SDM to encourage Junior College students to vote in University KSU election

Speaking at the official unveiling of the Nationalist Party-affiliated student group's candidate line-up, Balzan said that he agrees with the fact that Junior College students can freely vote in the KSU election.

The freedom Junior College students enjoy to vote in the University Student Council is a contentious one, as in past years voter turn out from Junior College outweighed that of University students.

“Junior College is a very important element of the University, as it falls under its ambit,” Balzan said to MaltaToday following the event. “Because of this we will also be introducing a section specifically relating to Junior College in our upcoming electoral programme so that they’ll have incentives to vote for SDM,” he added.

Asked if he approves that Junior College can freely vote in a University Council election, Balzan said that “yes of course. At the end of the day, they are University students as well who fall beneath the structure of the University of Malta.”

He however disagreed with whether University students should be free to vote in the Junior College Student Council (KSJC). “The structure is a pyramid-shaped one,” he said, explaining that Junior College falls beneath the University and the KSU, not the other way around.

He said that for example, only students who are part of a particular faculty or course vote for their respective student representatives.

“SDM has proven itself over the years to give quality serve to students and really know and feel what students really want. In our programme we tried to include as many ideas from different organisations as possible so that we can give something which students actually want and have ownership over,” Balzan said.

Earleir during the event, Balzan said that this year’s campaign will be a follow-up and extension of last year’s campaign. He said that through its campaign slogan (“mieghek” – “with you”) SDM is convening the message that it wants to be with students every step of the way.

He said that its electoral progamme, which will be unveiled later on this week, was draw up following widespread consultation with many student organisations. He added that throughout the course of the campaign, SDM will be adding extra elements to it, following further unfolding consultation.

SDM’s Full Candidate list

President - Stefan Balzan

Vice President - David Camilleri

Secretary General - Mario Cachia

Financial Officer - Ruth Caruana

PRO - Thomas Bugeja

Education Coordinator - Luke Buttigieg

Social Policy Coordinator - Anton Abela

Culture and Entertainment Officer/Coordinator - Simon Mifsud and Sara Ellul

International Officer/Coordinator - Danica Caruana and Michela Boffa