There’s now only 18 hours left before polls close for this year’s SU elections, but if you’re still not sure who to vote for, fear not. We cornered each of the nine candidates to find out why they’re standing, what makes them ideal for the role and what they’d bring if elected…
(N.B. To read the manifestos in full, click here; to vote, click here.)
PRESIDENT
Yolande Booyse
Why are you standing in these elections?
I’d like to get the uni to commit to a carbon-neutral action plan. We’re the number one most sustainable uni in the UK, which makes us a beacon to others as to how to navigate this climate emergency. So with that in mind, and the staff we have here, all we now need is to show the backing and willingness from students – I want to show that students do care about this, then we can focus on other issues.
What gives you the edge over Luc?
I was a company director in the business world for many years, so I understand business, I understand the complexities of getting different people engaged in certain ways, understanding where different people are coming from and catering to their needs. I’ve learned the emotional stability of taking myself out of situations and dealing under stress, so I think I’ll bring a lot to the table.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
Getting the uni to commit to a carbon-neutral action plan and create more space for nature on our campuses – more time in nature benefits our wellbeing!
Luc Brown
Why are you standing in these elections?
I think my experience over the last three years here has shaped the way I think about uni and the SU. I truly believe that I can make a difference to students coming through the years and I want to make sure people have the same great experience here that I did.
What gives you the edge over Yolande?
Personally I think I have been more involved with uni and the SU – I’m president of a society, I’m a Student Ambassador, I sit on the executive committee board for the SU – so I know how the uni works and I think I’d be able to use that experience to make sure that the things I’m saying are achievable and are in the interest of all the students here.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
My background as a TV Production student means that I just want to show off what everyone’s doing – our sports teams, our societies, our individual students who are achieving incredible things. I want to encourage people to get involved with sports teams and societies, and to work with the uni to ensure students are getting the best value for money, being listened to and taken into account when making decisions about the uni.
WELFARE OFFICER
Asha Sutton
Why are you standing in these elections?
I feel very passionately about the role; I think that mental health is all around us and it’s a good thing to be aware of, support and raise awareness. I’ve gone through mental health issues myself so I feel like helping others now I’ve gone through it would be really great. I also would love to make changes at the uni so that it’s better.
What gives you the edge over the others?
Probably my own personal experience with mental health, I feel like I could bring that to the role. I’ve also got experience as a Senior Student Ambassador as well as writing for UniVersal, so I’ve got experience in those sectors that I could bring to the role as well.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
I’d make sure that the right support and guidance is in place and that everyone knows it’s there.
Ben Shires
Why are you standing in these elections?
I feel like I can make a difference in terms of the welfare support that students get at the uni currently, by getting lecturers to promote the services that are there.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I consider myself quite a confident but kind person; I think that I can really interact with the freshers in a different way and get them together and get them involved in events.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
I want to get more help for students, get the welfare provision improved and increase awareness of the problems that students have.
Sam Bates
Why are you standing in these elections?
I decided that something needs to be done to help the students and their wellbeing. Coming from an art course where creative individuals are more likely to have mental health issues and have dyslexia, I have seen how they can impact students.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I can bring personal experience to the role of welfare officer ‒ as someone who has mental and physical health conditions (including dyslexia) and is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I can use my own journey to inform campaigns and improve student welfare.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
I want to create campaigns that help to break down the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental/ physical health and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Connor Hunt-Preston
Why are you standing in these elections?
I didn’t see much of a presence at Oxstalls campus for
Welfare Officer, so I wanted to change the lack of presence. I understand the
main campus is Park, but I want to dedicate time to all campuses as only one
campus [currently] gets the full positive effects of the role rather than all.
I want to ensure the students have, not only a voice but a sense of empowerment
to talk, to speak about change and then create the change. It’s one thing to
speak the change but empowering students to make the change is what I’m about.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I believe I’m ideal for the role as through life experience, I’ve had to face many compromising situations ranging from people having a blip in a week to someone potentially being a risk to themselves. I make sure that people understand that I will be there as much as possible and will actively be a massive presence.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
I plan to make sure that people know that resources are available from a simple leaflet to the crisis team. I want to make sure that not one person is excluded regardless.
SPORTS OFFICER
George Berry
Why are you standing in these elections?
I’ve been lucky enough to be Sports Officer this year and absolutely love the job, I love giving back to the university that gave me so much. I’ve started things this year that I want to see through, or at least take as far as I can – it sounds odd, but I think sometimes to make change you need continuity, and I really want to make the big important changes.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I think the experience in the job already, knowing how to deal with certain issues and having the relationships with the right people in the uni already built up – the fact that I’m here, I have that experience and have started things, I’m the right person to carry them through.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
A safe, happy and secure university experience.
Georgie Easdale
Why are you standing in these elections?
I feel like certain clubs haven’t had as many opportunities as other clubs, so I’d love to give each club an equal baseline and treat them all the same. Also to carry on pushing for mental health support and try to get more recreational sports going.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I’ve got great experience running one of the biggest female clubs at the uni [Netball], it’s taught me a lot about how to lead sports people especially. And I just think I have such a bubbly and strong personality that I can bring it to the role.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
‘We are equal, we are devoted, we are UoG’ sort of sums it up. Everyone’s equal; I’m devoted to increasing mental health support and just bringing the uni together in terms of sport and supporting each other.
Liv Nelson
Why are you standing in these elections?
I really love sport and I feel that it has made such a difference to my experience at uni, and I want to make sure everyone else can have that opportunity. I feel like my uni experience would have been so much more negative without that side of it, so I want to make sure everyone else can experience that as well.
What gives you the edge over the others?
I am literally so passionate about it; I love this uni, I love the sport and like the whole community we have here, that side of it. I’d just put everything into [the role] because I love it.
In short, what will you bring if elected?
I want to increase participation, increase communication and increase support and awareness of mental health.
***Correction: An earlier version of this article gave Georgie Easdale’s surname as Eustice; this has since been rectified.***
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