Hull University Student Elections 2007
An Impartial Guide by the Politics Society Sleuths
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Hustings Coverage, a who's who
So last night was the official union lead hustings, a chance for candidates of all positions to answer questions and make a small speech to try and further their cases. There was a decent turnout, though the lack of advertising for this event certainly didn’t help attendance. The night was highly enjoyable, highlights included VP for Academic Representation, David Morris being propositioned by almost all the speakers, climaxing with him being chased by an overly amorous Darren Grainger (presidential candidate). The originality of some of the questions also made for some interesting insights into the quite frankly disturbing psyches of some candidates. I’ll try and outline my major findings from the evening to help anyone interested in the main aims and over all personality of each of the candidates in each of the positions up for grabs. Firstly I’ll start by looking at the Presidential candidates.

SU PRESIDENT

An SU President is the figure head, the representative of the whole student body transferred into one person. They are the person who is seen by the outside world, the person who attends student funerals, who addresses your interests, they are the big boss of the union, and probably the busiest member of the entire university, never mind just the SU. It is a BIG job, and so we must ensure the right type of person is elected to the job.
Originally 8 people applied for this position, however candidates seem to have dropped by the way side as the election process continues, there are now only 5 who wish to run, with candidate Alex Reppold, a 3rd year BSC Psychology student dropping out after the deadline, and it will be up to an appeal hearing as to whether he is forced to run. Basically, the name Alex Reppold may appear on the ballot slips come election day, however he has expressed his wishes, and does not wish to be union president. So, let’s meet the rest, eh?

Cheryl Coffey, BA American Studies 4th year, just returned from the states.
Cheryl’s main focus is on increasing the police presence around the university, to fight crime against students. She is also an advocate of the ‘walk home’ scheme, a service provided by the university, whereby students who are walking home are escorted to ensure safety.
She also will fight to make funding information more accessible for students, to help you become more aware of what you are entitled to, and stop financial hardship.
She wishes to better advertise the AU results in some form of league table available to all students, to increase awareness of our university’s achievements, and encourage people to go out and support our teams at various events.
Other issues she will campaign for include;
longer opening hours for the Library,
more travel opportunities for students to and from Scarborough,
will look into the publication of a yearbook at the end of term,
and will actively seek more opportunities for the non-Christian community at the university.
‘I will listen to you and do my best for you as students’

Darren Grainger, Law 3rd year, was head of Yorkshire Universities Royal Navy Unit.
Darren too is focussed on crime prevention, suggesting the best way to tackle the crime against students in the local area is to supply rape alarms, increase police presence, and push the walk home scheme further.
He promises to strive to make the University more environmentally friendly, by installing devices such as room sensors for lighting.
Darren also promises to;
hold the NUS to account,
have an open door policy to enable problems to be dealt with immediately,
expand upon the potential of Hullfire, Jam, and HUSSO,
and try to keep the Union Shop prices down.
‘We should always push for more’

Richard Kendal, British Politics and Legislative Studies 4th Year, just returned from working in an MP’s office in Westminster.
One of Richard’s main policies is the updation of the Rez bar on the second floor of the Union. He suggests we convert the currently poorly used space into an internet café and juice bar, a place to socialise with friends where librarians won’t tell you to be quiet, and you are free to eat and drink.
He wants to better advertise and improve the access to skills workshops and extra training sessions to help improve your CV.
Richard also admits;
‘we are not as safe as we used to be’ and would strive to improve safety in the university and surrounding area,
and will seek to promote the university.

‘Even if you don’t vote for me, vote for somebody’

Ed Marsh, British Politics and Legislative Studies 2nd year,chair of Hull labour Club.
Ed claims we have a right to sexual health, and would seek to open a GUM clinic on campus, to make it easier and quicker for students to get advice and STI tests.
He would reopen the Rez bar, as a fully functioning bar, citing its different atmosphere as the reason why this wouldn’t disrupt Sanctuary bar’s business, and would prove popular with students.
Another of his major policy focuses is on the improvement and maintaining of Hull’s student accommodation. This would be sought through better links and improvement of the scheme, and maintaining university ownership of the Lawns Halls.
Ed also is campaigning for;
increased student safety through employing a permanent Community Services Officer for the university and through subsidised self defence classes,
a 24 hour library service,
and securing Wednesday afternoons for sports activities as they are ‘coming under increasing threat from unsympathetic timetables’.
‘I want to reinvigorate this University’

Jessica Tollerfield, Philosophy 3rd year, in charge of promotions at Jam.
One of Jessica’s key aims to tackle alcohol related problems at the University. She points out that most crime against students, is by students, and alcohol often is a major factor. She would tackle this problem in various ways, firstly within Asylum, encouraging bar staff to refuse to serve people who are obviously too drunk already, and asking door staff to ensure the safety of those ejected for alcohol related offences or those on their own and drunk by helping them to a taxi. This would cut the number of students walking home and so cut the number of attacks happening at this time. She would also encourage increased police presence around the university to improve safety.
She also wishes to reverse the decline of amenities at the Union, by encouraging businesses back into the lots previously occupied by banks, and laundrettes.
Other issues Jessica is campaigning for include;
running an open forum to allow easy access for student concerns to be considered,
organising more awareness events for student welfare such as STI Clinics,
abolishing the £5 fine system in place within the library for those who repeatedly forget their library card,
and using the ‘give it a go’ scheme to further improve student participation within societies.
‘I promise to put you first, everytime’
Permalink
0 comments
Monday, 26 February 2007
A Dictionary of Elections
So here we go, before going into all the ins and outs of who is running for what, let’s have a brief look at what exactly are the roles of each of the SU positions. It’s surprising how little people know about their Student Union, and what it does, and with voting starting tomorrow time is running out to work out who should get your vote. This year there are some slight changes to the makeup of the SU. There will be 7 Sabbatical Officers and 3 Union Executive Officers, these 10 will form the Union Executive Committee (UEC). Here I’ll give you a basic outline of what all of this actually means.

Sabbatical Officer - someone who works full time and either will take a year out of their studies or have graduated already.

Union Executive Officer - Someone who works part time whilst they continue their degree.

Union Executive Committee (UEC) - the main governing body of the union, made up of the 10 positions listed below.

Union President - The figurehead of not just the Union but the University as a whole, acting as ambassador and representative to the outside world. Current SU President Ciaran Norris says ‘you have to be jacks of all trades…know a little about a lot’ They preside over all the other positions and lead the Union as a whole. However this certainly does not mean the other positions are pointless. A strong leader needs a strong team, and a President must rely on others for specialisation on each area of the Unions agenda.

Union Secretary and Treasurer (UST) - Formerly known as VP for finance and democracy, the UST is the one who holds the purse strings of the union. It’s up to them to make sure the finances add up, and at the end of the day, it’s up to them which plans come to fruition and which don’t due to monetary obligations. The person who is elected to this position must be organised, have a good head for figures, and above all else be able to work with the rest of the Union Committee to provide the best results for our university.

Vice President for Academic Representation - This is the person who liaisons with university staff, who co-ordinates and helps student-staff committees in all departments, who looks out for the degree side of your time at university.

Vice President for Welfare and Equality - This position is far more focussed on the well being of students, ensuring discrimination is not present towards any student of specific group of students. They also are responsible for your personal financial, mental, spiritual, and physical well being, whether this be through helping with housing, or advising you on financial aid such as hardship loans.

Vice President for Media and Volunteering - Basically does exactly what it says on the tin! Whoever is elected to this role must maintain and actively seek to improve the unions use of media through publications such as ‘hullfire’ and our student radio station ‘Jam’. They are also in charge of organising volunteering opportunities for students, whether they be within the union, or in the outside community.

Vice President for Sport and Leisure - Is chosen through the AU elections a few weeks prior to the SU elections. They are in charge of the Student Athletic Union, and subsequently all the teams and sports facilities included therein.

Vice President for Scarborough Campus - Responsible for the representation of the Hull University students on our Scarborough Campus.

Chair of HUSSO Student Community Action - HUSSO stands for Hull University Social Services, and the chair of this organisation should seek to promote volunteering in the local community and further involvement between the university and the community it is situated in.

Chair of Campaigns - The co-ordinator and facilitator of all campaigns waged by the union. The person who helps to get these campaigns off the ground.

Chair of International Student Association (ISA) - Ensures fair representation of all International Students at the University within the Union.
Permalink
0 comments