AU Elections: Lack of competition detrimental to York sport?

This year's AU executive celebrate the Roses victory

The positions and nominees are as follows:

• AU Vice-President: Adam Clark

• AU College Sport Referees Co-ordinator: Elizabeth Hollins, Phillip Walker

• AU Communications Officer: No Nominees

• AU Events Officer: Ben Robinson, Rebecca Chalk

• AU Ordinary Member (x2): Emily Scott, Laura Rutter

• AU Secretary: Harry Collins

• AU Tournament Secretaries (x3): Christiana Hambro, Gemma Johnson, Nicholas Waite

• AU Treasurer: Michael Leahy

• AU Volunteer Co-ordinator: Naomi Dodds

All these positions form a vital committee that will be supporting what was arguably the most fiercely contested position in March’s YUSU elections, the AU president. York’s sporting community, therefore, can only be disappointed that there were not more nominees.

However, current AU ordinary member and hopeful vice-president Adam Clark does not accept that the AU failed to publicise the positions effectively. Clark argues that there have been banners on the YUSU website, posters across campus and Facebook events announcing the elections.

The lack of competition cannot be healthy for the development of sport at York considering these important positions orchestrate, amongst other things, all of college sport, the hosting of Roses next year, the administration of the AU’s finances, and the AU events. The Yorker has spoken to many AU members who have expressed the opinion that competition would have a positive effect on the AU executive.

The college sport referee co-ordinator position was shown this year to be highly demanding, though Katie Cowper-Johnson recovered well from a tough first term. An anonymous source currently involved in the AU expressed concern that for a few days it appeared Phillip Walker was the only nominee for the position. The source claimed that Walker, a first-year politics student from Halifax, though capable and enthusiastic, may lack the necessary experience. His nomination form is available here.

Alcuin sports-rep for the last two years Lizzie Hollins (nomination form available here) was a relatively late nominee and the source expressed their relief that someone with more experience would contest the position. This highlights the concern that a lack of competition may lead to a substandard AU next year.

Christiana Hambro, running for tournament secretary, explained how numerous people withdrew their nominations after reconsidering the timing of Roses with respect to important exams. This, combined with what appears to be a general apathy among the sporting student community, perhaps explains the lack of competition.

In addition to a lack of nominees, issues have been raised over the diversity of the executive and how well it represents the numerous sports clubs. Of the 13 nominees for next year’s AU executive committee, four are from the Lacrosse Club and four were on last year’s committee. Adam Clark rebuffed the argument that this would give the committee an uneven balance pointing out that a mixture of small clubs like boxing and equestrian, together with bigger clubs like lacrosse, hockey, cricket and skiing, are represented.

This is the first year that the AU elections are not exclusively for AU members to vote on. At a recent AU executive meeting the motion was passed to allow non-members to vote on the positions of AU vice-president and AU college sport referees co-ordinator. The reasons for this were that these roles deal primarily with college sport and college sport participants should be allowed to vote on these positions regardless of having an AU membership.

The AU executive meet weekly, with the AU finance committee (made up of the Treasurer, President, Vice-President and Secretary) also meeting at least fortnightly. Although the AU President-elect Alex Lacy will direct the policies of next year’s AU executive, the role of the positions up for grabs are of undeniable importance. Although this is yet to be confirmed, the winners may receive a ‘Gallery blackcard’, which allows free entry and a queue-jumper into The Gallery nightclub. The results will therefore be eagerly awaited tomorrow evening, even if there are only two contested positions!

If you haven't voted already you can vote here.

Voting closes tomorrow, Wednesday week 6, at 3pm. The announcement of the results will commence in Derwent Bar at 7pm.

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