A Statement from the Provost

[AC5230]

My fellow Magisters,

I’ll try to keep this brief, so I apologize if anything is unclear.

I understand that in recent weeks, mistakes were made by this Office that soured many individuals and nearly forced the hand of the Conclave. These errors, all of a bureaucratic sort, are the fault of myself and myself alone. For this I deeply apologize.

I acknowledge that matters in Closed Session are of a deeply confidential nature, but we should never abuse that privilege to pass laws in secret - that is, without the (implied) consent of the governed. To have attempted to do so, even for something we all can agree is relatively minor, is a grave error and sets a precedent that leads our region down a dangerous path if allowed to stand.

Was it an “oopsie eto bleh” (~ Aurora)? Sure. But it must never be allowed to happen again.

An ideal AC fifth term focuses on the following portions of my long-standing agenda:

• The HOG/WAD split MUST be seen out to completion within the next 3 months. There is no reason that it should not have been already. We must stop sitting on our hands - NationStates will do its damnedest to create existential threats to our great region as long as we stand.
• I am working with the Delegate and the FA Council to bring an end to the long-standing and long-empty Closed Sessions that have plagued the 68th Magisterium and its operations.
• There must be continued adjustments to our Standing Orders to prevent such mistakes as the one we saw recently from happening again, no matter how innocuous they may be.

I have said on Discord that I consider this election to be a referendum on my leadership, and I understand and accept that said referendum is not one that is likely to go in the direction I’d like it to. I’m okay with that. It stands to reason I’ve gotten more than enough time here.

I ask this fair Magisterium only for patience. If there is wrong, I will make it right. Never should you expect less from me or from this Office.

…Actually, I also ask that Magisters vote in their best conscience.

Thank you.

Ex Oriente Lux
Provost AC of the 68th Magisterium

[Mangegneithe]

I have one question for you which is highly related to your choice of campaign statement. Though this may sound blunt or even mean-spirited, especially in the eyes of many who expect mean-spiritedness from me, I promise I say this with the utmost of empathy, and not with judgement or cruelty:

When you are most assuredly reelected, because let’s be honest the idea that you wouldn’t be is silly, will you continue to beat yourself up, threaten resignation, reject Deputy Provost’s own resignations to take blame for whatever is getting them down, issue dramatic public apologies for every little mistake you make, promise to reprimand or scold Deputy Provosts who make similarly tiny mistakes, underestimate your future reelection chances against all odds, and otherwise continue to perpetuate your internalized myth of over-exaggerated consequences? Or will you finally listen to every person in the region from every walk of life, every political ideology, every sub-community, and every age who repetitively begs you to stop and just accept that shit happens and no one holds it against you?

I prefer your answer to be brief, but please do not hesitate to elaborate if you feel the need. I just want to have this conversation with you holistically at a moment that is not emotionally charged. What I don’t want, however, is for you try to convince me and the rest of the region that your brand of self-deprecating accountability is the ideal or only brand of accountability fit for TEP, despite it clearly making others uncomfortable, annoyed, or disillusioned as a result.

[AC5230]

The only answer I feel comfortable giving in the public square is that I am actively pursuing avenues to my own OOC betterment, certainly including the concerns listed by Aivintis.