, people will either read the manifesto and go for who they like the sound of, or will already have decided whether they look at a poster or not. I'm not sure if this is being so dragged out because it's a miscarraige of justice, or because (if Adam Ramsay got the most votes) some people just can't accept losing. Also, just to ask if anyone else noticed this, but is it just me or has Nick Ward put on a lot of weight since the photo on his flyers and the one in the banner on this blog?
Can I just say that I never said that to anyone.
Ever
To be honest I dont even know why I feel the need to defend myself against such pointless and baseless allegations. I'm not the one that got disqualified, because I didn't cheat.
Also yeah i have put on shit loads of weight. Most people when they get stressed lose weight - im quite the opposite. Very irritating. I'm going to the gym... dont judge me!
I also blame the library bar burgers.
Well Nick with all that extra weight you've put on you clearly aren't the same person I voted for and I would now like to transfer my vote to adam.
You know what they say about deep throats... ...Large tracheas! hohoho
Nick didn't do that much socialist bashing at src, i herad the guy beside who was always campagining with him did though, whats his name??. However harry was clapping. So what, i admitidally was very very sceptical of Harry but hes won most people over- hes a really sociable fun guy. I would much rather him that Adam - cheat or Gabe "oh shit tim goodwin is gone, what do I do now?" Arafa, in fact i'd be surprised if he even showed up. How many times have you showed up to src in the past 2 years gabe????
I have now all the presidential candidates and I must say that Gabe is the one that completely and utterly lacks any sort of charisma, personality or authority out of all of them.
Watching him at the debate what was Goodwin thinking?
Adam to me seemed very very weird and to be honest I didn't really understand what he was going on about - very hard to follow.
Harry and Nick seem by far the two most normal and nice. Both were really really cheerful and pleasant and seemed to know what they were talking about.
Even though they both come from different spectrums I think they both have much to offer and it is those two that I think should be president.
It is amazing how perceptions change when you actually meet and chat to people.
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