Posted by Daniel Lerner in Questions for candidates - procedures and authority
Often an STF election focuses on what the candidates plan on doing or changing if elected, what style of leadership the candidates have and will bring to the role(s), how they will exercise their discretion, and the candidates’ experience. That makes sense. But sometimes we lose sight of the fact that STF has developed a number of procedures, bylaws and customs that spell out what authority the President has (or doesn’t have) and the procedure of how that authority is exercised and reviewed.

I have put together a number of scenarios. The purpose of these questions is less on whether you agree or disagree with the the issue or complaint, but what the process or procedure is in addressing it, and what authority you have.

Because there is an advantage in not being the first to answer these questions, I have randomly matched a candidate to a question to answer the question first. Other candidates can answer the question after the first candidate has answered. I have separated VP candidates from their running mates because if a VP has to deal with the situation (either as acting President or because they had to take over mid-term as President) they won’t have their running mate to help with the answer… (If there are more tickets nominated after I make this post, I’ll add more scenarios.)

Scenario 1 (David - please answer this question first; other candidates can answer after David):

A member keeps putting his character in fatal situations. After a number of warnings, the ship’s Gamemaster kills the character. The member is complaining to everyone - including you as President - that the Gamemaster didn’t treat the situation fairly. In the meantime, the member is on a second ship with the same GM, and it appears that the situation is repeating itself. The GM Director supports the GM, and after a number of warnings on the second ship tells the new member that they are playing “suicidal characters” and any GM is free to kill of that player’s character(s) without warning if they place the character in a potentially fatal situation.

The member is furious, and continues his complaints, including being labeled “suicidal” by the GM Director, and because they feel they can’t RP freely. They note that their COs have never complained. The member wants your help.

As President, what is your role in this situation? Is there a procedure that covers this situation, and if so, what is it?

Scenario 2 (Rob - please answer this question first; other candidates can answer after Rob):

One of your FComms has been having a lot of issues with one of their COs. They PM you on Discord one evening to say they have fired the CO, removed the CO from the ship’s roster, and appointed the ship’s XO as aCO. They tell you they will start looking for a candidate as soon as you post the edict confirming the CO’s removal. The CO then sends a complaint about the removal.

What is your role as President in this situation? Is there a correct procedure that covers this situation, and if so, what is it?

Scenario 3 (Louis - please answer this question first; other candidates can answer after Louis):

A CO vacancy has come up. The FComm has narrowed it down to two candidates, but is struggling between those final two candidates. One is the ship’s long-term XO. The other is a former CO with a lot of experience who is wants to be a CO again. After some discussion, you and your FComm ultimately agree on the second option, and you post an edict to that effect. It just so happens, though, that the CO you selected is also your VP and very close friend in STF. The rejected candidate is furious and believes you are playing favoritism over what is best for the ship. The rejected CO asks you to “come clean” in Command about why you made your decision in order to be “transparent”, otherwise will be asking EGO to review your decision.

What is the mechanism (if any) to review the President’s decision in this situation?

Scenario 4 (James - please answer this question first; other candidates can answer after James):

A new member has been kicked off their ship by the CO because the CO and the member have been clashing about the member’s struggle in learning STF’s style of role-playing. The CO contacts the Academy Commandant to see if the new member can be placed in the Academy, although the new member doesn’t seem that enthusiastic about joining the Academy and has been really enjoying the sim on the ship in question. The FComm was monitoring the ship, and tells the CO to reverse the decision and help mentor the new member instead. The CO complains saying that they have been doing a lot of other work on the ship and does not have time to mentor a new member. The FComm says their decision in final. The CO complains to you about the FComm’s decision.

What is your authority in this situation as President? What decisions can you make? Is there a procedure for this scenario?

-Daniel

Just to clarify (because I’ve been asked) - in all of the above scenarios you are answering as if you are the President. (If you are currently running as VP, assume you had to take over as President due to the President being absent or having stepped down - which I can say from experience is something you will potentially have to deal with.)

-Daniel