MUSA Education Officer Alex Johnston Gets the Boot in brutal AGM

In another very dramatic turn of student politics, MUSA Education Officer Alex Johnston was removed from the Executive during the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM). Alex received a majority vote of no confidence during the AGM, with only three students present against the motion.  

The motion came after Paris Tait, Kaiāwhina (Vice President) of Manawatahi (Massey Manawatū Māori Students’ Association) proposed the vote of no confidence. “I don’t understand what your role is, you haven’t backed up what you’ve done so far,” she told Alex, alleging a lack of cohesion between him and his team.  

Allegations of disengagement between Alex and Manawatahi were repeatedly highlighted during the AGM. “We were fighting for our voice to be heard,” Paris claimed, “even though you were meant to be representing us.”  Alex said he understood where the criticism was coming from, recognising “a hell of a lot of improvement” needed to be done. However, despite his plea for “just a little bit more time”, the motion was passed and the vote of no confidence saw Alex out the door.  

Alex, devasted at the result of the motion, claimed that the fact it even happened was reflective of a larger systemic issue in MUSA, and the Massey community in general. “The way the motion was raised against me as Education Officer and me alone seemed rather unfair. I believe that given the chance myself along with the board could have worked together to move forward with much improved communication not only with Manawatahi and the Māori students on campus but also with the MUSA operations staff and each other.” Yikes... just take the L, Alex.  

President of MUSA, Fatima Imran, told Massive of the importance of student-led accountability, adding “myself and the Exec, our thoughts go out to Alex and we wish him the best with the rest of his university career”.