Reference is made to the letter sent by Professor Kevin Aquilina, the Dean of the Faculty of Laws to Times of Malta last Saturday.
Whilst it is not the intention of KSU to enter into controversy, it is obliged to set the records straight and to correct the inaccuracies penned by Professor Kevin Aquilina in the article.
KSU would like to categorically condemn any allegations that the Council is somehow affiliated with any political party and that KSU represents any particular political "club’ within the University structures. KSU would also like to reiterate its autonomous position in that it serves to represent all students that fall within its structure. As per Article 5.1 of the KSU Statute:
KSU is a student, socio-political, representative and organisational movement, independent from political parties, civil and religious authorities, and commercial institutions. KSU is a voluntary, autonomous and non-profit organisation. No part of the profit, capital or assets of the organisation can be used for personal benefit, whether direct or indirect, of any promoter, member, administrator, donor or any other person interested in this organisation in a personal manner.
Contrary to the impression given, the current electoral procedure does not provide for a situation where the winner takes all. This was always the conclusion of a transparent and democratic process whereby the statute provides that the first eleven positions on the KSU board are to be directly contested. Students have a right to choose any person contesting for any of these posts, irrelevant of the person’s background or political belief. Adding to this, two other posts are also democratically elected with the same procedure within the Commissions they represent, which are the Education Commission and the Social Policy Commission. KSU’s decisions regarding any matters related to social policy or education are only discussed and approved by the Commissions they represent, and KSU’s position always reflects the final outcome of the respective Commission meeting.
Consequently, the eleven elected executive members act upon the decisions taken by the Commissions and in no way can alter or interfere with the decisions taken by the respective Commission.
Whilst the system laid down in our statute does not envisage a proportional representation system, the statute provides for a first past the post system, which is one of the tenets of a democratic process- a process found in various democracies across the world. This system is in fact also used by the University of Malta itself to elect student representatives on its boards, including posts on the University Senate itself. It is also worth noting that the current system is equivalent to eleven separate elections, and a mixed council can be elected and is allowed by the KSU statute. The results of any election are archived once the members are elected and KSU represents each and every student on campus, irrelevant of any political background. Each election held reflects the will of the students and such will should be respected and not undermined in any way.
Any student can put forward a motion to amend the KSU Statute, which is to be approved during any General Meeting with a two-thirds majority of those present. KSU would like to remind each and every student that the Annual General Meeting will be held next Wednesday, 26th April 2017 at noon and urges any student to actively participate in all the structures it holds as per procedures stipulated in the KSU Statute. Any motions and candidate nominations should reach the KSU Secretary General by no later than Monday 24th April 2017 at noon.
Encouraging the boycotting of an election for no valid reason is undemocratic in itself and KSU fails to understand such conclusions.