That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
As the YUSU elections approach and the memory of the JCR hustings fades, let's just reflect a little on the perils of public life in a smallish community. Is it really the case that accepting a position of public prominence on campus must necessarily imply open season on one’s reputation?
I once got a school report that made my parents so angry they threatened to cancel a trip I'd planned to see some friends in London - it said "Jane likes to be the cynosure". I had to look it up (and so must you) and when I found out what it meant I was puzzled by my mum and dad’s reaction.
To criticise someone simply for being an extravert, seems to me as silly as dumping on others for being shy and retiring.
At 15, I didn't consciously court the limelight. I knew that I really enjoyed making my friends laugh and that I was good at it, but that didn't seem to me to be an issue of self-promotion. That ability to stand up in front of a crowd has stood me in pretty good stead, however much my parents feared I would be reviled as a show-off, and yes, it has attracted a level of criticism when I've been in a position to make a decision that not everyone agrees with. But to criticise someone simply for being an extravert, seems to me as silly as dumping on others for being shy and retiring.
Where there is some real political traction it's different, but even then students at York should beware of the impact of their criticisms. Your colleagues who stand for office in colleges and YUSU do indeed put their necks on the line and they are important to the smooth running of the operation, but they are not all powerful. Sometimes the criticisms they attract (and let's be frank, the slagging off they endure) is unreasonable and electronic.
It's the electronic bit that worries me - THINK before you say something really venomous on-line. It will stay in an archive for years and will be available on Google for all to see. It may be entirely untrue or a joke or look rather different out of context, but it could screw the chances of a job if a prospective employer were to pick it up. Loose talk and electronic media are a toxic combination – beware…
Absolute legend. Good advice and real wisdom in there, glad I read it!
I think the problem is people tend not to realize the things they say, especially in the age of the internet, can have a very real impact on people's lives outside of uni too.
Yeah, I can't imagine Grace Fletcher-Hackwood is too pleased by what comes up for a search of her name and the overwhelming negative slant on it all.
JCRC and Union officers have a thankless job and hopefully they know that when they stand. People will always look to point out the negative and holding our elected officials to account is very important. At best they can be deemed "alright", particularly in a sphere where after 3 or 4 years there is pretty much no-one left who will remember them accurately. After this year, there will be no "Tom Scott day" or "Burton Parade": at best there will be a short-lived memory of "that pirate" or "some guy who maybe helped us get a bar" and a lot of negative stories on The Yorker and Nouse.
If you want power, glory and to be loved, stay out of student politics 
I've not commented on here before, but this is an excellent article and I felt compelled to write something.
It's a fine line between holding public figures to account and unnecessarily attacking them. Generally, campus media is on the right side of this line. However, I think it's worth noting that the media charter hasn't prevented this line being crossed; I think if our award-winning media were to adopt the welfare provision within their own constitutions we would see just as good, if not even better coverage of student politics. The newspapers especially take a lot of time to report, write and edit their articles, I'm sure the extra responsibility would be welcomed.
Jane Grenville rocks!
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