Telita Goile: candidate profile and interview
Pulp sits down with the USU Board hopefuls.
Faction: Switch
Slogan: Trust in Telita
Colour: Black
Manager: Switch
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Gender and Cultural Studies) IV
Quiz score: 83%, 4th out of 10
Telita Goile is a passionate and well-versed candidate who scored 83% in the Pulp quiz. She is running as a feminist, left-wing candidate “who wants to revive campus life… fight for workers rights, increase transparency from the board and create a more fun and inclusive union”.
Goile is running as a Switch candidate with her progressive policies broadly aiming to improve communication, advocate for staff and ensure a safe and accessible campus through iniatives such as Radical Sex and Consent Week and Enviro Week.
Goile challenges the perception that the USU board can not be a political body just because of the SRC’s role in advocacy, bemoaning the “quite conservative” leaning of past boards. She criticises ‘Liberal Hacks’ who, she argues, use the board as a springboard for their political careers and she emphasises her interest in promoting genuine political change if elected.
Goile criticises the inflated “egos” of the current Board, arguing that they have struggled to engage “with student issues beyond the superficial”. Goile proposes that alongside fellow Switch candidate, Isla Mowbray, she will be pushing a progressive agenda that would work towards addressing sexual assault on campus, the climate crisis, sinophobia and university funding cuts.
On the matter of CathSoc’s ableist LifeWeek discussion, Goile proposes that whilst defunding clubs recklessly may set a dangerous “precedent” for the USU, she supports the disbanding of the society on the basis of what she perceives as their violation of the constitution.
Whilst Goile speaks passionately on a range of policies, her stance on environmentalism is perhaps the most clearly articulated. She argues for a comprehensive waste management program (including recycling), a revision of the USU’s sponsors and vendors to ensure they are operating ethically and environmentally and the placement of renewables on USU buildings.
In addressing her plan for a Covid-19 recovery, Goile argues strongly in favour of redirecting the USU’s surplus directly into Clubs, Societies and campus events. She says “I’ve been around a long time and I’ve kind of seen how student life and student culture has dropped off over time”.
Goile is also campaigning for more support and promotion of the Language Exchange program, the Peer Support Program and the USU’s Tutoring program as key initiatives supporting International students.
Goile speaks frankly of her concern about working with Independent (but Liberal affiliated) candidate, David Zhu, perceiving him as unable to work collaboratively. Unsurprisingly, she expresses support for fellow Switch candidate, Mowbray, and a Wilkins-Wheat presidency. Having been a student since 2017, there’s no doubt that Goile knows the lay of the land. Time will tell if she is able to apply this knowledge to the board.
Voting opens 9:00am May 17 and closes 5:00pm May 21. Voting is exclusive to USU members, who will be sent an email to submit their vote. Sign up here.
Watch the full interview below.
Article by Emily Graetz. Video by Kristin Miao.