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.
"We don’t have a ‘Pirate President-elect’. We have a YUSU President-elect who realised that the most important thing in campus politics is to get noticed, to be visible, to find new channels of communication.
Nadz and Laura - all respect to them - took the traditional route to corridors and lecture theatres around campus, expounding ‘real’ policies, flanked perhaps by one or two of their most loyal supporters.
But Mad Cap’n Tom Scott sailed past the now defunct Langwith Bridge on his very own ship, manned by his gang of dedicated sea dogs, with a cry of “To Alcuin!”, thereby supplying us with what York’s tired ‘campus democracy’ is so sadly missing - some fun, some excitement, a little bit of comic relief.
"What happens next? As Alcuin JCR Chair, I will do what I am mandated to, which is currently to work with the SU and University to ensure Alcuin is consistently in the best position it can be.
Most of the work to this end, my committee and I carry out without direct involvement of any YUSU Officer, and that will continue to be the case. What might change, will be for the better - who doesn’t want hammocks in YUSU Senate, or their very own cutlass?"
“The one thing that any SU president has to have is a mandate, and at least the Pirate definitely has that. Why the students decided to elect a self professed joke candidate I don't know, probably a combination of reasons, but we must also remember that they elected an extremely qualified and talented bunch of people to be the other sabbatical officers.
I have no idea whether the Pirate will stay a Pirate or not, and whether he does or not I guess it doesn't really matter. Yes there are issues with representation, but within our own University that shouldn't be a problem.
"The President is not a person when talking or lobbying to University senior staff; he is a representative of the entire student body and it shouldn't matter who that representative is. They have the combined support of the students behind them, and I would like to think they (and through extension 'we') should be treated with respect.
"This campaign seems to have been based around breaking the SU clique, and in Tom Scott's own words he does seem to 'be the man to do it'. So for all the other questions that have been thrown around I guess we must just wait and see.
Tom Scott is, whatever else he may or may not end up being, an extremely intelligent and articulate individual and I’m sure he will do his best to do a good job for the students of this University.
"As for any impact on the JCRCs, well, AMC as an individual has not had any impact on the running of any of the colleges this year, but the position of president probably has. For us other sabbatical positions are more a part of our daily lives and will continue to be so.
"At any rate, one joke candidate being elected is not going to see the Union come crashing down around our ears. If things go badly it may well highlight once and for all to the students the import and impact of the Student Union for and on their lives, and if things go well, then everyone's fears will have been misplaced. I guess we just have to wait and see."
You must log in to submit a comment.
