Issue 1247 - The Courier

2.electionsSabbaticalOfficers
Why should you vote in the PRESIDENT
Student Union elections?
LAURA PERRY
By Kat Bannon
Editor
WHAT ARE THE STUDENT
UNION ELECTIONS?
Elections week 2012 is the week that will decide
the future of your Students’ Union for the next
year - or even longer. This year almost 30 candidates
are battling it out to win your vote and represent
you in the decisions made about how to
run your Students’ Union - and make sure your
time at Newcastle is unforgettable!
Amongst them are 17 candidates competing
for the six full-time Sabbatical roles for next
year. For them, this election means not only the
chance to represent students’ needs at the highest
level within the University and wider community,
but also the opportunity of a full-time
paid job after graduation.
You are sure to see them all over campus this
week with their campaign teams, brightly coloured
T-shirts, flyers, as well as sweets and cakes
trying to convince you to give them your vote.
This isn’t about saving tigers or free make overs
- what they have to say really affects you.
This guide will hopefully help to explain to
you what it’s all for, why you should vote, how to
vote, and most importantly, the manifestos that
will help you to decide who to vote for.
SO, WHY SHOULD I VOTE?
In coming to Newcastle University you automatically
become a member of the Students’
Union.
The Students’ Union is completely student led
and run by students, for students. Student officers
are divided into two categories. Firstly, there
are the Sabbaticals, who work full-time for a
year and are usually graduates. Then there’s also
the Part-Time Officers or PTOs, who are fulltime
students and carry out their roles voluntarily
in addition to their studies.
The officers are there to represent you and
your opinions, run campaigns on issues that affect
you, and ensure that you have the best time
CANDIDATE QUESTION TIME
Running Order
NSR Station Manager
International Students’ Officer
President
Gender Equality Officer
Editor of The Courier
Convenor of Disciplinary
Students with
Disabilities Officer
Athletic Union Officer
Chair of Union Council
Officer Without Portfolio
Welfare and Equality Officer
Ethics and Environment Officer
Campaigns Officer
Racial Equality Officer
Education Officer
RAG Officers
LGBT Officer
Activities Officer
possible while studying at Newcastle University.
The March election week is by far the most important
week in the Students’ Union calendar, as
the candidates you vote for will form the team
of students who will shape the future of Newcastle’s
Students’ Union.
Having moved into a new building this academic
year this year’s Sabbatical team have
worked to ensure the state-of-the-art facilities
are used to their full potential. However, new
students and new needs come year after year, so
it is important that next year’s officers will continue
to move forward.
Many people do not realise the role that the
Students’ Union plays in the opportunities that
so often make up the typical student experience.
If you are involved in a society or sports team,
taken part in RAG or Freshers’ Week then you
have benefited directly from events organised
and financed by your Students’ Union. More
importantly the people in charge of organising
these events are all contained in these next eight
pages, exactly which of them have the opportunity
is down to you.
Now is the chance to make a difference and
choose the officers that will run your Students’
Union the way you want it to be! It is your responsibility
to use your vote and go online to
make sure who you believe are the right people
for the job are elected.
HOW DO I VOTE?
Voting couldn’t be easier, so there’s really no excuse!
All you have to do is go online to vote.ncl.
ac.uk and from there you will see the list of candidates
running for each officer position as well
as their manifestos.
Simply select the number 1 from the drop
down box next to your first choice, a 2 next to
your second choice, 3 next to your third choice...
you get the picture!
Voting is open from 4pm Monday until 12
noon Thursday and any student is eligible to
vote. Simply log in using the boxes at the top of
the screen.
As well as all of the student candidates that are
running for election, you will notice a mysterious
candidate named RON. In fact, he is not a
real person and RON stands for Re-Open Nominations.
If you decide that you do not want any of
the prospective candidates to be elected into
a particular officer position then you can vote
to RON. In the event that RON has more votes
than the other candidates, the election will be
run again at a later date and other people who
were not previously nominated can nominate
themselves as candidates.
HOW DO I CHOOSE
WHO TO VOTE FOR?
During election week the candidates will be tirelessly
campaigning on campus to try and convince
you to vote for them.
From flyering outside the Robinson Library to
knocking on the doors of your halls, all candidates
will be out on the streets donned in their
campaign colours this week looking to secure
your votes.
Candidates have rules they must abide by during
the week, which includes no negative campaigning.
They also all have the same budget to
spend on publicity.
Each candidate has written a 200 word manifesto,
which you can find in this special election
week pull-out and they must all give a speech
and take part in a live debate at Candidate Question’s
in the Venue, Students’ Union between
1pm and 4pm on Monday.
WHEN DO I FIND OUT THE RESULTS?
The election results will be announced on Friday
evening in the Courtyard Cafe.
Alternatively see the The Courier next Monday
for full results!
Why vote for me?
I believe my leadership experience through
representing both the Union and University is
unrivalled.
- Elected and currently working as President
2011-12.
- Having had in-depth experience in running
the Athletic Union, volunteered as a student
ambassador, hockey club secretary, biology
society treasurer and had three years involvement
in Freshers’ Week.
- Fulfilled my manifesto policies and have the
CARLTON SHEPHERD
• Revolutionise entertainment at the Union.
Northumbria University hosted Pendulum,
Queen’s University Belfast is hosting Korn and
Cardiff University Students’ Union are holding
the Kerrang Tour. Why can’t we host these
events?
I believe the Union has failed to provide
Grade A entertainment following its £8m
refurbishment
WHO’S RON?
Tuesday 6 March 2012 Th eCourier
vote.ncl.ac.uk
passion to take them further.
- A second-year President could bring more to
the role, earlier in the year.
Next year:
- Raise awareness of Union activities and
structure.
- Increase direct access to Officers for all
students.
- Regular office hours dedicated to any student
wishing to voice their requests directly to the
President.
- Improve commercial services with big nights,
better acts.
- Strengthen established links to build community
relations and influence national decisions.
- Improve life on our overseas campuses
(where no student-led clubs, societies or volunteering
opportunities currently exist).
- Increase funding again for all sports clubs
and societies.
- Improve Union website and social media
communication.
- Target inclusion of international, postgraduate
and mature students.
My overall aim:
To continue the change - maximising the student
experience through greater involvement
and participation.
Let’s transform the Union into a premier
entertainment venue
• Halt price increases at the Union. Since
the Union’s reopening, prices of some popular
drinks have been hiked at Mens Bar. Budweiser,
Becks, Heineken and Guinness all
increased by at least 12% between semesters
one and two
I don’t believe this is acceptable - Habita at
Northumbria University is selling similar
brands for significantly less
• The Union recently published a report (Commercial
Operation 2011/2012) forecasting
£202,563 and £412,866 Gross PROFIT on its
Retail and Liquor sales respectively
In tough financial times, I believe it’s inexcusable
for the Union to be cashing in on
students this way – let’s economise elsewhere
and stop students from having to bear the
brunt of the costs
• Why me? I believe my practical and realistic
policies will revolutionise your student experience
It’s time to put students first and make our
Union the best in the country
RON stands for ‘Re-Open Nominations’.
He’s not actually a real person.
And his last name is definitely not Weasley.
If you decide that you do not want any of the prospective candidates
to be elected into a particular officer position then you
can choose RON instead. In the event that RON has more votes
than the other candidates the election will be run again at a
later date and other people who were not previously can in the
running can nominate themselves as candidates.