INSIDE LASUSU Pt.1 - THE GAME (TIC TAC TOE)
You see, it was meant to be a simple game about leadership, training and equipping us for the world ahead but now it has become a power struggle like our questionable mainstream politics
If you are not subscribed to the LASULife Newsletter, click the button below so you don't miss out on any of our publications. Our Editors will be writing about LASUSU Politics and more.
If you're new here, welcome. And no, I'm not talking about being new to this newsletter but being new to the endless mind games, calculative moves and power plays.
You see, it was meant to be a simple game about leadership training and equipping us for the world ahead but now it has become a power struggle like our mainstream politics, to the point we are forgetting it is a space to learn not dominate.
Confused? Let's break it down.
There is something in the air, and it is not the endless events with certain persons being strategically placed at the fore front of these poorly planned charades, just so they can add fancy titles to their names. It's the banners, flyers and endless materials.
Every place you turn, there is a new banner being put up, a new face, a new name being publicized. For every two full taps on your phone, you'll see a new flyer, a new tagline and a new promise. It's that time of the semester again.
That time when we have to repay all the 'tutorials', 'leadership tips' and 'events'. But now we do not pay in cash but payback with our votes. Don't get me wrong, it's not called 'Vote Buying' if there was no money involved yeah? Only conscience and emotions.
The LASUSU Elections are once again upon us and as we are constantly exposed to 'XZY is coming' and 'JFK for LASUSU', we see it as just harmless competitions, but what goes on behind the scenes is as simple yet complicated as a game of Tic Tac Toe.
LIMITED POWER BLOCS
Like the game of Tic Tac Toe, there are not enough positions to go round, and the space is very limited. So, in this game, every move counts. You might feel powerful when you place your first X or O but in reality, the board controls you and your every move because you get Limited Moves, Limited Outcomes — Same set of aspirants and mentees to past executives who underperformed while in office.
In this game, everyone wants to make the first move to secure their spot, but no one wants to make the second move. It's too risky. It can reveal everything and expose your plan to your opponent who can easily block it out. But, at the same time, if well planned, it can just be the winning piece as long as you are able to align with the right people and structures.
However, the funny thing about this game is that usually it ends in a draw with no surprises there. No one ever really wins, and no one ever really loses. Only that some offices would be recorded to have been gotten by votes and others by appointment but in the long run, the result is always the same.
Finally, once again, the game gives a false sense of power where you think you're in charge of it, but in reality, the board controls you and with time, the pieces would leave but the board would always remain the same. That's all you'd ever be, pieces in the ever-stagnant game — puppets.
But this is not the only game. This is just the seemingly easiest one. So, we are only getting started.
📝: Ayo Oladiran, Deputy Editor, LASULife Newsletter ✈️
Thank-you for reading the LASU Life Newsletter. If you enjoy our publication share it with your friends and don’t forget to subscribe. You can also follow LASU Life on Instagram and Twitter.