A group of York students has won the opportunity to have their very own I-phone application developed after winning The App Challenge final, held at the Ron Cooke Hub on Wednesday, January 18.
YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.
Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York on Maundy Thursday, 5th April, as part of the 800th anniversary of York’s Charter for the traditional “Royal Maundy” ceremony.
A flood caused by a heating system “failure” forced the university IT services to shut down many essential systems on Sunday night, causing problems for many students on the eve of their exams and assignment due-dates.
1:35: To Summer of 69, we finish our coverage. Check back over the next few days for further coverage and comments.
1:30: SU President candidate Nadz Kunwar tells The Yorker: "I've had so much fun campaigning, it's a shame to lose."
1:20: The Yorker secured the first quote from our new SU President, when we asked how he felt. He replied: "I'm about to pass out."
01:18: Joe Clarke said: "At this time, it seems like a mockery." However, Tom Scott said: "People keep asking me, am I going to take the job and the answer is Yes. I be doing the best damn job I can."
01:14: And now for the big one... 2984 people voted for this postion. AMC described having to announce this fact as her proudest moment as president. The winner is Mad Captain Tom Scott. Some members of the audience are singing "We want our vote back". Theresa Dolan said: "This uni is a sham!"
Candidates:
The winner is Mad Captain Tom
01:03: Matt Burton becomes the first officer to serve two years running. He said: "I'd like to thank all my campaigners. I really think I can do it. Thank you very much to my Sabbs, everyone has been really really supportive, even the people at the front. Thanks, enjoy the night." A song specially requested by Matt Burton is played. No one at The Yorker has a clue what it might be. Joe Clarke said: "A landslide victory for the deserving candidate."
Candidates:
The winner is Burton
12:54: Current AU President Jo Carter has explained the situation. A drunk member of the audience pressed a button on the slide. They went through normally as they were unsure how many members of the audience had seen the slide. Carter has been round and apologised personally to all candidates. Doorsafe are now guarding the computer to avoid the event happening again.
12:51: AMC was just spotted falling into the recycling bins. We're currently trying to get hold of her for a reply.
12:47: Sam McCormmick said: "It's a disgrace that they didn't offer an apology, they should have rushed through the results rather than brush them under the carpet. They're messing with people's lives there."
12:42: We're almost there folks, only two more results to announce. However, we're thirsty, will someone buy us a pint?
12:37: AMC told the audience ex-Academic and Welfare officer Grace Fletcher-Hackwood texted in and said: "This is the best job in the Union." AMC added: "I agree with her, it is the best job, and the most important." The post got a large number of votes with 2373 votes cast.
Candidates:
The winner is Leyland
12:34: Mad Captain Tom said: "Someone just described me as a walking spoilt ballot paper."
12:33: The results have now been announced officially. After first round Collinson 535, Lacy 642, Coney 545. After second round Collinson 593, Lacy 662, Coney 563. Third round Collinson 658, Lacy 723, Coney 606. Last round is Collinson 790, Lacy 856. Lacy wins an extremely close contest.
12:29: Another unfortunate mistake... Result went up before any annoucements were made. Alex Lacy is new AU president
Candidates:
The winner is Alex Lacy
12:25: New Ents Officer Naomi says she feels "OK", then "Good" and finally settles for "Excited about the year to come". Baywatch themes comes on. It's like Toffs on a Tuesday night, except I'm using my laptop and nowhere near as drunk...
12:09: Shanks, who won with yet another convincing result, told the audience: "Thank you very much. I'd like to thank all those who have voted for me and have helped me along the way. I'd like to thank my house, my OTC attachment, the campaigns we all ran were great, which is great for communications."
Candidates:
The winner is Shanks with 923 votes, above the threshold of 871 and half.
12:06: With a massive threshold of 927, Jamie Tyler won SDC with a landslide 937 votes, without the need for a second round of voting. The Derwent crowd chants "Tyler, Tyler, Tyler". Tyler said: "You guys are all amazing, I love you all." Witts won James College, the only one Tyler failed to win.
Candidates:
The winner is Jamie Tyler
11:55: Rich Croker, ex-YUSU President tells us: “I don’t think students are voting for the pirate, they’re voting for RON. The pirate is the new RON. Students aren’t voting for him as a candidate, more someone who isn’t the typical SU.”
Prior to the Presidential Battle of Croker’s era, the exit poll had never been wrong. After a change from a three-day analysis of 300 votes, to a one day, 100-sample exit poll, the result was wrong in its first year (the election of 2006/7). Although Croker said: “A win of a maximum of 10% on the exit poll gives you your winner.”
11:43: Langrish told the audience: "I don't think the result actually reflects the level of effort put into the election." Meanwhile the pirate and his crew are tearing the dancefloor to pieces with their probably illegal moves.
11:40: The results coming thick and fast. Langrish and Batula miss first round of voting by 1.5 votes despite winning in every college except James College, but end up winning in the second round by a landslide.
Candidates:
The winners are Langrish and Batula with 963 votes after the second round of voting. The next best got 379.
11:36: AMC has a slip-up and effectively announces the results for Racial Equality before giving the college break down.
Candidates:
The winners are Nicholls and Twaites.
Candidates:
The winners are Aziz and Apea by 289 votes.
11:30: Adam Wiles, new Student Action Chair tells us: "I want to follow on from our fantastic previous Chair."
11:26: Crowd favourite Umbrella comes on. We love it.
11:23: The SDC exit Poll suggests Jamie Tyler to win with 51% of the votes, followed by Sarah Witts with 22% and Fran Olley with 21%. Tyler isn't taking anything for granted.
11:12: Helen Adams, the new RAG President, who dyed her hair blonde as part of her campaign announces: "RAG is going to be amazing this year!" Meanwhile the crowd (and The Yorker team) bop along to a bit of Avril Lavigne.
11:07: RAG Pres is a close one. New Student Action Chair Adam Wiles said: "Thank you very much everyone, I'd like to give a big thank you to the voters, and especially my campaign team."
Candidates:
The winner is Adams with 1162 against 873 for Fink
Candidates:
The winner is Adam Wiles with 1221 out of 1439 votes.
10:59 Member of the audience Nick Connell said: "Why do we have to wait until 1am to find out who gets president?"
10:46: Rhianna Kinchin is feeling fantastic after beating RON.
10:44: Some more results for you. Ben Humpries said: "In your face RON."
Candidates:
The winner is Dods and Durkin with 1470 out of 1752 votes.
Candidates:
The winner is Sarah Fennel and Ben Humphrys with 1278 out of 1509 votes.
10:33: Rory Shanks is "Loving Nadz"
10:21: Nadz Kunwar just told us: "Matt Burton looks amazing. Not."
10:29: It's all kicking off now!
Candidates:
"The winners are Harrison and McIntosh.
Candidates:
The winners are Kinchin and Kerrigan with 1230 votes.
Candidates:
The winners are Laura Payne, Matt Burton, Tom Langrish, Matthew Pallas, David Levene, Andy Dixon and Michael Wood.
10:11: Charlie Leyland has told us she got 62% in her exit poll, but isn't counting her chickens for Academic and Welfare. She says: "I just want to know". Meanwhile Aimee Gamble, surprise entrant in the race for the AU told us that her nomination was all down to Matthew Pallas. She gave her blank nomination form to Pallas who signed her up - she says her aim for the night is to simply beat RON (as she isn't actually a member of the AU).
10:09: The announcer has requested "everyone to report to the dancefloor". Currently no one has responded, in fact Joey Ellis and Matt Burton have just departed.
10:05: Mitch: Yes I do. Anon: Official times are 12.15am for AU and 1am for SU President. As the event is running over half an hour late, I couldn't possibly say.
10:00: Alex Lacey is feeling "slightly perturbed".
9:58: The Yorker are in situ, Sarah Witts, running for SDC says she feels "calm" whilst Nick Bradley, Services and Finance Candidate, is feeling the nerves.
9:50: Here we are, finally in. The event is running late, so you'll find out about results as soon as they come in. Feel free to post comments below as we go along!
York the laughing stock of other unis because we have a "pirate president"? Au contraire, I think that his election serves to put things in perspective a little... Living in our litte uni-verse we tend to forget that Campus politics aren't everything.
YES, YUSU is important for our welfare and for the future of the uni, but NO the world will not suddenly lapse out of existence because a candidate whom at first appeared to run as a joke, won.
Indeed, I think we shouldn't dismiss him this quickly-- I do believe the mention "actually competent" on his posters was very telling... He showed he was just as apt as anyone in raising issues students cared about... without being so damn serious about it.
Scott has shown a keen sense of analysis -- esp with respects to relationship between YUSU pres and Vice-chancellor, cf his facebook group
All in all, it may a little cringing, but I look forward to next year!
Laughing stock of Universities? Please. This makes an assumption that people outside of the student body care about student politics.
I think it's a little harsh to dismiss 'student politics' as uncared for!
It may not be the harsh wide world but university is a place for people to flourish in the best environment possible; something the YUSU board should endeavour to achieve.
Laughing stock is a bit extreme but it would be nice to think we might be taken seriously by other universities. This will no doubt attract a degree of attention that it wouldn't if a 'normal' person got in. I don't know enough to proclaim a well-rounded view but on first impression this may not be a good thing.
Number 81 & 82 - I wasn't referring to anything outside the student body as the person I know in Durham is a student. However all I know is that when I spoke to him he immediately said "I've heard you lot are being run by a pirate" and then "arrrr me hearties" whilst laughing. Sorry if I misinterpreted something which was actually intended to say well done York for electing a candidate with such great policies...the future is bright.
@ #82 Good one! given that many people *at York* don't really care bout YUSU, it's unlikely many people outside would...
@ #83 you're right -- we may not be taken entirely seriously, but then again, should it? Frankly who wouldn't want a (possibly competent and delightfully alliterative) pirate for president?
I see a lot of people saying how awful this is. Has it occurred to you that Tom Scott won because he appealed to the majority of students who wouldn't normally vote? Truth is the other candidates appealed only to the 'political circle' if you will - those who are in and around YUSU at the moment.
I see comments along the lines of 'students voted for him just to spoil the ballot'. Sounds pretty stupid in my opinion... I voted for him because I, and I suspect a lot of other students, feel disillusioned with YUSU and how it works. Does that count as spoiling the ballot? Or does it count as democracy, because I also think he's the best candidate for the job?
In the end I reckon he'll be a breath of fresh air for YUSU. Give the man a chance, he's been voted in by the *majority* of students. That's democracy - I'm afraid you can't argue with it Dan. Or perhaps you're planning to hound him out of position?
Some would argue that's precisely the problem with democracy...
But in this case I think it's worked out ok. #86 sums it up quite well, Scott won because he thoroughly made his presence known around campus and thereby appealed to those whom wouldn't normally have voted.
Ok, why are people bothered. This is president of YUSU not president of the world. Its not really like they make any difference to anyones lives or anything. All this "call for his resignation" makes me laugh *ha ha ha*
Seriously, he won fair an square, i wanted Nadz to win but he didn't. It doesn't really matter, YUSU will always be YUSU... sadly
First of all i didn't vote Scott but whether you want him as President or not, he isn't going to be running a pirate-themed-dictatorship, YUSU work as a team and a pretty large team have just been elected. We should give them all a chance to show what they can do for the uni rather than criticse them for a job that they've not even started.
I think we should give him a chance, yes he positioned his campaign as a novelty; but lets give him a chance. I didn't vote for him, I actually voted RON, as I thought none of the candidates was any good.
Perhaps this will spur a renewed interest in university politics; with a surge of people next year wanting to improve after what may or may not be a good year for YUSU. Whatever the year holds, it will be interesting!
If he doesn't make it a 'pirate-themed-dictatorship' then that's definitely a step in the right direction. Laughing stock: yes perhaps too extreme. 'Cringing' from Marie was a more apt turn of phrase perhaps.
Has it occurred to you that Tom Scott won because he appealed to the majority of students who wouldn't normally vote?
Very good point...at least it's gained interest from people not normally interested in student politics to cast a vote.
Good luck to him and let's hope that his 'pirate' status won't hold him back if he has actually got genuinely good policies. They seem to be undermined by his comical persona but perhaps that's the point...to give some authoritative people a decided, and some would suggest much needed, ego check.
Fair points. I accept that maybe my post came accross as a little extreme (just the journalist in me fighting to come out :-D) and I truly hope that Tom can prove me wrong and effect positive change in the University. Good luck to him... Looking forward to seeing some non-pirate themed policies or motions from him soon. I also agree that recently student politics has seen a massive increase in interest and although Grace seems to have sparked that, the Pirate campaign should take some credit and that can only be a good thing.
First off the anti-pirate comment stink of a ninja coup!
Secondly.... this is fantastic. The students have spoken! No to boring old YUSU cliques. YES TO FUN!
I suspect most of the Yorker regulars will have voted for Nadz and Payne as they seem to take campus politics seriously! However, most students voted for the Pirate because they were fed up of taking student politics seriously...
So take that.
Everyone is making a big deal about the presidency but you could argue that there are bigger but less prolific "travesties" further down the list. How many officers got into their post because they're the best person for the job and how many managed it because they've got more friends on Facebook?
Anon #94 (whoa, people like The Yorker don't they?!), I think the pirate winning has made it pretty clear this is just an almighty popularity contest; he may have great policies but ultimately he won because he was a big joke, let's face it.
I'm glad you put travesties in inverted commas, otherwise that would be superlative in the extreme!
I'm still so chuffed at this whole situation!!! We have a pirate President! This is awesome!
Why?
At lot of the arguments against Tom Scott are as watertight as a plughole (yes I use his real name cos I know him as a real person, which I get the feeling most nay-sayers don't)
People who claim he's a joke candidate clearly don't know him. He's actually an incredibly clever, reliable, confident guy, and frankly the fact he advertised with joke policies shows a very good point about how no candidate really keeps their word on what they say they'll do. Which is politics through and through, really. If anything this just means he plans to keep running YUSU the way it is, which is hardly a bad thing.
He said he'd do the best job he could and to write him off now is unreasonable. My personal opinion is that over time Tom will phase out the pirate thing as people won't find the gimmick funny anymore, and will save it for only the most important occasions. In which case what's the problem??
If the uni population at large really felt he was a joke they wouldn't have voted for him, so he must be doing something right. Best o'luck to him
"My personal opinion is that over time Tom will phase out the pirate thing.... In which case what's the problem??"
In which case he will be someone who lied in his election campaign...he won't be the 'pirate president' he'll just be the president who got elected by lying to people. That is a problem isn't it?
It's standard procedure for politicians #99 
P.S. 100 - woop!
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