Sabbatical Elections 2011
Friday 18th March 2011
What, who, why, how? bathimpact brings you all you need to know for the upcoming elections and a look at the candidates.
sabbspecial
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
editorial
W
elcome to bathimpact’s 2011 sabbspecial edition. This issue not only shows you all of the candidates’ manifestos but also explains what the Student Union actually is, can be and why students should vote. There are also detailed explanations of what each
Why the SU matters for you Hannah Raymont
2
Sabbatical role entails and clarification of what each person’s responsibilities are, plus bathimpact’s own guide to the manifestos. The candidates showcased in this edition want to make a positive impact on your lives as a student, and you have the power to direct changes through your vote. Finally, in the interests of fairness, all of the manifestos printed in this issue have been left exactly as submitted by each candidate without any amendments or corrections on our part. Happy voting! Hannah, Deputy Editor
Editorial Team: Editor-in-Chief Gina Reay editor@bathimpact.com Deputy Editor Hannah Raymont deputy@bathimpact.com Chief Sub-Editor Sam Foxman subeditor@bathimpact.com sabbspecial Content Editor Rowan Emslie ents@bathimpact.com Secretary Nick Hill secretary@bathimpact.com
Vice-Chancellor and SU President Daniel ‘Dot’ O’Toole mark official opening of the Student Centre
T
Advertising Enquires Helen Freeman H.Freeman@bath.ac.uk 01225 386806
bathimpact Students’ Union University of Bath Bath BA2 7AY 01225 38 6151 01225 44 4061 University
of
Bath
Students’
Union
STUDENT
media The opinions expressed in bathimpact are not necessarily those of the bathimpact editors nor of the University of Bath Students’ Union. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct and accurate at the time of going to print, the publisher cannot accept any liability for information which is later altered or incorrect. bathimpact as a publication adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Conduct. Please contact them for any information.
University of Bath Students’ Union Printed by Harmsworth Press Ltd.
he idea of a Union has been losing prestige since its heyday at the heart of political life under Labour governments in the 1970s. The excesses of manufacturing unions in the late 70s, the three day week, the strikes, the political bombast and Thatcher’s legendary standoff all weakened their position in this country. New Labour’s move to the middle from 1994 signalled how far they had fallen out of favour. They still exist of course, although some have decided that the actual word ‘union’ is worth hiding: NUS has become such an established brand that lots of students don’t even know what the ‘U’ stands for. Curiously enough, the Students’ Union doesn’t hide that dirty word quite so heavily, although it is often referred to as the SU. With the upcoming sabbatical elections it seems a great time to re-examine exactly how this organisation promotes the interests of its members – students. The Students’ Union has a fantastic opportunity to engage the student body on an issue, motivate them, and ensure that each and every one of you gets due representation. They exist to act as an intermediary between students and the University. There have been several unpopular University policies this year – most notably the sports fees debacle – and decisions such as these are bound to appear every now and again. The Sabbatical Team has the power to co-ordinate student dissent to such policies if such action were deemed to be useful to the lives of students. Late last year, the current team fronted a popular student opinion which led to over 150 students from this university marching in Westminster over tuition fees rises. If the University makes a decision that is unpopular with the student body then we should look to the SU to engage with this dissatisfaction and attempt to rectify the problem. These elections are vital for the SU to both be able to help the students enact changes they want and, most importantly, to remain a viable instrument of these changes: without support and involvement the power of the SU is undermined. Let us not forget that the SU is, principally, a union. ‘Union’ doesn’t always have to be a dirty word; it can be what it originally meant to millions of disenfranchised and impoverished workers: that we shouldn’t have to put up with a negative experience and that we want our voices to be heard. Without an active and empowered SU then reports of teaching problems, unhappiness with accommodation, increasing costs and a whole plethora of other issues that affect each of us as we earn our degrees will have no proper outlet. The University doesn’t have to listen to what we have to say but the SU does. What’s more, it is the job of the SU to action responses to what we have to say. This is the best chance for most students to have their say in what the SU stands for, what it wants to do and what it will fight to keep. Many of you will have great ideas about how to improve the standards of this university and the candidates running to be your representatives next year are all keen to hear those ideas. Got a great idea for how to resurrect Friday nights at Elements? Get out there and tell them, or ask them what they plan to do about it. Angry about the sports fees? Go to Questions for Candidates and find out what VP Sports candidates think about the issue. This election is a great chance to claim ownership of the SU, to get involved and make sure that the people who are elected to represent you next year are the best possible choice for the job. The more people get involved then the more the SU and, by extension, the University as a whole, can strive to improve and give all of you and all those who will follow you the best possible experience of higher education.
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
3
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Key issues to keep an eye on Old
New
Sabb elections almost always throw up issues that recur year on year. Here’s a brief, somewhat irreverent breakdown:
Excitingly, this year has thrown up some new issues that are bound to get some of you quite annoyed so let’s have a look at them:
1. There is always a problem with buses. There aren’t enough, they don’t go enough places, everyone hates queuing for them and people don’t even really like sitting on them.
1. Sports Fees: the cartoon wrestling villain of the last year, guaranteed to get booed and jeered by the crowds but, also, get quite a lot of people to turn up so they can indulge in it. The love-to-hate figure of the elections.
2. Communicating with you, the students, is something everyone feels quite strongly about for fairly obvious (read: vote-winning) reasons. 3. More specifically, communicating with the fresher community – making sure they fit in and learn how to find their way around town and all that good stuff – is something that often gets bandied around in a concerned “won’t somebody please think of the children!” kind of way. 4. The ability to complain about your academic reps, evaluation methods and general teaching issues is often pitched. Perhaps this year it’ll finally be done to the tune of John Lennon’s 1971 hit Power To The People. 5. The annual sporting problem is all about getting as many of you involved in noncompetitive, recreational sports so that, rather thoughtfully, not absolutely everyone has to go through First XV rugby initiations.
2. The slightly less up-to-date hate figure of this year, rising tuition fees are the issue that is still hanging around all things studenty like that facebook friend that you’re pretty sure you never met who keeps trying to talk to you. You should probably stop sending him pictures. 3. There is a line of campaigning that emphasises representing students which while not necessarily new as a concept is much more heavily underlined than in previous years. 4. Sports teams weren’t happy about not having proper kit so rectifying this issue is also a new theme. Apparently skins versus shirts isn’t a viable option anymore. It is still a good idea to take any other issues raised in a candidates’ manifesto seriously. We wanted to put together this list for those of you who are approaching this election process without a pre-concieved idea of what it is that you feel is important to you. Take it as a sort of crash course guide in what kind of things the Sabbs are normally involved with.
What the manifestos tell you
How the Sabbs function as a team goes a long way to defining their terms
B
Flexibility is a vital attribute to any future Sabb
efore you start reading the candidates’ manifestos it’s useful to know more broadly how Sabbatical Officers (Sabbs) fit into the Students’ Union (SU). They sit on the Board of Trustees which, at the moment, has ten positions, six of which are our Sabbs, three are external appointees, and one co-opted position for specific experience. As of next year there will be five elected officials who will remain a majority. The Board of Trustees is the highest decision making body in the SU. They have a substantial voting power and when united as a bloc vote, so their ability to work as a team is an extremely important factor in deciding whom to vote for: do you think these candidates sound like they will be able to gel in a team? If operating as a team, the Sabbatical Officers have supreme authority within the Union and are thus better able to implement any large scale change or decision that the SU as an entire body wishes to push for. Furthermore, VP Education and SU President sit on the University Senate and Council which are the two most important decision making bodies within University structure. For this reason, those two positions are particularly worthy of your attention when it comes to deciding who to vote for. A certain amount of flexibility is a quality that also needs to be stressed because, over the course of a year, events and circumstances will go some way to changing what the priorities for the Sabbatical Officers will be – just one of the incumbent team ran on a platform that referenced tuition fees yet it was this issue that came to dominate their time and efforts early on in their terms. Obviously each candidates’ personal vision for how they will spend their time if elected is a significant factor in determining who would best serve you but it is equally important to try to judge whether or not their manifesto also suggests they possess other qualities that would be useful not only in their own chosen roles but as part of the team as a whole. Do the candidates seem as though they have a good grasp on governance as a more general concept? Do they seem as though they will be able to work effectively outside of their specific area of interest as part of a team? As some positions have just one eligible candidate you should know that this does not necessarily mean that they are a complete shoe-in for the job. On every vote you have the option to ‘R.O.N.’ (re-open nominations) which will take the entire process back to the beginning and give a chance for new candidate to put themselves forward. This is absolutely a viable voting position – these elections are about electing the best person for the job; if you aren’t satisfied with the running candidates then you are fully within your rights to look for a better option. So, without further ado, here come this year’s manifestos. Enjoy.
4
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
A jargon-free guide to your SU President What do they do? The President is the face of the Union and of the student body. He or she is responsible for leading the Sabbatical team, for making sure that students are represented to the University and in the wider community. The President should try to ensure that the work that the Union does reflects the views of all the students by chairing student forums, conducting polling and through referenda and elections. He or she also represents the University and its students to the public via local, national and international media so the ability to speak in full sentences and not cry when confronted by questions is a particular boon. The President has responsibility for overseeing and working with the Sabb team and making sure that the other Sabbs respect SU policies. He or she works with the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executives on financial, communication and policy matters to ensure that the Union is financially sound and that you are all kept informed about what the Union is doing. For this reason, the President also works with Student Media. What do you think they do? “I think the President has a lot to do with social stuff… he has something to do with everything.” “Holding events, looking after all the societies and promoting the SU.”
VP Education What do they do? The VP Education focuses on academic issues on both local and national levels, representing the Union’s view on current policies and issues. He or she is involved with various learning departments like the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office, Quality Assurance Committee and Senate. This means they can represent the needs and desires of students in important matters like University projects and policy-making. He or she also supports the Academic Council; chairing meetings and making sure elections run smoothly, allowing all of Bath’s students to be represented fairly. The VP Education works closely with the VP Community & Diversity to enhance the experience of everyone: undergraduates and postgraduates, mature students and outrageously young students who definitely should not be in the bar, letting all voices be heard not only in our faculties but on a bigger scale as well. This means raising important issues with the University and working with a wide range of people from the academic reps and University staff to the other Sabbs and the Vice Chancellor. Standard.
“It sounds important.” What do you think they do? What did you vote for last year? Presidential elections are always tricky because of the breadth of issues that people think the President should engage with. That’s why last year you chose to elect someone who offered to improve bus services while making on-campus entertainment better who would campaign at a national level and feed you on the cheap. Delivering the Student Centre on time and to specifications was probably the key issue for last year’s winner, but entertainment was also prominent. ‘Town and gown’ relations, though important, are rarely a vote winner. Changes to the role and a shift in the Union’s relationship with the University should lead to a change in focus in this year’s candidates. You can probably still expect to read about buses.
“Responsible for helping students with anything that affects their academic life.” “Looking at student’s rights and issues with courses and stuff.” What did you vote for last year? VP Education’s a tough pitch. For some people, one of the reasons they came to university in the first place was to get a degree. Anyone who wants to offer to make that a better, easier and less stressful process should be the focus of a lot of attention. All of VP Education’s manifesto rests on their ability to deliver those against the University’s impressive record of ignoring student opinion. Last year’s winner wanted to give you better exam and coursework feedback, a fair deal on fees, better guidance in choosing modules, a free car to every student who gets a First, improvements to the academic rep system, and fairer group work assessment (one of those probably isn’t true).
VP Sport What do they do? The VP Sport is the Sabb who looks after the Union’s sports clubs and liaises with the University’s sport department to ensure that student sport remains a priority. VP Sport should also stand up for students in local, regional and national sports… things (most of these involve balls of some shape or other). He or she works closely with the Activities Coordinator both in supporting the Sports Association Executive and ensuring that sports clubs have the means to develop themselves. They work to maintain financial stability within the Sports Association and have meetings with club committees to ensure that the University remains close to the top of the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) rankings. What do you think they do? “…has a look at all the sports going on in the University and checks they’re all okay” “Trying to sort out the £100 sports fees and organising all the sporting events going on.” “…its about giving clubs what they want, supporting them and backing them up in arguments against the University. They also promote clubs and helps them to run smoothly.”
What did you vote for last year? VP Sport is a role with two faces. One part of the platform that last year’s winner stood on looks at those things that all students care about or that just sound like nice things to do. Social sport for everyone and putting students first are the kind of ideas that everyone wants to get behind and vote for. On the other hand, it is important to appeal to the core sport voter: people who actually do sport, live in the gym and who often have to treat themselves for a sweat rash. These are the people who want to see a varsity weekend, who want cheaper transport, who want clubs to have access to coaches and who want to make sure that students do not get bumped out of using facilities so that a private club can have a go.
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
5
Sabbatical Officers’ roles VP Activities and Development What do they do? This Sabb is responsible for supporting societies, arts, training and enterprise groups, making sure they have opportunities to develop their groups as well as lure in plenty of fresh young volunteers and members. He or she also works with the Activities Coordinator to help develop committees and works with the Enterprise Coordinator to ensure the development of Training and Enterprise and to promote the Bath Award, everyone’s favourite award with a ridiculously vague title. The VP Activites & Development also works closely with the VP Community & Diversity in creating collaborations between Activities, Volunteering and the ICIA. He or she makes sure all the groups are financially sustainable and uphold the necessary Ethical and Environmental standards. As well as this, liaisons with various University departments take place to ensure appropriate issues are raised and discussed in order to represent the student body. What do you think they do? “It should be improving sports and facilities and doing charity work – isn’t that what AWARE and RAG are about?” “I thought they were linked with the ICIA and all the SU activities.” “(Their job is to) co-ordinate societies, regulate, and communicate between societies and clubs.” What did you vote for last year? The leading manifesto commitment from last year’s winner was to work to improve links between the Union’s societies and the town of Kaposvár (Hungary). Volunteering and society cooperation featured prominently, as did the expansion of Sorted and Joblink. Within the Union, the role of VP A & D is exceptionally broad. The opportunities that this role can offer are significant: developing skills through societies and volunteering, through the training that you can get through Sorted and the job opportunities through Joblink. The Union already provides a lot of these opportunities, so a big part of the appeal of last year’s winner was down to experience, enthusiasm and understanding in every aspect of the role.
VP Community and Diversity What do they do? VP Community and Diversity supports and represents all of you in welfare, diversity and community issues by attending various meetings. Particular areas of interest under this remit include support for individuals on disciplinary matters with the University and ensuring that student welfare and diversity is a University priority. He or she coordinates welfare campaigns and leads student support groups for home, international and postgraduate students. Campfires, marshmallows and folk songs all round. VP Community & Diversity also works with: the Volunteering Executive committee to aid development; the Student Support Groups to help them develop; the VP Activities & Development to lubricate interactions between volunteering and societies; the Advice and Support Centre to make sure that students know about the support that is available to them and to make sure that high quality support is available; and, finally, the VP Education to help students facing personal or academic issues. What do you think they do? “They were really involved in all the protests and stuff weren’t they? It’s all stuff about AWARE.” “Fighting for equal rights and opportunities, making sure all the groups are involved and all the nationalities are represented on campus.” What did you vote for last year? Welfare is still a part of the C & D role, so the closest parallel to this role on the current team is VP Welfare & Diversity. Last year’s winning candidate suggest that you should be made aware of AWARE, before changing the name of AWARE to ARC. There were invitations to stop wasting paper, and to make it easier to get involved as one of the people who goes around telling people to stop wasting paper. Housing featured prominently too, but the transfer of volunteering to this role and responsibility for community relations means that, whoever you choose to vote for, they’re going to have an exceptionally confusing handover.
6
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Jess Watling
David Howells
Pharmacology (Year 3)
Current Sabb (2010 Graduate)
Proposed by: Kimberley Lilburne (BSc Business Administration Year 4) Seconded by: Todd Hooper (Sport & Exercise Science Year 2)
As one of your sabbs, I can see what our Union is, but more importantly, I can see what our Union could be. I will use my experience to build something we can all be proud of. I will give you the Union that you deserve. A President who doesn't back down – A lot can be achieved by working with the University, but the President's focus should always be on your priorities. On issues like sports fees I will stand up for what you want. I promise that your voice won’t be ignored. More for your money – Let's face it, being a student here isn't cheap. I will work to keep prices down, especially where it matters most: recreation, bus fares and campus shops. Keeping things open – All services should be available when you need them to be. The Graduate Centre should be open to graduates, not constantly closed for training. I will work to ensure that the University recognises how much we value access to campus facilities. A seat to eat, a space to study – It’s great that the Student Centre is so popular, but I know you can’t always get space when you need it. Space to eat, space to study, space outside the library: that's what we need. We can do much more with the Student Centre. Elements will be open at lunchtimes, with some actual furniture. Having fun – There should be happy hours spread across the week, giving you a cheaper place to meet, with more opportunities to enjoy live sport with your mates. Elements needs to be an attractive venue that you want to come back to. I will make that happen. Buses, buses, buses – I will lobby for direct services from the city centre in mornings, meaning fewer taxi journeys for 9.15s. You shouldn't have to spend twenty minutes going through town from Oldfield Park. I will also work to ensure buses remain frequent into the evening. Keeping in touch – I will bring you a Union that explains what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and how you can get involved. We need to make sure our website will be useful to you, not just for running clubs but to keep you informed. I want a community – I want everyone to feel like they have a place. I want everyone to be able to take every opportunity on offer. And I want being here to be fun. You need to know your Union will support you in whatever you want to do. A Union of students – The Students' Union should be nothing less than what its name suggests. As your President I will work to make our Union more open: a Union where decisions are made not by five sabbs, but by 14,000 students. So if you want a President who sees the whole picture not just individual pieces, if you want a President who will listen to you and deliver what you ask for, it's time to vote for David.
Candidate for SU President
Candidate for SU President
The Students Union should strive to enhance your University experience through sports, societies, entertainment and support. I am running for SU president not only to represent your views more effectively, but to make the changes that will enhance this experience. I have close links with the Union, experiencing the inner workings of the SU during my time as Freshers’ Week Event Manager 2010, providing me with valuable insights into the role of the Sabbs and more specifically the remit of President. I have also been on a sports committee affording me an understanding of some of issues around sports and wider Union activities. Those who know me will tell you that I’m fully committed to everything I do, have the energy, motivation and enthusiasm to drive forward the relevant issues affecting the student body and am a great team worker. My aims for 2011/12: Communications: A new member of staff is being dedicated to communications and I will work with them to ensure that you, the students, know what we can offer. I will strive to ensure the student body is engaged in relevant decision-making and there is an appropriate platform for you to voice your views Entertainment: The SU isn’t always aware of the events that you want to attend and as the majority of societies, sports clubs and other groups rely on the SU for funding, it is essential to establish a strong, profitable entertainments offering to ensure this funding doesn’t dry up First year students: Ensuring first year students feel like more of a community in halls. Every student has the right to have the best possible experience and really feel like part of the university culture and community environment £100 sports fee: Working alongside VP sport to ensure that the money brought in with the fee will be allocated to areas that will actually benefit the student body. Your views will be put to the sports department to ensure that they understand the students’ requirements and how you would like this money to be spent Media: Allow the student media, such as Impact, CTV and URB, to have the freedom to report on the issues that they think are most important to students, encouraging transparency across the Union and representing the student body in the most comprehensive way Increase in tuition fees: Challenging how the university will be going the extra mile to justify charging the increased fees to students and striving to ensure that the student experience at Bath is continuously improved on a long-term basis University is one of the most exciting, dynamic and challenging times of your life and my aim as president would be to help you to maximize the full potential of your time here. I am truly passionate about improving the experience of every student here at Bath, and I promise to bring both my experience of the SU and a fresh perspective to the role. Your President, Your Vote
Proposed by: Tamar Hudson (ESML Year 1) Seconded by: Jack Blake (Maths Year 1)
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Rosie Boulton
Matt Benka
Politics with International Relations (Year 3)
Current Sabb (2010 Graduate)
Welcome to the year of the student experience – when what you think matters and students have a real opportunity to make change happen. Our Union has been pretty good at getting what we want from the University, but we can do better. Our Union has the potential for greatness. What are the benefits of a great SU? A great Union engages students so that everything they do reflects what students really want. A great Union represents you to the University and stands up for you when you need it to. A great Union makes the University better. It lowers barriers between students and it raises expectations. A great SU is what you make of it. So... Vote Rosie, get JIM. Justify our fees – it’s time we called for better and more consistent quality of teaching. I want students to know how their departments respond to Online Unit Evaluations, so they don’t just disappear into a desk drawer. We need more relevant information in module outlines so students can make informed choices about the future of their education. We need to have an open discussion about the removal of add/drop periods, which were abandoned despite their popularity with students. We need more consistent and better use of Moodle across the university - it’s unacceptable that in classrooms across the country there is greater use of virtual learning than at our university. Students expect more from their time at Bath than having last year’s tired lectures regurgitated to them. When it comes to innovations in learning, I want Bath to be a leader not a follower. Improve groupwork – Almost all of us have suffered through at least one group presentation where our own mark is reliant upon someone else and they just haven’t delivered. We must find a fairer marking system from one of the many that are used across the university at the moment. Modify the Academic Rep system – the SU offers so many ways for students to get involved, but none have more untapped potential than our Academic Rep system. We are renowned amongst universities for a great Academic Rep system that we as students hardly engage with. We need to increase awareness of the Academic Rep system and make it easier for students and reps to communicate. We need more faculty academic councils, so that students have an opportunity to discuss issues that are specific to them. Some of you are lucky enough to have had great Academic and Faculty Reps – we need to keep demanding a higher calibre so we can make Bath the gold standard for Academic Representation. Those of you who have studied at Bath for the past few years will realise our Union isn’t what it should be, let alone what it could be. I want your help to make it better. So if you think it’s time we demanded more for our money and more for our future, vote Rosie Boulton for VP Education 11/12.
Proposed by: David Tregurtha (Physics (Year 2)) Seconded by: Alexander Gilbank (Chemical Engineering (Year 1))
Candidate for VP Education
Proposed by: William Ramsay (Mechanical Engineering Year 2) Seconded by: Claire Ackerman (Accounting & Finance Year 2)
Candidate for VP Education
7
Hi, I’m Matt Benka, the current VP Education, and I am standing for reelection. Over the last year, I've been working on improving your academic provision, and have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge about what academic issues students are having, as well as how those issues can be resolved. I want to use this experience to improve your university experience further. VP Education has always had to deal with a long list of issues, a list far too long to put in this manifesto. So I'm not going to talk about feedback, or group work, or learning resources, or lecture space, or timetabling, or any of the rest. I do think that all of those issues are important, and I intend to continue working to address them, as well as dealing with any new issues you may have – as I’ve been doing over the past year. What I am going to talk about how I intend to deal with the biggest academic issue for students: quality of teaching. Quality of teaching is absolutely fundamental to everyone‘s time at University and it is an issue faced by almost every student. If I am re-elected, improving this will be the focus of my second year in office. If you are not getting the quality education that a prestigious institution like the University of Bath should provide, then that needs to be addressed. It is not acceptable to have lectures that you feel that you gain nothing from. It is not acceptable to have teaching provision that is outdated and insufficient. And it is certainly not acceptable to complain and then never see any improvement. The new fee structure will create a new culture at universities across the country – a culture where students will be at the heart of the university, a culture where students will hold more power than ever before. Universities must become proactive in dealing with student issues, and students must hold the university to account. I will make sure that Bath takes a lead on this cultural change. I will make sure that changes to the University reflect your needs and your expectations. It is this new culture that will result in a better quality of teaching for all. I will ensure that the changing face of higher education will result in you getting the quality learning and teaching that you expect. I will ensure that when you have issues, they will be dealt with swiftly, and that you will know exactly what is being done. I will make it so that you never feel like you’re being ignored. I will put your education back into your hands. It can be and will be accomplished. I’ve already started down this path over the last few months. There’s still a lot of work to be done, and I’m asking for your vote so I can finish the job. Re-elect Matt Benka VP Education and I will fight for the education you deserve.
8
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Chris Jones
Civil Engineering (Year 4)
Hannah Gavin
Coach Education & Sports Development (Year 3)
Proposed by: Greg Mitchell (Mechanical Engineering Year 5) Seconded by: Rachael Lawer (French & Politics Year 4)
As a Coach Ed student one of the things that drew me to Bath was the high value that it places upon sport. Its presentation of being an active campus was very important to me as I’m sure it is to a lot of you! My personal experiences of sport here include being a member of the Student Swimming Squad in my first year and a dedicated member of the Rowing Club for 3 years in which I have coxed mainly the Senior Men’s Squad and aided in the development of our Novice Squads. I was also invited to be on the committee in my first year as Coxing captain and held the position into my second year, through the position I was heavily involved in the initial recruitment and the organisation of coxes and crews right throughout the Club. As well as my experience in sport, this year I further developed my understanding of the Student’s Union and Sports Association through my position on the SA Exec committee who work closely with our current VP Sport. This has not only given me, as I’ve said, a better understanding of the role but has allowed me to begin to develop relationships with those that have a say on how sport is run at your university. What do I propose to do as your VP Sport? • An active Campus As well as promoting our university in its organised sport through BUCS I also want to increase the attention paid to those who want a more recreational sporting student experience. Whether it’s a swim once a week or a kick around on the astro-turf I want to be sure that you guys are getting the opportunities to do as much or as little sport as you want. At Bath we are privileged with great facilities that are practically on our doorstep and I want to make sure we are getting the most use out of them we can. • Intramurals Continuing my theme of an active campus I’d like to boost the involvement and range of sports played as part of our intramural scheme, as much as our vast space on campus will allow. • The £100 fee As I’m sure many of you are aware the university will be introducing a fee to use the sporting facilities on campus. Although the fee is disappointing, by concentrating on the things I’ve mentioned above we will be putting pressure on the Sports department to provide for us giving them no excuse to push you to the bottom of the priority list. • Contact Time As VP Sport I will make myself more accessible to the general student body, whether that’s standing on parade for a couple hours a week for a chat or giving up more office time to hear your views I will do it to make sure I am representing what it is you have to say. Vote Hannah as your VP Sport
Candidate for VP Sport
Candidate for VP Sport
My name is Chris Jones and I’m the perfect candidate to be your new VP Sport. Throughout my 4 years at the University of Bath, Sport has not only provided me with many of the highlights of my university career, but also helped me develop into the person I am today. It is my honest belief that involvement in sport, whether a week of skiing in the French Alps, a lifetime on the rugby field or an afternoon with any of the university’s 49 sports clubs, can make any day worth getting out of bed for. It is for this reason and with 2 Years club committee experience that I believe I’ve shown the ability to manage, organise and lead students. But now I want to give even more. This I why I want to represent you as VP sport. Goals: Value for money: One of my primary goals is to ensure that the newly introduced £100 sports fees have only a positive effect on your sports services and facilities. I will not let participation in either sports clubs or social activities such as the IDFC and intramurals suffer through the introduction of these fees. By constantly monitoring participation and fighting for improved facilities across the board I hope to ensure that every single student who is forced to pay these fees will see at least £100 worth of improvements to their personal sporting experience. Showcasing your talents: Many sports clubs now hold special one-off events; I want to make them easier to hold, more frequent and more widely advertised both throughout the University and within the local community. These events help to raise money for your club, increase participation and improve the University’s reputation within the City. Plus we all prefer performing in front of a big crowd! Improved facilities: As students at a university which boasts some of the best sporting facilities in the country, many of us came to Bath with high expectations. Therefore it is astounding that every night a variety of clubs rely upon a small patch of poorly lit mud to train their members to the high standards expected of a leading sporting university. This MUST be addressed, more flood lit pitches or (whisper it) a 3G Astroturf need to be seriously considered and discussed. Alumni Relations; Many clubs have a tradition of inviting alumni back to compete against the current crop of team stars in one-off matches. This develops a sense of community within the club and provides fund-raising opportunities. I visualise the development of this tradition into a university-wide Alumni weekend. Bath is one of the top sporting Universities in the UK and I want us to improve year on year by working with every club to establish a long-term development plan. This will tackle everything from finances to coaching, going above and beyond current committees’ involvement ensuring that Bath continues to excel on every track, court, pool and field. Sport isn’t just something we do, it’s something we need. Vote Jones.
Proposed by: Sean Longhurst (Coach Ed. Year 3) Seconded by: Sophie Harper (Architecture Year 3)
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Jon ‘JGR’ Garner-Richardson Biology & Biochemistry (Year 3)
Chris ‘Clemmo’ Clements Economics (Year 4)
Proposed by: Laura Jackson (Sport & Exercise Science Year 4) Seconded by: Dominic Chaopradith (Chemistry Year 3)
Proposed by: Layton Gilbraith (Computer Science Year 2) Seconded by: Braeme Kirkwood (Chemical Engineering Year 3) When I first visited the university, I remember how in awe of the facilities I was. Not only did I see an incredible sports centre in the Sports Training Village, but everyone seemed filled with enthusiasm and passion when asked about their club. The sport at Bath was the driving influence behind my choice to study here and why I started Jiu Jitsu. I have been involved in the club for the last three years now, a committee member for two and currently the Chairman. Many of my responsibilities in this role allow me to be increasingly involved with the SA, arranging funding and trips. The challenging nature of organising and maintaining a club, while at the same time communicating and working with the SA, has proved an invaluable and rewarding experience and has taught me the skills and knowledge I need to represent you as SABB. With recent disagreements between the University, the SU and the Sports Department, all the amazing facilities and clubs are currently under threat. While it is the noble tradition of student politicians to want to make a positive difference, using ambitious manifestos and strong promises, time and time again these promises are so ambitious they cannot be delivered. My pledge this year is to offer realistic changes and results you can see, making sure that YOU get the most out of sport at university! These are the issues I plan to address: The £100 fee I will not pledge to entirely remove the £100 fee by the end of the year as the university has made it clear that this fee is going ahead. However, I will pledge the following: - Ensure the university does not forget how insensitive it has been and ensure future decisions will never be made in this manner again. YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD! - Ensure YOU know exactly where YOUR money is going by making a breakdown of budgets openly available to students. - With the loss of the 25M pool ensure that clubs which used this facility are NOT negatively affected by its closure. - Try to set up schemes to make the fee more manageable/affordable Accessibility of recreational users - Ensure that facility bookings are simple and efficient. Investigate an online booking system. - Ensure the proposed “pay as you play” scheme has as competitive rates as possible. Service Awareness - Many committees are unaware of the many services the SA has to offer. I want ensure that these services are properly publicised to ease the burden on committee members. Continued support for BUCS teams - Continue support for well established BUCS teams/clubs making sure they get the facility priorities and funding they need. BUCS and emerging clubs - With the expansion of BUCS into new sports, it is paramount that teams know how they can get involved, opening opportunities for more funding and more competition. I intend to set up clear channels to make this a simple and manageable process.
I’m sure many of you will agree that sport is a major part of your Bath University life. From competitive rowing to inter-departmental football to recreational swimming, it has certainly enhanced my time at Bath. I want to help sport do the same for you, whatever your sport and whatever your level. The next year is an important one for sport at Bath. Your VP Sport should be able to take the reins from day one. This year I am Chairman of the Sports Association Executive Committee and Captain of the Rowing Club – both of these positions have provided me with a great breadth of experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my university sporting career and very much look forward to helping ensure students following me can do so too. You can count on me to: 1) Fight for you on Sport Fees I am already actively campaigning against the £100 fee and I will continue to oppose it. If introduced, the way in which the fee is handled will be crucial for the future of sport at Bath. The Sports Department needs it to be a success and this puts us, the students, in a position of power. I will make firm demands on improvements. I will also help support your clubs in finding alternative facilities and negotiate student deals with off campus alternatives. 2) Make Sport Simple The current club fees system is too complicated, especially with the addition of the Sports Department Fee. I will remove the Sport Association joining fee, create a new all-inclusive club fee (including BUCS subscriptions) and introduce a new membership for the expanded Cross-Campus Competitions (CCC’s). 3) Kick Up On Club Kit The way student clubs have been dealt with by the university is appalling, with some kit still having not yet arrived. This cannot happen again and I will support clubs in finding alternative suppliers if guarantees are not made on level of service and delivery dates. 4) Deliver Varsity Festival A well run varsity series can be something the whole university can unite behind. I will deliver a multi-sport varsity weekend, including a Varsity Ball, for all students to enjoy. 5) Offer Non-Competitive Exercise Work to maintain and increase recreational sport, including setting up free sport and exercise groups such as jogging and aerobics. 6) Revive Cross Campus-Competitions (CCC’s) Expand inter-departmental competitions to new sports and create a crosshalls sports day on campus. 7) Add a personal touch I will have more one to ones with club chairs and my door will always be open to anybody who has any sport related issue. I have many more ideas, including how to get us back up the BUCS league table and ensure sport is better organised from top to bottom. Most important to me is to know what could make sport at Bath better for you. Please feel free to call me on the ClemmoPhone on 07884468014 at any time throughout the nominations period. Count on Clemmo, #1 VP Sport
Candidate for VP Sport
Candidate for VP Sport
9
10
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
sabbspecial
Naomi Mackrill
Candidate for VP Community & Diversity
Chemistry (Year 3)
Proposed by: Alex Pool (Biology & Biochemistry Year 3) Seconded by: Kate Aldridge (Physics Year 3)
“University is the best time of your life”, one of the things that students hear again and again and something that I definitely hold to be true. I’m Naomi Mackrill and I’m running to be your first ever VP Community and Diversity. This is the part of my manifesto where you would expect to read the many amazing promises that I’m making about what I’ll do should I be elected, instead I’m going to tell you this: If elected, I will make VP Community and Diversity the manageable and all inclusive role it deserves to become. I know this doesn’t sound like your average campaign and that’s because it’s realistic. We have such a diverse role, with so many aspects of the Union grouped under the same umbrella, that it will need real care and attention to make it a success. As it’s a brand new role, one priority is to ensure it has solid grounding that future years can build on so all the areas are fully covered. For this you need a hardworking, dedicated, organised individual. You need me! Using my experiences within the SU, I will ensure that the strong links between societies and volunteering groups are maintained and extended to cover ALL the groups in this area. These areas need each other to thrive. International Student Taster Week, Festival on the Hill, THINK week, Student Christmas Appeal and RAG week are a few examples of the fantastic campaigns that can and do benefit from these links, this is something I will work to improve. “Community” encompasses two massive areas of our student lives – the University and local communities. The Mayor chose “town and gown” relations as his theme for his term in office, which shows what a vital aspect of the new role “community” is. Occasionally students get a bad reputation amongst some Bath residents; I want to change this by promoting the fantastic work we Students do that benefits the local community. Why me? Through my many roles on various Student Committees I have a wealth of experience in chairing meetings, speaking confidently in public and managing my time effectively. As Societies Officer this year I organised the first International Student Taster Week and as Chair of Student Community Action I managed the massive, three week campaign of the first Student Christmas Appeal. As Publicity Officer on the Volunteer Executive Committee, I’ve gained the communication skills necessary for VP Community and Diversity and have a vast knowledge of all areas of volunteering at Bath. Coupled with being a leader at a guide unit, volunteering with SCA and RAG and working for AimHigher, I’ve spent a lot of my time in the local community, meeting new people and getting involved with local activities. My vast range of experiences and boundless enthusiasm has made University the best time of my life, making me your number one candidate for VP Community and Diversity. Vote Naomi #1 for one Community full of Diversity; we're all together, under ONE umbrella.
Candidate for VP Activities & Development
www.bathimpact.com
David Cameron
Computer Science & Mathematics (Year 2) Proposed by: Bethany Wong (MBiochem Year 3) Seconded by: Fiona Barry (BSc Business Administration Year 2) Please note, the views expressed in this manifesto do not necessarily reflect those of the Prime Minister. Same name, same determination, different position – VP Activities and Development. It is time to move from Ann, Queen of Clubs, to the activities’ knight in shining armour. The issues I’ll be slaying are: A new Arts Centre For far too long, Arts societies have had to put up with facilities that don’t satisfy our basic needs. This needs to change; the University has to deliver. In addition to a purpose built theatre, we need to see rehearsal spaces, a dance studio, appropriate dressing rooms and storage space – a problem affecting all groups. I will campaign for your needs in this area making sure that you get the best deal possible. Rewarding Student Opportunities There are many ways for us to reach our potential - Sorted, SIFE, BANTER and the Bath Award all provide fantastic opportunities. However, more could be done in this area – advanced Sorted sessions and an improved Bath Award with tiered levels. This will allow us to gain more from our Union, boosting our personal skills and improving our chances in an increasingly competitive job market. Getting people involved We have great societies with fantastic events but some parts of the student population can get left out. Considering this, particularly in the case of postgraduate and mature students, I want to make sure that societies involve as many people as possible so that everyone can benefit from these activities. Society Cohesion We have seen that when societies work together that big events can happen such as the Interfaith week and Show in a Week. I want societies with similar interests to get together to discuss these types of events, raise awareness and share advice. Working with the local community Improving community relations is important for all societies. Whether it is building a community project or working with local schools, there are many benefits from these activities. I want to make these easier to start up and will encourage all societies to consider what they could bring to the wider community. Ethical and Environmental As this area moves into the role, I want to ensure that the SU’s good work continues into the future. We achieved Silver in the NUS Green Impact Awards and I feel that we should be going for gold, whilst encouraging the University to follow our lead and make changes which will make a difference. My sword has been sharpened by a variety of experiences – working with societies at the grass roots level on committee and with the Diversity and Support groups at an executive level; I will be able to come to the role with a fresh perspective. Combining this with my unceasing engagement with the University in a variety of areas, you can be confident that I will fight for you and your opportunities in Bath. So go on, make me a knight to remember and vote DC for VP A&D!
Friday 18th March 2011
bathimpact
11
sabbspecial
www.bathimpact.com
Campus campaigns: be prepared Use this handy little map to identify key battlegrounds in the coming week Halls of Residence: Be warned that your homes are likely to be popular after 5pm for campaigning
Parade: The main battleground for the elections. Expect posters and campaign teams to confront you at every turn. The Woods: Possibly the only Student Centre: where Questions for Candidates will take place. See them face to face. Also, level 3 is a campaigning-free zone. Take note.
place on campus where you will be able to avoid the campaigning
STV: Sports fees will happen over here. Possible riots.
Timetable
Dates
Times
Event
Friday 18th March
10 AM
Campaigning begins
Monday 21st March
9 AM
Polling opens
1.15 PM
Questions for Candidates
Tuesday 22nd March
1.15 PM
Questions for Candidates
Friday 25th March
4 PM
Polling closes
4.45 PM
Candidates meet followed by the start of the count
10.30 PM
Elements Results Night doors open
11 PM
Results announced live
3 AM
Elements closes
3.30 AM
Losing candidates wheelbarrowed home
Your vote matters. How to vote: Go to bathstudent.com/runforsabb/votenow and you’re half way there already. Follow the links for the position you want to vote for and you’ll find a list of names and manifestos. Once you’ve read as many as you can stomach, follow the link to vote. You’ll find a list of candidate names, numbers and instructions on what to do. If you really don’t want to vote for a particular candidate, you can put in N.F.P. (that’s ‘No Further Preference’) which appears in the list of names, and click Submit. If you do put in N.F.P., however, it will be your final vote – any preference lower than the preference given to N.F.P. won’t be counted. Another option you’ll see is R.O.N. (Re-Open Nominations) indicating that you think this whole thing has been totally unfair and you want to stand yourself because you have better ideas. Or you want to nominate your mate, because he would obviously be brilliant. Keep in mind that N.F.P. isn’t the only option when you’ve cast the vote for the guy who you’d love to be one of your Sabbs. Even if you put Sarah Palin as second preference it won’t affect your first choice’s chance of winning. Ranking people is always a good idea. Here you get a chance to do it in a way that is not only good for the SU, but also would be approved of by any self-respecting Liberal Democrat. Good luck and happy voting!
Finding out more about the candidates: If you still don’t know who to vote for, there are more opportunities to find out about the candidates and what they want to do. Questions for Candidates is just another name for hustings, which itself isn’t a real word. This is a good chance to meet the candidates and get any questions you might have answered. It is almost certainly a better way to make a decision than waiting for them to hunt you down and slap a sticker on you. Come on down to the Student Centre to watch the candidates hard at work for your vote. Having read the manifestos beforehand, formulate your own questions and don’t be afraid to test them out on the candidates. It’s your Union, and because this will be the first time these guys have had to campaign for votes, they’ll even answer your questions honestly. Other parts of Student Media will be doing their best to help you to make an informed decision. URB’s current affairs show Buzz will be releasing a daily podcast during campaigning which will cover all of the events of the day and will feature interviews with the candidates. These podcasts will be available for from www.1449URB.co.uk. CTV have recorded adverts for each of the candidates which will be available from www.bathstudent.com. By this point, we’ve really done everything we could possibly do. Enjoy the coming week.