The Powerlist 2010

Yes, it’s time once more for the original campus ‘list’ – Vision’s legendary Power List. It’s not about who tried their hardest nor is it about who’s on the most committees; this list is about pure power, the power to affect students’ day-to-day life, the power to actually get things done.

This year we’ve included a number of secretive Hes Hall big wigs such as the elusive Keith Lilley, to offer a real perspective on who does what. But position isn’t everything, this year there’s been a real emphasis on knowledge with regular students like Miles Layram easily making it into the top 30.

So sit back, relax and get to grips with York University’s real movers and shakers…

As director of facilities management Keith Lilley is in charge of the entire non-academic side of the University. This broad role means that Lilley rules the roost in the distribution of key services areas such as cleaning, catering, security, timetabling and University bars.

With the campus doubling in size, inside sources tell Vision that Lilley has been charged with carrying out Hes Hall’s masterplan which will see the Heslington East project through the recession.

However Lilley’s mighty plans are not always student friendly, it is alleged that he personally pushed through the portering cuts in key Hes Hall meetings and as director of York University Pensions Funds Ltd., he is also responsible for the University’s continued investment in unethical investments such as BAE systems.

Although he describes himself as the University’s “most senior administrative officer”, Cantor has substantially more power on a national scale, and thus has less influence on the student body than one might imagine.

Despite this, his actions do affect the student body, with one anonymous YUSU insider describing him as the University’s “chief salesman”.

If anything Cantor’s power lies in what he can do for himself, lets not forget Vision’s investigation last month which exposed Cantor’s enormous expenses.

David Duncan is relatively new to the job, joining the University in 2008.

Duncan has become an influential figure in the multi-million pound library renovation, a project which has seen whole floors of the library cut-off causing chaos in peak exam periods.

Duncan will continue to reign over the project next year as the library works look set to continue.

Duncan also controls computer services, human resources and health and safety in the University, as well as a taking a key role in the quality and assurance of academic assessments. A source close to the University described him as “a very, very busy man”.

When Ngwena won his first term as president, he entered the union as a very non political individual, however over the past year Ngwena has positioned himself in the mainstream of campus politics, swiftly embedding his authority.

Tim has pushed through YUSU’s ambitious ‘strategic plan’ which sets the stage for YUSU objectives over the next 4 years.

Another term as president next year will further cement his already powerful position in not just campus, but University politics. However, this has led some to question his authority – is Tim too close to University bosses?

Having said this, Ngwena seems to have defied troublesome set-backs in the portering campaign and even avoided a motion of censure.

Poor old Grenville hasn’t had the best of years, and it’s reflected in this year’s ranking – number five as the Pro Vice Chancellor for STUDENTS ain’t great. Over summer she is said to have buckled under pressure to cut portering hours, a further exposé on the front page of Vision didn’t help her reputation.

It isn’t all bad news though, Grenville continues to have major sway, chairing influential bodies like the Special Cases Committee and the Student Services Committee. She is also in charge of the college Provosts.
6. TREVOR SHELDON
Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of learning and information.

7. YUM
Campus’ eyes and ears. The coolest kids in town, or so we’ve heard.

8. STEPHEN TOWN
Director of University Library and Archives.

9. LEWIS BRETTS
YUSU D&S Officer/promise breaker. Bretter luck in your next job.

10. GRAHAM GILBERT
Director of Finance. Keeping his hands on the purse-strings in this time of recession.

11. ELIZABETH HEAPS
Most important figure for Hes East besides “The Beast”.

12. BEN HUMPHRYS
Welfare officer Humphrys has shown himself to be an assertive sabb this year, leading relatively successful campaigns such as ‘Keep Your Cool’ and ‘Crime Week’. His successful bid to become next years’ academic affairs officer confirmed his strong support base and has further boosted him up the power list.

13. JON GREENWOOD
Director of Commerical Services. Not barred yet.

14. BAILEY OLIVER
It’s been a tough year for our Security Operations Manager Bailey Oliver, with a restricted portering service and increases of crime on campus. Oliver was, however, instrumental in ensuring that Prince Andrew’s visit ran smoothly earlier this term.

15. CHARLIE LEYLAND
YUSU’s leading lady after two years at the top.

16. PHIL KEMBER
As head of the Conference Office, which looks after the University’s most important visitors, Phil Kember wields enormous power over the University community by securing vital revenue. Outside term-time, his conferences effectively take over campus completely.

17. RHIANNA KINCHIN
Steering societies and wrangling RAG

18. EMILY SCOTT
YorkSport President – lost Roses but won our hearts

19. KATE DODD
Should you get into trouble, Kate Dodd, the University’s Academic Registrar, is the person who will decide whether or not to kick you out. She also plays a pastoral role for the university.

20. UNION TRUSTEE BOARD
Guiding YUSU and making the big decisions

21. SUE JOHNSTON
Head of Campus Services. A very im-porter-ant figure

22. SAM ASFAHANI
YorkSport President elect and Bluto from “Popeye” lookalike

23. TIMETABLING OFFICE
Keeping tabs on who goes where, when and why

24. MILES LAYRAM
He has no position in YUSU, yet English Ph.D student Miles Layram has used his years of YUSU knowledge to assert himself on campus. A cleverly timed censure on Tim Negwena and Ben Humphries didn’t succeed but had a lasting impact on the way students viewed YUSU sabbaticals in action.

25. CHRISTIAN UNION
Spreading the word whether you like it or not.

26. SUSIE FOTHERGILL
Fundraising for societies just like us. Wonderful!

27. NICK SCARLETT
King of Kids Camp and Student Activities Sabb elect

28. STEPHEN KENNEY
Legendary 21+ Rep with sway

29. CHARLIE ROWLEY
Cheesy Pop fan and Council Chair

30. HOLLY BURTON
Darts Darling and Derwent Chair

31. DAVID CLARKE
Environment and Ethics for a second year running, David Clarke is building up contacts and gaining momentum in YUSU. He has is tipped to be an intergral player in campus campaigns next year.

32. JASON ROSE
Still a prolific meeting attender and insatiable UGM proposer

33. LYDIA BLUNDELL
Halifax President and yet another cheese fan

34. GSA – RUI HAUNG
Helping the aged

35. YORK ENTREPRENEURS
Thanks to their various events, these campus Del Boys are easily one of the richest societies.Their competition launch parties often run into the thousands and feature some of the most expensive speakers on campus.

36. TIM ELLIS
Leading students over in Hes East

37. LGBT COMMITTEE
Having a gay old time

38. DAN WALKER
D&S Officer elect and apparently the son of a hegdehog

39. RACHEL HESSELWOOD
Volunteering Veteran – well liked by YUSU and others

40. CHRIS ETHERIDGE
May not be in YUSU anymore but recently proved he can stir up quite a bit of trouble

41. TAHIR SHETTY
Vanbrugh Chair

42. MATT BAILEY
Influential Chemistry Course Rep

43. YUsnow
Snowbotherers and Yeti lovers

44. YUSU ENTS REPS
The union’s wannabe party boys

45. LAURA BO
BO ‘electa!

46. YUSU WOMENS OFFICERS
YUSU women’s committee are planning big things for freshers next term, the committee features a well connected bunch and they are looking more and more influential.

47. RUGBY CLUB
Scrum chums

48. SAM WESTROP
NUS Delegate and Freedom Society founder

49.GREG DYKE
BBCause he has a bit of sway with the VC

50. RAG