Matthew Freckleton
Langwith
The Candidate
Relatively unknown Freckelton claims that up to this point he has stayed away from Union politics for a reason, he wants to bring a “fresh perspective”. Policies include the implementation on the YUSU e-petitions, urging the University to put a cash-point on Heslington east, fill a £4 million funding gap on the swimming pool and a rather less well thought out plan to change YUM charter.
Vision’s Analysis
Freckelton tells us that he has been active, albeit behind the scenes, in University development from his position as a student intern in the ‘White Rose CETLE’. Additionally, as founder of York Student Market, ‘Frecks’ has proved that he would be at home with more financial part of the job. Freckelton has been described as having, ‘an inability to deal with confrontation’, by one astute commentator on the Vision website, however with a cracking campaign, he is still very much in the race.
President: Matthew Freckleton produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
David Hansen
Derwent
The Candidate
Hansen disputes that he is a joke candidate, despite some rather strange policies such as a “systematic campus initiatives to fully oscillate student stipulation” and our personal favourite, “ to develop a transparent paradigm matrix to customize student relations”. He has apparently had an enormous amount of experience being “involved with every society on campus”.
Vision’s Analysis
We were quick to question Hansen’s motives and after a lengthy interview he gave us a serious insight into why he was actually running. His aim is to highlight the seemingly obligatory “scripted election rhetoric”, which seems to precede YUSU elections. He feels candidates, in general, spout ambiguous words like, ‘change’ that require greater levels of critical analysis; his problem is about this as an institution rather than a reflection on any of the individual candidates.
President: David Hansen produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
Oliver Hutchings
Alcuin
The Candidate
Personable Hutchings has good experience as Alcuin college chair, but admits he has been involved with few other committees, claiming that he’s no campus ‘busybody’. Among his policies lie some serious plans to reorder democracy regulations on campus, claiming that a lot of the election rules are outdated and unsuited. Additionally he wants to create a stronger college system on campus, to create a more Oxbridge style rivalry.
Vision’s Analysis
Hutchings will inevitably be betting on his strong 3rd year popularity to win, his campaign is low on paper and high on technology – which could be a risky strategy. Policy wise, Hutchings isn’t suggesting anything that dramatic, but with proven success and experience as Alcuin chair, it doesn’t seem that policy is something Hutchings hopes to win votes with.
President: Oliver Hutchings produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
David Levene
Halifax
The Candidate
As last year’s chair of Union Council, Levene believes he is in a unique position in that whilst he was closely affiliated with the Union, and knows how things work, he can still bring a fresh perspective to the job. The crux of Levene’s campaign is his promise of a campaign against proposed tuition fee rises. He claims that he is, “passionate about getting a good deal for students” and that they “need a president who knows the issue”.
Vision’s Analysis
Levene’s clear enthusiasm for politics and good knowledge of the job has, in the eyes of many people, left him with a good chance of winning but he may have lost a number of votes thanks to his media policies which many consider rash and ill thought-out. Overall Levene appears to be one of the top contenders for the position but whether his enthusiasm and focus on tuition fees are enough to get him the top position remains to be seen.
President: David Levene produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
Tim Ngwena
James
The Candidate
Having been involved in almost every type of student activity: chairing Fusion; editing Bad Taste magazine; playing college rugby, not to mention having already served a year as President, Tim Ngwena is perhaps the most well placed of all the presidential candidates. His policies, including a union reward card and have been tailor made after a year of seeing what can and can’t be done.
Vision’s Analysis
As the incumbent, Ngwena definitely has the upper hand on the other candidates. Pair this with the amount of people he can count as friends and he begins to look like the strongest candidate of the bunch. However Ngwena has faced strong and very public disapproval of his methods and admits himself that he has made mistakes in the last year, especially when it comes to communicating what he’s been doing to the students.
President: Tim Ngwena produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
Roberto Powell
Halifax
The Candidate
With much experience at the level of college politics and a promise to have “a little less conversation”, Powell appears to be another strong candidate for the role of President next year. His main source of experience comes from his year as Halifax Chair in which he organised a much needed re-brand and re-vamped the college’s previously disappointing freshers’ week.
Vision’s Analysis
Despite a strong following in Halifax, Powell faces accusations that during his campaign he’s found problems with YUSU, such as YUSU’s difficulty in communicating with students, but doesn’t provide any solutions. This suggests that he wouldn’t be able to live up to expectations should he be elected. He also admits that people have “certain preconceptions” about what he’s like which could work against him when people are deciding how to cast their ballot.
President: Roberto Powell produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Audio courtesy of URY.
Ahh the campaign is just as much for a laugh as it is for any serious political agenda to be honest…I hardly feel as though it’s the biggest problem in the world, just that people might sometimes get away with saying things that don’t have much substance and aren’t really feasible precisely because people might firstly assume that it’s only them that don’t fully understand it, and also (as a result) might not question the exact practical details of how they intend on bringing about the changes they propose.
As I said though, the campaign is largely us having a bit of fun as much as it is anything else; I wouldn’t like to think that I’m actually massively cynical or anything.
I kinda wish that the bloke who wrote the comment article in the hard copy would have voiced any qualms he had when we were having a chat, by the way. It’s not like i’m annoyed or anything, though I’d at least appreciate it if the article was online too so that I could reply in my own words..