Max Coney Interview

Why do you want to be AU President?

When I first came to York I had sampled a range of sports as most people do at school and college. In the confusion of the AU mart with people talking to you left, right and centre I spotted the canoe club. I remembered doing it when I was part of the Scouts and really enjoyed it. So I went over and talked to them and the rest they say, is history. I mention this because sport at York has become my life; it has enriched my degree beyond what I could have imagined (with friends, girlfriend and some awesome memories). This is why I want to run for the AU because I want people to enjoy sport as much as I have and gain the same experiences and just get out there and participate. I also am a third year student and want to give something back to York, and I see this as my perfect chance.

Why do you think you should be AU President?

I think I would be good for the job because I have the relevant experience. Being a leader of a sports club and playing sport at York means I have dealt first hand with the problems which face many university clubs; from funding, to recognition, storage of equipment and transportation. I feel this gives me an excellent starting point from which to work with the various clubs across campus to try and deal with the difficulties we face.

I also feel that throughout my degree at York and during my time working in Social Services at Cambridge CC I have shown leadership and the ability to empower people within my team to work towards their own goals. I feel that this is a definite quality which the AU president has to possess.

I worked closely with Tom Moore (and to some extent Jo Carter) on a range of issues when I was captain of the canoe club and men's canoe polo team and gained a feel for the day to day running of the job. I have also sat on a number of committees (both in and out of uni) and understand how they work and how to get things moving.

What are your policies? Where will the money go?

My policies are focused on making the money go further in some respects. I think it's false to promise more money for clubs, but I do promise to help clubs to review their expenditures and work with them to make their spending more efficient.

This is why I'm focusing on areas such as working with the sports centre to reduce costs to clubs. Updating where clubs store their equipment is one area I would also like to focus on. With better storage facilities this will mean equipment won't be damaged through inadequate storage, reducing the need to replace equipment and hopefully providing clubs with more money. Getting more clubs involved in the sports volunteer program (SVP), where the AU will refund the cost of coaching courses (and hopefully referee courses which I want included formally). Through this clubs will need less reliance on outside coaching and save more money. Obviously this won't apply to all clubs and a balance will need to be found as to excel in BUSA we need good coaching. I see it more as a partial solution.

With these measures I hope that clubs will have more funds to put towards coaching thus helping to raise the level of sport at York. I also feel that the SVP can help in the current referee problems in college sport where I want to add that by refereeing and to some extent coaching your college people can receive further funding to the cost of the course from the AU.

I also want to continue to support BUSA sport; with long term aim to increase York's sporting profile to match its academic one. This I feel will be the knock on effect of clubs being able to invest more money from other areas into coaching both internally (SVP) and externally.

I think it's unrealistic to guarantee new facilities but I feel we can encourage the University and sports centre to look into this area. They do agree on principle but the hard job is making them deliver. Hes East sport development is still in its infancy with only a swimming pool a given. The other facilities such as artificial pitches are not a priority and are still in discussion. All I can say on that issue is that I will continue Jo Carter's work of lobbying for its inclusion in the plans. However I do not want Hes East sports development to happen at the at the expense of Hes West’s current sports facilities. Where do we get funding for this? I feel we have to look to the Alumni fund and outside involvement in conjunction with the university as every department on campus wants more money.

Obviously I want to win Roses having participated in it myself and won Roses points. I also want to raise the profile of Varsity with inclusion of friendly matches in less well known sports to get more people involved and foster more relations with York St John. These matches may also make them go on to form similar clubs for us to beat in the future.

Are you doing this just for the CV or do you really want to improve the uni?

No I think this is a real opportunity for me to do something that I can make a difference in and I hope my passion for sport and the job come across in what I say.

Has Jo Carter done a good job? Where can you improve on her work?'

She has done a fantastic job and I don't see my role as improving but continuing her (and her exec's) great work. In particular, Jo Carter has done fantastic charity work and I want to continue this ethos and encourage more clubs to get involved.

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