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Cameron Price, Co-Editor of Victoria University’s student magazine Salient, has brutally failed at an attempt to troll the intellects at Critic. Price recently put himself forward for multiple executive positions in the VUWSA (Victoria University of Wellington Student Association) elections for 2015. Price originally applied for the roles of President, Vice-President (Engagement), Equity Officer, Clubs and Activities Officer, and Campaigns Officer. For reasons unknown to Critic, he withdrew from the election soon after.

Price then attempted to play Critic for mere fools, insisting he was still running in the campaign, the desired result being that Critic would print a false story. Whilst outlining the likeness he had to Labour hopeful Tamati Coffey, Price assured Critic he was “the change VUWSA needs.” Though he is not putting himself forward to mend the said inefficiencies in VUWSA, he was extremely quick to point out what he believed the current Executive members were doing wrong, or simply not doing at all. “[Throughout VUWSA] personal politics get in the way of pragmatic achievements being made. Too often the idea of consultants and focus groups and stakeholder planning takes over,” he commented.

Price states that in 2013 only one thousand students voted in the VUWSA elections. Following this “the resulting Exec got to spend $10,000 of students’ money.” Price believed this was “outrageous” considering that “Salient’s funding remained the same.” It is alleged that VUWSA “don’t get anything done except for a mediocre O-Week and a sausage sizzle now and then.” Although he is not intending to do so himself, Price believes “we can do better than that. Yes we can.”

He also had a great deal to say about current VUWSA President, Sonya Clark. Price believes Clark has been “openly endorsing one of the candidates,” who goes by the name of Rick. “Her and Rick had a gentleman’s agreement last year that he wouldn’t run against her, and then he would succeed the next year.” Price believes this is an “undermining of democracy” and “totes inappropes.” Although Price was unsure of how Critic became aware of the story, he said, “If it’s through Sonya you should know she talks a lot of shit. You can print that if you’d like.” Critic was unable to contact Sonya Clark for a comment on Price’s accusations.

Nominations for the VUWSA elections closed at 4.30pm last Tuesday. Voting will take place from Wednesday 20 August to Friday 22 August, with winners announced shortly after.