Originally Posted by Tailsnake

MacInsiders Token Black Guy

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Originally Posted by BlueMorphan

Is anyone else concerned about MDL's stance on the contingency fund? I mean, isn't it there for a reason? If he uses it, what's going to happen to the MSU in the future if it suddenly needs the money?

Okay - so this needs to be addressed. I'm the guy that re-did the MSU Operating budget this summer. I'm also an accounting major and have also spent time in 3 different accounting departments and am currently at a major Canadian Bank.

There is no such thing as a "contingency fund" in the MSU. Yes, the MSU does have surplus equity built through retained earnings. But that does not mean you can simply "dip" into it - and that is not is what is suggested by MDL's campaign point.

Assets are supported by equity and liabilities. MSU is a non-borrowing company, short term liabilities exist in only unearned revenue and accounts payable (suppliers, salaries etc). As such, you cannot just "use" the surplus (or what your referring to as a "contingency fund") as this equity supports the working capital financing of the company. If you eat into this equity base, due to MSU's cash conversion cycle, it would become insolvent without opening (and paying for) an operating line of credit (debt) at a Bank. The current equity base/"contingency fund" cannot be just "used" if the MSU needs money, it is tied up in supporting working capital.

MDL's campaign point simply refers to creating an operating budget surplus for fiscal 2012, through higher revenue targets and cost controlling. Then the idea is the use the that operating surplus to finance this initiative. The equity base of the organization will not be reducing, he plans to use his team to find ways to transform the organization and use the surplus savings to administer a new program.

--
James Steels

I voted for Matt Write first, and MDL second. I order my votes firstly based on wether or not they came to my classes, this means that they get out into the community, both Write and MDL visited my classes so they were at the top of my list compared to the others. Then I listen to there speech and platform to see if I agree with it. Finally I look at their websites and newspaper articles to make my final decisions. This way I pick the best based on their platform and actually being connected to the students.

How do you decide who to vote for???

Originally Posted by JLG 15

I voted for Matt Write first, and MDL second. I order my votes firstly based on wether or not they came to my classes, this means that they get out into the community, both Write and MDL visited my classes so they were at the top of my list compared to the others. Then I listen to there speech and platform to see if I agree with it. Finally I look at their websites and newspaper articles to make my final decisions. This way I pick the best based on their platform and actually being connected to the students.

How do you decide who to vote for???

I actually use Macinsiders! When all the candidate information is put on Macinsiders, I check out their websites. I usually decide based on their platform points. But if they come to my classes, that might persuade me to vote for them.

Originally Posted by JLG 15

I voted for Matt Write first, and MDL second. I order my votes firstly based on wether or not they came to my classes, this means that they get out into the community, both Write and MDL visited my classes so they were at the top of my list compared to the others. Then I listen to there speech and platform to see if I agree with it. Finally I look at their websites and newspaper articles to make my final decisions. This way I pick the best based on their platform and actually being connected to the students.

How do you decide who to vote for???

I don't base my decision off of whether or not a candidate came to one my classes - not at all. It's great if they can make it around to one of my classes, but that's not always practical. I don't recall a candidate coming to any of my classes, but that doesn't mean they don't care about student involvement. It means I don't have a large class during one of the times they're available.

I base my decision off of platform points and the Presidential debates.

I only use them coming to my class as a decision maker, if they are close to equal platform wise. It is not the only thing I base it on.

I find that actually seeing them present their platform better than reading and interpreting it.
The dabate is another point at which we actually get to see them. I could not make it to the debate though.