Election Expectations

This year’s YUSU elections represent a change for me – the first time in my undergraduate life I have not been a candidate. A mere observer, I’ve had a lot more time to think about the elections and what I would like to see from them, both the candidates and their campaigns. Free from worries about hustings speeches and sign painting I’ve taken some time out to set out what I’ll be looking for this election season.

Thinking about the candidates as they gear up for the campaigns, I’ve split my criteria into two sections – the direction they want for the union and the candidate themselves. This piece will probably come across as referring to the Presidential race, but I think it applies to all officers more broadly.

I think the Union needs to get back to dealing with bread and butter issues for students. Inherent in this is getting policy from ordinary students and getting it done. So much of our policy could be enacted with a little attention from officers, and it needs to be their priority to achieve the things they’ve been directly mandated to do by students. We’ve recently had ideas submitted for lockers on campus, especially around bike racks, and someone asked for a microwave in the Harry Fairhurst building (a personal favourite). I believe these sort of simple things are exactly what the Union needs to be working on, using the collective weight of student opinion to achieve things which would be waved away if a single student asked for them. It’s about taking those everyday grumbles and finding solutions.

The Union could be much better at soliciting these ideas, and any candidate who would make this process a priority is a serious contender for my vote. Moving further, the union can and should have a greater role in supporting students who perhaps don’t have specific needs – A “we’ve got your back” mentality. The ‘keep your cool’ campaign offering students who are stressed with exams a place to chill out is a great example. I think this should be expanded – So many students have trouble with their accommodation, with faults going unrepaired for weeks, especially in older blocks like Derwent, Langwith and Vanbrugh. The union could set up a service to support students in chasing up estates management to make sure things are done, and fixing reoccurring problems.

This change in mentality will also make YUSU more relatable – A place where students come together to achieve more than we would on our own. I know that sounds like I’m getting all teary eyed and West Wing on you readers, but the point is this: We don’t necessarily need big elaborate ideas – We need the Union to have our backs.

Now on to the candidates themselves. What makes a good candidate? Everyone will bring their own style to the table, and each should be respected in their own way. For me though there are a couple of priorities I’ll be looking for before I cast my ballot.

I think any candidate needs to be positive. Being an officer of the Union, you’re in an unusual position that you can’t really severely balls it up. The University will carry on as normal, and the services – Courtyard, Your:Shop and so on, are run by professionals anyway. As an officer you can only really improve things. Given this, you’ve got to pick a candidate who is setting out with a positive message of good things they want to see us doing. I’ve got no time for campaigns like Etheridge 2010 – “No more broken promises.” Student politics should be fun, not harping on about how bad things are with no vision for an alternative.

That being said, sometimes the University and others will take decisions we don’t agree with, and York students deserve candidates who won’t be afraid to argue and fight their corner. A good working relationship is important, but it’s of no value if it doesn’t get students what they want. When that happens we need to be able to speak up. It’s important however not to confuse strong messages and a fighting spirit with anger. As I said, it’s got to be a positive message a candidate carries. Just getting all worked up doesn’t help without the ideas and actions to back them up.

All in, I’ll be watching hustings and looking for a candidate who has a strong voice with which they can argue our case with the University, but also deliver their own message for improving our time at York.

This has been a fairly serious look at what I’m hoping these elections will deliver, but we also need to remember this process is fun and exciting. Candidates will be doing all sorts to compete for your attention and votes. Some only really want you to laugh at them. That’s okay; it’s a form of engagement just like any other. A Student Union is one of the only mass membership organisations which is genuinely member led that most of us will ever be a part of. We might as well enjoy it and try and get the most out of it.

So if over the next few weeks, after all the election hype and campaigning, you still don’t like what you see… you’d best start drafting your manifesto for the next elections!