gair rhydd
gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1093 Monday 20th February 2017 Refugee Rhythm returns for annual event
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Credit: CUTV
Election excitement builds with Candidate Question Time Toby Holloway
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s student election week builds to a climax, Gair Rhydd takes a look at this years candidates, examining key points from their manifestos and reporting on the Candidates’ Question Time events that occurred last week. In the days leading up to the beginning of a busy campaign week, the candidates got their chance to convince the Julian Hodge audience that they deserve the votes of Cardiff University’s student body. The first Candidate Question Time took place on Tuesday of last week, with the nominees for the positions of Mental Health Officer, Vice President Education, Vice President Heath Park Campus, Vice President Societies, Vice President Welfare and Students with Disabilities Officer taking centre stage. The candidates has 15 seconds to
introduce themselves, after which they had 30 seconds to answer a number of questions. One question they had seen already, another they had not seen before, and the third was provided by a member of the audience. The questions were asked by SU President Sophie Timbers. Kicking off the event were those running for the position of Mental Health Officer. The candidates for this position were: Callum Smith, a history undergraduate who is a Student Senator and member of the Scrutiny Committee; Elliott Stubbs, who, in her manifesto, says she pledges to “lobby for services to help navigate NHS services”; George Watkins, who aims to provide “safe places”, “wellbeing families” and “more counselling and wellbeing appointments and the Student Support Centre”; and Jamie Plumb, a fourth year medical student who seeks to “improve access to mental health services for International, European and Erasmus students”.
Next up was Disabilities Officer, with Charlie Knights standing again having held the position for the past year. Running against him, although not present at Question Time, was Bhaviki Chandnani. Third to answer the questions were the six hopefuls for the position of VP Education. These were: Chiron Hooson, who aims to “extend library opening times during holidays”; Fadhila Al Dhahouri, aiming for free printing and “more project-based learning and revision workshops”; Ishna Maanishi, who studies environmental geoscience and is a member of several societies; James Daly, who wants to reduce lecture hours on a Wednesday so they don’t clash with sport and prevent deadline bunching; Nancy Cameron, who in describing herself uttered the immortal words “Roses are red, violets are blue, listen to how I’ll improve your SU”; and Vani Juneja, who wants to “lobby the university to introduce a 10 minute reading time during exams”.
Kirsty Hepburn is the only candidate running for Heath Park, and pledges increase bike parking and cooking facilities at Heath Park Campus. Fourth to face Sophie Timbers questions were the nominees for VP Welfare. For this position there were six candidates: Annabel JardineBlake, a Welfare Executive Committee Member and SHAG co-president; Geoff Jukes, whose manifesto declares that he aims to “provide more support after SU club nights” and “raise awareness about male suicide”; Holly Jones, who wants to focus on helping “international students and Freshers”; Kate Elswood, who seeks to create an online platform for incoming student to receive mentoring and guidance about university life;
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he local branch of Student Action for Refugees is having its annual ‘Refugee Rhythms’ night to welcome refugees and asylum seekers to Cardiff on Thursday 23rd February. Featuring music, food and festivities from around the world, Cardiff Student’s Union Bar, Y Plas will host up to 1500 guests to join in the celebrations. STAR is made up of almost 100 students from Cardiff University; they run a weekly English Conversation club for students to socialise with refugees and asylum seekers and campaign on campus for universities to provide equal fees, access, and support to asylum seekers and refugees. Last year’s event was attended by over 500 people and won the Cardiff University award for ‘Best Large Event of the year’. Bands including Hélélé and Sounds of Harlowe along will be supporting the event along with local DJ’s Bump and Grind and Blue Honey.
New Deputy ViceChancellor for Cardiff University
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ardiff University has announced the appointment of new Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen Holford. Professor Holford will take up her new post on April 3rd 2017. For the last five years she has led Cardiff University’s College of Physical Sciences and Engineering. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan said: “Professor Holford has an outstanding track record as Pro Vice-Chancellor. I have no doubt she will build on this tremendous success and the work of Professor Treasure in the role of Deputy ViceChancellor.” Professor Holford said: “I am delighted to be appointed Deputy ViceChancellor at Cardiff University. We are an ambitious and innovative University with so much to be proud of, most importantly the inspirational people who work so hard to contribute to our success and who make Cardiff a great place to study and work.