For a first-year student of Panjab University and its affiliated colleges, the initial brush with the varsity’s student elections can prove to be quite overwhelming and confusing. In an interaction with HT, the freshers said that in the midst of the rallies and speeches they sought help from their seniors in deciding who to cast their vote for. They added that a party’s welcome speeches along with their efficiency in solving the problems of the students played a key role in determining where their vote went.
Of seniors and past records
Highlighting the influence of the seniors in deciding which party a fresher votes for, Navi Sandhu, a first-year student, said it was better to consult the students who had seen a party’s performance over a period before they casted their vote. “Since we are still quite new to everything so I guess it’s safe to trust our seniors who understand the nuances of these elections, “ Sandhu said. For Nikhil of DAV College, it was the experience the seniors had which made them a good guide. “They know which party is capable of addressing the issues genuinely so I feel it makes sense to trust our seniors as some of them are our friends too,” he said. Providing testimony to Nikhil’s view, Karan Sidhu of the same college said, “I will support HSA as my seniors feel it’s safe to trust them.”
A give and take relation
Ankit Singh of Government College, Sector 10, said his vote would go to the party which was the most proactive in solving the concerns of the students. “It’s all about addressing the issues faced by first-year students. Whoever will resolve our problems at the earliest, that party will get our votes,” he said. Furman Singh, also a student of the same college, said, “ ABVP got water coolers installed in the hostel as well as facilitate the repairmen of fans which weren’t working in the class, so I feel they deserve our votes.”
First impression is the last impression
Harvin Dhillon another fresher, added, “Asli votes ta door-to-door campaigning and welcome speechan naal hi aandi hain (The actual votes come from door-to-door campaigning and welcome speeches).” Reinstating that first impression was truly the last impression, the students said it was the welcome speeches and class-to-class campaigning which helped the student leaders garner maximum attention.
Ankit Singh of Government College, Sector 10, said his vote would go to the party which was the most proactive in solving the concerns of the students. “It’s all about addressing the issues faced by first-year students. Whoever will resolve our problems at the earliest, that party will get our votes,” he said. Furman Singh, also a student of the same college, said, “ ABVP got water coolers installed in the hostel as well as facilitate the repairmen of fans which weren’t working in the class, so I feel they deserve our votes.”
First impression is the last impression
Harvin Dhillon another fresher, added, “Asli votes ta door-to-door campaigning and welcome speechan naal hi aandi hain (The actual votes come from door-to-door campaigning and welcome speeches).” Reinstating that first impression was truly the last impression, the students said it was the welcome speeches and class-to-class campaigning which helped the student leaders garner maximum attention.