York Vision YUSU Elections 2014 Pullout

Includes: Officer Manifestos//Part Time Officer Manifestos//Eye On Campus//Controversial Manifesto Pledges//Davies’ Diaries// “Forbes List” of BNOCs//Elections Drinking Game

Danny Nolan

Dylan Chambers

Jack Coy

YUSU Elections Who will you vote for?

Josie Field

Tom A-C

Fred Isaac

Andy Lake

Irish Sam

Dan Whitmore

YORK VISION

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YUSU PRESIDENT

ANDY LAKE College: James College Year: 3 Subject: Writing, Directing and Performance Campaign in three words: Positive, Proactive, Personal What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Constantine College is arriving, and Heslington East is just not up to scratch. We really need to push for a shop, health centre and YUSU building on Hes East campus.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I hope my hard-working ethic and approachability set me apart from the crowd. I love working under pressure and I love getting stuff done. I want to share this desire.

DYLAN CHAMBERS College: Alcuin College Year: 3 Subject: Maths and Finance Campaign in three words: Opportunities, Value, Excellence.

What’s the most

important part of your

manifesto?

The key policy from my manifesto is improving every single York student’s employability. Opportunities available to students need to be better advertised and clearer.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I feel like many people can get caught up in a YUSU clique. I would like to think that I am very a downto-earth student who is passionate about student well-being.

JOSIE FIELD College: Goodricke College Year: 3 Subject: English Literature Campaign in three words: Engagement.

Representation. Change.

What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Improving engagement through practical means, I want a YUSU petition site and visible physical changes happening on campus, particularly new bus routes to popular student housing areas.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

Haha, the obvious thing being I’m a woman! But that aside, I think I’ve been more involved with actual change on campus due to YUSU than most: as women’s officer we’ve seen new lights fitted on Retreat Lane, which is a massive success.

DAN WHITMORE College: Vanbrugh College Year: Current Sabb Subject: Mathematics Campaign in three words: More, More, More!

What’s the most

important part of your

manifesto?

The bit where I say that my ideas are gonna change the world. I also come with BONUS FEATURES (see the actual manifesto for some more info).

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I guess I have the most experience? There’s also the fact that when I ran last year I was very much the outsider (I wasn’t a student politician to say the least!) and despite having been inside “the system” for a year I think that I still have that spirit; I’m in

DANIEL NOLAN College: Vanbrugh College Year: 3 Subject: History and Philosophy Campaign in three words: Fun, Engaging, Annoying What’s the most important

part of your manifesto?

Increasing York student engagement with the union, whether it be with officers or the nightlife How do you differ from the other candidates?

I think I am understanding, willing to listen, and would listen to every idea.

this for all the right reasons.

FRED ISAAC College: Alcuin College Year: 3 Subject: Chemistry Campaign in three words: Vote for #frisaac What’s the most important part of your

manifesto?

Most people will probably say cheaper drinks at campus bars. But I would like to think it was the aim of making the experience for the average student better.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I have stayed out of campus politics before this point because it seems that people start the university political career with good ideas but just end up acting exactly the same by the end of it.

SAM MAGUIRE College: Langwith College Year: 3

JACK COY College: Vanbrugh College Year: 3 Subject: BA Underwater Basket Weaving Campaign in three words: more-crabsmore-beaches-morepedalos-more-fun (actually, that’s one) What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Hard to say – either the Crab Olympics or the tropical island bar in the middle of the lake.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

Probably the lobster outfit. But also my common sense policies.

TOM AC College: Derwent Year: 2

Subject: Management

Subject: Politics & IR

Campaign in three words: Change For Good

Campaign in three words: Freedom, Justice, Honeys

What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

The creation of a formulated strategy based on student input that allows officers to be held to account and measure their progress.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I have a combination of experience in student politics but I would be a fresh face in the student’s union.

What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

My manifesto isn’t too serious. The people who take the elections seriously, regardless of what I wrote, wouldn’t have taken me seriously. I am running for the apathetic voters, so the fact that I don’t care should appeal to those that also don’t care.

How do you differ from the other candidates?

I am not an over ambitious student politician. I was not a college chair or anything in my JCRC; I am hope that you can become the president without having been part of your JCRC clique.

YORK VISION

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Full-Time Officers ACADEMIC OFFICER College: Halifax Year: Current Sabb!

Subject: Environmental Science Campaign in three words: Students deserve better What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Student-led input – Supporting Course Reps and Department Reps and making representation about wider consultation, not just who shouts the loudest.

George Offer

College: Vanbrugh Year: 3 Subject: Environmental Geography Campaign in three words: Positive, Communication, Improvements What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Open information communication, as it is about sharing what is already available for students and what students want to get the best of what York has to offer.

College: Wentworth Year: Postgrad Subject: MSc Early Prehistory Campaign in three words: Positive, Pro-active, Personal What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

I think that my final key policy to get out of the office and directly engage with students at a grassroots level has to be the most important part.

Josh Henning

Robyn Haycock

WELFARE AND COMMUNITY OFFICER College: Alcuin Year: 3 Subject: Archaeology Campaign in three words: Fun, exciting, quirky What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

I think all of my policies are important, but the part which will potentially directly affect the most students is the creation of off campus communities.

Beth Campbell

College: Vanbrugh Year: 3 Subject: Music Campaign in three words: Inclusive, Fun and Creative!

What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

Providing students with lifelong skills to improve well-being at University and beyond.

College: Langwith College Year: 3 Subject: Social Policy Campaign in three words: Cheaper, easier, safer What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

The development of a strategic plan for welfare and commu- nity engagement.

Grace Winpenny

Jemima Busby

YORK SPORT PRESIDENT College: Langwith Year: Current Sabb Subject: English Literature and Linguistics Campaign in three words: #keepitcassy What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

The most important part of any manifesto is ensuring the policies become a reality. In my role as York Sport President so far, this is exactly what I have done and this is exactly what I intend to do if re-elected.

I do, however, believe the important theme in my manifesto is ensuring that every student’s experience of sport at York is the best it can possibly be.

To read my full manifesto you can check it out on the YUSU website.

College: Alcuin Year: 3 Subject: History Campaign in three words: Passion, Policies, Experience.

What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

That’s a hard one when you have a 36 page manifesto. My primary aim is to bolster participation rates in all areas of sport, and my policies revolve around achieving that by improving the communication, integration and financial position of the York Sport Union. I’d say that my main policies are the creation of a new York Sport Union website and the expansion and development of the Get into Sport programme.

Cass Brown

Dave Washington

STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICER College: Derwent Year: 4 Subject: Maths Campaign in three words: Listening to you What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

I will listen to people throughout my campaign and my time in office.

Nothing could be more important than that, and that’s why it takes up half of my manifesto.

Bev Rogers

College: Vanbrugh Year: 3 Subject: Film and Television Production Campaign in three words: “Harness the opportunity” What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

I want to engage with what students need and find exciting yet practical ways to fulfil them.

Chris Wall

College: James Year: 3 Subject: Language & Literature in Education Campaign in three words: Go For Gibson What’s the most important part of your manifesto?

I have three main goals – giving societies better support, increasing college involvement in Volunteering and RAG, and making Volunteering as high-profile as RAG.

Harriet Gibson

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YORK VISION

Part Time Officers Disabled Students’ Officer Fun fact: Tron is an ardent Spurs supporter.

Vote for Tron if: You want him to carry on what he has been doing so far.

THOMAS

Most important policies: Working with University Audit to improve accessibility Slogan: ReElecTron RON

Black & Minority Ethnic Officer Fun fact: Aquib is only in his first year.

Vote for Aquib if: You want a fresh voice.

Most important policies: “To provide BME students with a stronger voice” Slogan: AquiBME HUSSAIN

AQUIB

Fun Fact: Neil’s cheekbones are BNOCs. Vote for them if: You want experience, more events and a cheeky bit of banter.

NEIL & BIG

Most important policies: Seeking partnership with YSJ Slogan: Neil & Big John Covering all the bases JOHN

Environment & Ethics Officer Fun Fact: Charlie is the tallest man in Heslington.

Vote for them if: You want a tree planted for you at graduation!

OLIVER

& CHARLIE

Fun fact: Stefan worked full-time for seven years before uni.

Vote for Stefan if: You want to change the image of ‘environmentalists’.

STEFAN Fun fact: Wesley was a member of Youth Parliament.

Vote for Stefan if: You’re a fan of projects like Edible Uni. WESLEY

Most important policies: Setting up a new YUSU committee.

Slogan: Vote the OC for less CO2 Most Important Policies: Improved university communication Slogan: Action speaks louder than words

GILLOT

PARKINSON

Most Important Policies: Lowering Energy Usage Slogan: Vote Wesley

International Officer Fun fact: She’s in first year!

Vote for Aashna if: you like achievable and realistic policies AASHNA

Most important policies: increasing academic and financial support.

Slogan: Choose inter-ash-ionalism

SEHGAL

Fun fact: He finds the nooks and crannies of York a ‘safe haven’ from the hustle and bustle.

GARETH TAN

Most important policies: Getting more international representation in societies and JCRCs. Slogan: The Way Forward

LGBTQ Officer

MADDIE BODEN

Most important policies: raising money for the Network.

Slogan: Look for the big hair

ANAND GOYOL

Most important policies: Getting people involved with RAG. Slogan: Vote Anand

Fun Fact: Maddie campaigned to put the Q in LGBTQ. Vote for Maddie if: You like her hair

RAG Officer Fun fact: He studies Astrophysics!

Vote for Anand if: Charity is your thing!

Fun fact: Sarah is an identical twin!

Vote for Sarah & Georgina if: You enjoy Kanye West lyrics.

Volunteering Officer

SARAH &

Fun fact: She loved the jumpers for chickens idea.

Vote For Rikita if: You want University support.

Most important policies: campus promotion.

Slogan: Raise it, give it, do it, make us

Bigger, Better, Bolder, Stronger GEORGINA Most important policies: widening Universitywide engagement and support.

Slogan: Vote Gandhi

RIKITA GANDHI

Fun Fact: Curliest-haired candidates running!

Vote for them if: You want to get societies involved in volunteering!

OLLIE

& HARRIET

Most important policy: Involving societies.

Slogan: Volunteering, it’s down to us!

Women’s Officer Fun fact: Emily is a bit internet famous on a blog called “Those Pesky Dames”.

Vote for Peggy & Emily if: you want more support

PEGGY & EMILY

Most important policy: More student involvement.

Slogan: Pem 4 prez

YORK VISION

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Controversial manifesto pledges...

Let’s face it, not many of you will have actually read the manifestos, so here are the policies that might get through if you vote for your favourite cardboard slogan...

Tom A-C promises to give us all free coffee in 9 am lectures.

Jemima Busby would bring in a pre-paid card taxi service so students can get back from nights out safely.

Jack Coy wants glass bottomed boats on the lake, and a tropical bar in the middle. I don’t really think that we have the right climate or tropical biodiversity to merit either of these policies but hey, good on him if he manages this...

Josie Fields wants to create an online petition system similar to the government’s e-petitions.

Sam Maguire wants to stop the Full-Time Officers being able to support referendum campaigns (remember the farce that was Ye5 last term?!) and argued that they are here to represent students, not to mould and shape their opinions.

Fred Isaac wants to disaffiliate from the NUS. Bev Rogers wants to get YSTV on the TVs in the campus bars and URY broadcast in Your Shop. Not controversial, but we just thought that it was a nice pledge.

Chris Wall wants to set up a Dragons’ Den style competition with local businesses to give societies opportunities to secure more funding.

Dan Whitmore wants to get a new Sabb for next year for Postgraduate students.

Grace Winpenny wants to bring back free self-defence classes for women.

joker!

What a

W

hat is the point of a joke candidate? Are they just a student having a bit of a joke and living as banterously as they can before they have to enter the real world of 9-5 jobs and appropriate behaviour, or are they a force for political change, and a sign of our discontent with student politics? We have two this year, neither of which is making a particular political point.

Let’s look across the country. Jamie Ross, running for Association President at St Andrews last year, made national headlines with his platform of apathy. He pledged to spend his entire campaign budget on a new pair of shoes, and when he was forced to attend the debate, spent the entire time with headphones in, watching the football.

He refused to campaign, simply making a humorous Facebook event that included posts mocking serious candidates and their empty buzzwords.

Many students commended him for

Helena Horton

his apathetic approach, and newspapers, including the Independent and the Guardian, wondered whether his campaign would set a trend, echoing the apparent apathy of students toward student politics.

A similar gag campaign was mounted in Oxford, where spoof candidate Louis Trup beat his rival by over 700 votes to win the student union presidency. He wrote his manifesto in crayon and promised world peace if he was elected.

Meanwhile, the University of York has had far more joke candidates than female candidates, and in 2008 elected ‘Mad Cap’n Tom’ as president.

He dressed as a pirate for the entirety of his term.

Can the success of farcical candidates be explained away as student hijinks, of a piece with ‘UniLad’ style banter and fads like NekNomination, milking and porting, or is the reason behind it simply that students don’t feel represented by their unions anymore?

Cut the cardboard crap

Davies’ Diaries Election Special

I

t’s happening, oh dear God it’s happening again, and we’d only just cleaned up the mess from the last cycle. That’s right folks; another YUSU election brings with it another maelstrom of crude cardboard election paraphernalia like the world’s most in your face exhibition of primary school arts and crafts.

I’m sorry Kallum but this really is all your fault. It seems that the men and women who walk in your shadow have analysed your twin election victories and deemed the winning formula to be gimmicky, vaguely punny product placement and painted cardboard sigils. Not thinking for a moment that the reason for your victory might have had something to do with charisma or relentless actual campaigning. Nope, it was definitely the Special K thing.

It seems that our would-be student politicians differ little from their Whitehall counterparts in believing that the average voter is thick as pig shit. The logic seems to follow that we shouldn’t be given information about policies, that they don’t actually need to go out and convince us of their vision for the union.

No, we’ll just vote for them because we’ve seen their cardboard brand enough times and it’s permeated into our subconscious like subliminal bloody messaging.

We get it, your name begins with an F, you’re Italian, you’re surname is Duckington so you’ve put up crudely painted mallards everywhere. Cool story bro!

Now don’t get me wrong here. If your name is James Bond then you’d be mad not to make the most of it. But unless you are a genuine, bona fide joke candidate you can’t base your entire campaign around a cardboard brand. A picture of an animal or a painted letter which has nothing whatsoever to do with the campaign is a cynical tactic and, crucially, probably doesn’t even work.

Many of those who most strongly adhered to this strategy last year were barely competitive when it came to the final poll, which goes to show that the student body aren’t stupid, and a colourful and comprehensive cardboard campaign is actually not a replacement for good old fashioned campaigning and popular, well thought out policies.

YORK VISION

EYE ON CAMPUS

Taylor: i am yusu

MCGIVERN: it's over

A

nna McGiver n, known to the world as Baby YUSU, has announced she is leaving chart-topping band, YU-SUPER GROUP. The announcement follows weeks of speculation on McGivern’s continuing membership of the band, after she missed two high profile gigs at The Duchess and Fibbers and failed to make a live appearance with the other four members on YSTV. “I just grew out of it,” McGivern admitted.

“The

Baby YUSU character was something I felt that I’d outgrown along the way.”

In a statement read out at YourSpace, McGivern confirmed long rumoured differences within the group.

This comes despite rumours that 2 would become 1 in a potential duo with Sporty YUSU, aka Cassandra Brown.

“Levelling with you right here, I didn’t like the fact Kallum got lead vocal all the time. I get that he’s Scary

YUSU and everything but nobody should be bigger than the band.

The others always put me off the choreography too – Cass just couldn’t control her high kicks. I just want to spice up my life.”

Posh, Ginger, Sporty and Scary released a statement in response to McGivern’s departure, citing sadness but also a “determination to carry on.”

George Offer AKA Posh Spice only had two words to offer: “Viva Forever.”

The four remaining members will be kicking off a new tour on Wednesday with six back-toback nights at the Barbican Theatre.

What’s the Quack? Election Special Which candidate is rumoured to have pulled out?

Which three Presidential candidates did not turn up for Hes East hustings?

Which two former friends are finding running against each other awkward?

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I

n a stunning turn of events, Kallum Taylor today announced the reorganisation of YUSU into the first York University Empire.

Despite promised elections and an end to his two terms in office, Taylor has decided to reorganise the Students Union in the interests of security and democracy against those who would seek to usurp it.

In a speech to an assembly of College Chairs and Sabbatical Officers, Taylor confirmed the reorganisation of the Students Union to safeguard the cherished beliefs that have been held dear by York students for half a century.

Taylor vowed: “We stand on the cusp of a new dawn. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, YUSU will be reorganized into the first York University Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I reassure you will last for millenia.

“An Empire that will continue to be ruled by the Sabbatical Officers and College Chairs, and a Sovereign Emperor chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution!”

There have been accusations that the democratic process has been usurped in a personal power grab by Taylor to remain in power.

Supporters of Taylor have however risen to his defence regarding his successful defeat of Lancaster University and resulting crushing victory and security for York.

Taylor was, however, unperturbed closing: “The direction of our course is clear. I will lead York to a future above imagination.

“We have been tested, but we have emerged more formidable than ever before. This empire will stand for over ten thousand years under my direction.”

FOR SALE:

The souls of students

Which Presidential hopeful sent saucy Facebook Foolish students were stupid enough to vote in I, Armessages to a media BNOC? gath the Devourer, for Welfare Rep, and now I have Whose Environment & Ethics candidate posters were seen polluting the lake?

Which candidate threw sexist slurs on Twitter?

Which feminist icon claims not to run on a feminist platform?

stolen at least three souls from the students who attended my drop-in sessions.

Buy my souls, fear me! FEAR ME! I AM ARGATH THE DESTROYER, FEED ME YOUR SOULS MWAHAHAHAHA! This message is sponsored by YUSU Welfare. There will be weekly drop-ins to meet your friendly new Welfare and Community Officer (although there will soon be no Community left, as Argath turns Heslington into a desolate wasteland of despair, much like Hes East).

Angus Quinn& Helena Horton

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YORK VISION

ROSIE SHIELDS NOUSE EDITOR Policies often largely get forgotten about. I mean, how much of a manifesto can you really get on a piece of cardboard?

Having said this, campaigning is important. It might feel like a bit of a popularity contest, but candidates need to show that they’re listening to students. This is what seems to pop up most in manifestos; candidates ensuring us that they want to be a link between us and the Union, and indeed us and the University. I think this is insanely important – I know, typical ‘media type’ yelling about the importance of a voice; but it really is true. I came to university hoping that it would set me up for life.

It’s a chance to get involved in literally everything, from your studies, to sports, to societies. This makes the officers’ jobs extremely important, as they influence how this is all run. Vote for your favourite policies, not just the best looking candidate.

forbes bnoc list

BIG PERSPECTIVES ON YUSU ELECTIONS JOSHUA TREACEY FORMER VANBRUGH JCRC CHAIR

The scourge of Europe’s largest plastic-bottomed lake, the Kraken, keeps to the murky green depths and only emerges to harass geese or unfortunate students. The Kraken Firstly, the debate was #lulz – as it should be! The Twitter commented to Vision: “RUARGHHboard was glorious AND the important issues got dealt HHHHHH.” with. To those people moaning that it wasn’t being taken seriously enough: you are no fun, go away. You need to invite the trolls alongside the hacks to make student politics exciting. The number of prez candidates is a bit of a farce. I couldn’t list them all for you, and I don’t really need to. The only three of them worth considering are Danny, Sam and Josie – they all know their stuff, are good at what they do, and are all-round awesome folk. I am concerned that, should Danny, Cass and George all get the double win, the Sabb’s office will be made of 60% recycled materials. These guys are great, but it would be better to shake things up.

I love colourful cardboard in the springtime.

Want to cut out the rhetoric and get straight to the action with YUSU Elections?

HEAD TO: http://www.yorkvision.co.uk/elections Follow @YorkVision on TWITTER or like our page on FACEBOOK. For hard-hitting commentary, political analysis and fashion policing on results night, keep glued to our Live Blog on Friday 28th February!

Grandmother Willow has dispensed wisdom to generations of inquisitive and fine-voiced students about the wonders of nature.

Vision sought out Grandmother Willow for counsel and she offered: “Learn to paint with all the colours of the wind.”

York’s multi-award winning Student Media yearly achieves national recognition for its quality. Terrible puns and covering issues that matter are what we’re about, whether broadcast or print.

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YORK VISION

Election Results Night BINGO! If you see any of the following on the night, tweet @YorkVision and we’ll embed you in our liveblog.

Disclaimer: Drinking game can be played with non-alcoholic drinks.

One finger if:

Transparency Communication Democracy Your Union AKA

BUZZ WORDS

Jack Coy mentions Shellfish.

Any candidate mentions a buzzword.

ARGATH THE DESTROYER STEALS YOUR SOUL Heavily Intoxicated Multi Award-Winning Student Media

Results DRINKING GAME

The Activities officers mention volunteering and/or societies funding.

Memoriam to the Black Swan

Everyone gets murdered by a commando squad of Geese

ragnarok OCCURS LATE AND DOOMS US ALL Kallum Taylor gets teary about his time in office

A failed candidate throws a hissy and wrestles the winner to the ground

Progressively more aggressive shouts of “W ILLOW!”

Take a shot if: Tom A-C mentions “honeyz”.

A candidate carries their college in voting.

Your tweet makes it onto the tweet wall.

Down your drink if: A Sabb gets re-elected.

A new officer praises the outgoing one in their acceptance speech.

On election one of the candidates reveals they are in fact Argath the Destroyer.