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.
Additional reporting from Chris Travis, Antonia Moura, Rachel Basch, Chloe Dean, Claire Curtis and Laura Lennkh.
Check back over the next few days for further coverage and comments.
01:51 According to Tom Scott our elections have seen the highest turnout of all the universities in the country. Although 23% isn't exactly impressive.
As the night draws to a close we can't help but note the amount of discontent amongst students, who said apathy is dead?
01:50 Our new YUSU President Elect Tim Ngwena says: "I feel very good, I feel relieved, very relieved. It's been months of hard work."
Reflecting on the year ahead Ngwena voices positive views: "I think the team is great, they represent the students and even though it was very close in certain cases, it just goes to show the calibre of the candidates."
01:47 Former YUSU presidential candidate Bushby told The Yorker: "I think we're going to have another year of uneffectual [sic] leadership. Tom deserved to win tonight. I'm disappointed with tonight's results. I don't think we are gonna see the development, improvement and growth of York University that we deserved. I'm glad I'm graduating this year."
01:44 Former YUSU Ac&Welf Officer, Grace Fletcher-Hackwood told us: "I'm disappointed two of my good friends lost. I find it disappointing personally. Langrish worked really hard over a long period." She has stressed that she thinks "the union will be in safe hands."
01:39 "Student fucking politics is dead!" exclaims one student.
01:35
01:34 24% turn out...
01:33 The crowds roar as the names of the candidates are announced...
Tom Scott announces: "In 3 months, someone is going to take over from me. They're going to have the worst job and the best job they will ever have."
01:31 They're playing the final countdown in L/N/028...
Bushby, in a drunken state, has told us "Tim shouldn't win! Tim can't win! The YUSU clan needs to be broken down, we need change!" Very strong words, but the exit polls suggest he won't be the man to make such a change... We'll have to wait and see though!
01:26 Lewis Bretts tells The Yorker reporter Claire Curtis: "I'm glad it's all over!" He says he's "really excited about it all" and is "very serious about all my policies, I feel I've set realistic ones."
01:18 With only one position left the candidates, if you didn't know already, are as follows:
Only Tom Scott, and apparently his IT help, know the answer to who has won... Watch this space!
01:12 With a drink in hand current York Sport President Alex Lacy told us we're great “and by great I mean shit”, bitter much?
01:11 Burton has advised his successor to have "thick skin!" and tells us to "expect some really good things for the next year." He's got four months left and it will, apparently, "be emotional when I leave." Unsurprising after all that time in the union!
01:05 Sharpe is eliminated... Screams a plenty.
Bretts takes the stage: "Being a candidate is a bit weird. Every single person who has put a poster up: I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'd like to thank Sharpy and George." For anyone who doubts YUSU: "Take a look round look at this bar, because that's what YUSU does!"
'Fix Up, Look Sharp' plays as we await President!
01:04 Democracy & Services Officer
Candidates:
It's close! Looking like Bretts or Durkin...
00:59 Emily Scott has told us that she looks forward to her term. "It's unexpected and so hard to judge! I thought it'd be right down to the wire." Describing it as "eighteenth months in the waiting" she can't wait to "focus more on sport with no more degree getting in the way!"
00:54 Elected student Activities Officer (and ex-Yorkerite) Kinchin speaks to YSTV as students dance to 'I see you baby'. The whole place is packed as we await the last two results: Democracy & Services and President.
00:51 Rory Shanks told The Yorker, "I think the year ahead is going to be an interesting one. I wish Rhianna all the best she had a good campaign." He wants to put in place some of the policies he campaigned with in the last few months he has in office.
00:48 The results are greeted with mixed views: "I think this is the one that disappoints me the most." Another another saying: "Thank fuck it's not Rory again."
00:42
Student Activities Officer Candidates:
"Thank you so much for voting for me! I'd also like to thank Ella and Rory, you've been great!" This was met by boos from the crowd. A second year Politics student told The Yorker "naked men are not a campaign, I'm disappointed."
00:38 York Sport President
Candidates:
Scott wins in the second round (graphs coming soon!) She wins with 1192 votes.
"You're amazing, thank you York! I think I'm the happiest person in the world right now!"
00:36 York Sport results are about to be announced. "Scott, Scott, Scott!" can be heard from L/N/028. Looks like a landslide for Scott...
00:31 Following vigorous interviews with YSTV, URY and Nouse we finally get a hold of our new Welfare Officer, Humphrys. "I didn't expect such a big win, especially because of the quality of the other candidates." He told us he's "very flattered and pleased." He seems keen to get stuck in!
00:27 With our blogging team so close to the bar (strategic positioning!) we can see The Courtyard appears to be making a killing. Burton comments that: "I wouldn't say it makes so much, it's all recycled into the union. As long as everyone is having a good time that's all that matters!"
00:20 Tom Scott has told us that "I feel absolutely bloody knackered." You and me both...
Following her re-election as Academic Officer Leyland has told The Yorker that "I am so excited and so pleased. I didn't have much time to campaign but I feel that the whole year has been a campaign."
00:17 In a short speech Humphrys thanked campaigners, supporters and voters.
Sarah Fennell who has worked with Ben for the past year described him as my other half" and told us that "I campaigned for Ben so obviously I know how brilliant he is but Matt had some good policies too!"
00:12 In the third round RON and Coyle have been eliminated and...
It's Humphrys with 937 against Pallas 768
00:10 Welfare first round
Humphrys:831 Pallas:664 Coyle: 598
00:08 Welfare Office
Candidates:
00:07 David Sharpe running for Democracy and Services, has told The Yorker: "the night isn't too bad, I'm quite nervous. All week I've been building myself up to not winning. The LGBT results have show how important voting is."
00:05 The first Sabbatical Officer of the night is announced: Academic Affairs Officer
Candidates:
"Thanks you so much! We'll do you proud. Email me whenever you want! Let me know your problems." Leyland becomes the second YUSU Officer to run for a second term, following Burton's re-election last year.
00:01 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!
Watch out for Academic Officer and Welfare Officer results in the next few minutes!
00:00 In a move that mirrors last year's AU President mess up we saw the first round showing, incorrectly, that Moldova and Ball win had won by 2 votes, whereas the actual results showed that Vince & Medley were in the lead, which became clear on the second round. What a close one!
23:57 Rumours suggest that Jenny Coyle, Welfare candidate, has no idea who has been elected so far. Watch this space for Welfare results!
23:57 Current LGBT Officer Sarah Fennell told The Yorker: "I'm really pleased with doorsafe. I think they did a fantastic job and I think the fact that something like that has happened really shows how important LGBT officers are! People wonder whether or not we're needed, and clearly we are."
23:52 Women's Officer Ellie Kuper Thomas told the Yorker: "Homophobia should NEVER be accepted on campus. It should be noted that that it was a woman who challenged him and a second woman who challenged him and brought doorsafe to the scene."
23:48 Two of our Yorker reporters are being interviewed by YSTV. How exciting!
23:44 A fight broke out following chants of "You queer bastards!" Doorsafe forced a man to the ground and threw him out the back door after a woman complained about his inappropriate comments and aggressive behaviour.
23:39 LGBT Officer Candidates:
The crowd goes wild! The results are so close. 817 to Madavo & Ball 814 for Vince & Medley and 181 to RON! A second round is needed.
The results are 822 to 824.
23:36 RAG Officer Candidates:
With a final total of 1346 Fry and Stones to 342 and 118 to RON.
A simple thanks as they take the stage.
23:34 Student Action
Candidates:
Total stands at 1475 to 187. "Go student action woo!" yells Hesselwood.
23:17 "The Sneddonator has to be favourite" according to ex-Yorker Sports Editor and vice-captain of the men's football team.
Doorsafe have confirmed that "there's no more than 600 people in there, that's for sure!" Hopefully more people are logging on to The Yorker to find out the results!
23:07 Women's Officer Candidates:
Final votes stand at 1485 for Kuper Thomas and Ali and 265 for RON.
Kuper Thomas and Ali announce: "We're not here for us! We're here for the women of York university!" and start to chant "Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no! Get involved with Women's Committee!"
23:05 Environment & Ethics Candidates:
1493 to 241. The winners take the stage and thank the voters. The audience cheer as they say they hope to see us all involved.
23:03 A quick chat with Chris Etheridge and Jason Rose reveals that both of them are "extremely happy and feel privileged." They were apparently "expecting" the RON vote but were happy to "win in all colleges" Although extremely close in some colleges, Lanqwith seeing the voter turn out at 99 to 64. They put this down to party politics, citing David Levene's high RON count.
22:46 Bushby and Bradley seem to be getting chummy as one half of the Women's Officer candidates threatens to complain about Britney's 'Womanizer' being played. So everyone's having fun!
Check out the sexy graphs if you cant be bothered reading our amazing commentary!
22:39 Yet another uncontested position...
Entertainment Officer
Candidates:
1525 to 274 to RON
"We're going to have a great time doing this for you!"
22:38 Disability
Candidates:
1480 votes to Cornock to 165 for RON.
22:36 Campaigns Officer Candidates:
With 1343 and 462 to RON
22:34 Check out the exit polls here
22:33 Up next is RAG, Entertainment and Disability Officer results. Watch this space for more interviews and news!
22:28 David speaks of his recent victories: "It's really great to have won, obviously, but I'm shocked about the result for NUS delegate. I'm looking forward to getting on with the job!"
He also confides in our editor Amy: "I'm a lot of things and media whore is most definitely one of them!"
22:28 Charlie Leyland told The Yorker: "I'm having a good night - I've just missed the results though because I was giving Matt Burton medicine: he's not very well. Apparently I've got NUS delegate, I'm very pleased."
22:24 Not sure how the single transferable vote system works? Check out the following podcast by URY's Rob Watts which explains it all.
22:19 We found the final presidential candidate! Tim told us that he's feeling confident but that he thinks it's going to be a very close race. "Even closer that the exit polls suggest. A lot has happened in the last few days."
22:13 Grant Bradley, running for YUSU president has told The Yorker "I'm nervous but prepared for the outcome; I loved every minute of my campaign! For those who have a chance of winning, it's going to be very close!"
22:08 Chair of Union Council Candidates: David Levene
David wins with 1314 votes to 337 RONs. He tries to give us a comment but has to run to the stage. Levene takes centre stage with "How many student politicians dose it take to change a lightbulb? Ony one but they need a Chair!!" Joke courtesy of Ellie Kuper Thomas who is also running for Women's Officer with Amal Ali.
22:05 Rachel Basch and Amy are in L/N/028 awaiting the first set of results. Seven people will be going to Blackpool as NUS delegates.
Candidates:
The crowd go wild! "David! David!!"
21:59 One of our reporters, Rachel Basch, has spoken to Charles Bushby, he is "feeling great, I'm enjoying life, I was interested in making some noise and I feel I've done that."
21:57 The Yorker has heard that voter turn out is down from last year's 27% with around 23% of those eligible actually casting their vote in these elections.
21:54 5 minutes until Chair of Union Council and NUS delegates are announced. Watch this space.
21:52 URY main man Scott Bryan is hovering nearby, we may be his next victims...
21:50 The dance floor (aka L/N/028)is looking empty but Amy just had a bit of a boogie with the other two girls there! Mandi Madavo is also having fun, "the atmosphere is really good!"
21:45 Things are hotting up but things have barely started yet! Langrish didn't look too happy but told us that he thinks "it's going to be a close race."
Langwith bar is getting fuller and fuller and we're getting hotter and hotter!
21:43 Ella-Grace Kirton has told The Yorker: "whether I win or lose, I'm still going to have a great night!" She hasn't seen the exit polls yet, we'll be bringing them to you soon.
21:35 Current and past YUSU officers are milling around, however only a few people seem to be dressed as Thunderbirds. Former YUSU Ac&Welf Officer Grace Fletcher-Hackwood told The Yorker "I really wanted to come back! I've got friends running I think all the positions are well-covered."
21:28 Well, we're finally in! Those who manage to get past the strict security (the future president is in here after all...) are slowly arriving in The Courtyard as we set our laptops up for a night of fun.
Check back here from 9pm for our live coverage or check out each update as it happens on our Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/theyorkeruk
The pathetic little boy who started shouting 'you queer bastards' should be ashamed of himself. Well done to the new LGBT Officers and those they now represent for having the dignity to not respond to it.
#18 Anonymous - Sun, 15th Mar 2009 3:26am
I love the fact that quite a number of the candidates were drunk way before the results were out.
Not surprising. Do you realise how stressful this is??
Now now everyone, Bushby may not have been the greatest ever candidate and a large part of my body and mind may still think he is a twat, but he knows how to grind and gave me a lovely kiss, so I can happily say that I am in love with Charles Bushby.
Tim will do a brilliant job I'm sure (and I do look forward to working with him) but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Tom will always be my president and exit polls should be scrapped before next year.
I'm saddened and disappointed by last night's results. The fact that Kinchin was booed when giving her speech and many people seemed discontent with who the majority chose for President, shows that this election was just another popularity contest. I voted in the elections, but was sad to see that the majority voted for those who indulged in gimmickry and who are popular on campus, rather than those who had any real policies.
This is why there's so much apathy amongst students - because no matter how we vote, it seems like we can't really make a difference.
Tempted to agree with #24.
Kinchin won (let's face it) not because she was a better candidate than Shanks but because the people who saw her thought she was hot.
Ngwena hardly had to do any campaigning; that Fusion/Bad Taste/I want to make history like America clan saw him through with the number of votes he needed unlike the other 3 who, let's face it, didn't have the campus-wide popularity of 'Tim'.
Saying that, Ben for Wefare and to a degree, Bretts for Services were not the 'popular' choices so I think there's something to be said for the flip-side of the argument as well.
I still think YUSU will be weaker next year for having no Durkin, Langrish, Shanks or Johnson. Shit happens though.
What a lovely man Alex Lacy is...
#25 "Ngwena hardly had to do any campaigning"
What planet were you on? The three most visible campaigns were Bretts, Kinchin and Ngwena. Not once did any of his campaigners make a big deal out of his race, of course some people mentioned it but it quite correctly got no media attention and Tim himself was adamant that it wasn't used. If Langrish had organised an effective visible campaign then maybe he would have won. Ngwena certainly did have the campus wide popularity but maybe, just maybe, thats because he is a top bloke who doesn't let people down. He has done a fantastic job at Fusion, Bad Taste and running his own company. He has exactly the right qualifications to be a successful president.
Kinchin won because people saw her campaign, regardless of whether you regard it as gimmicky she got people to notice her and thats the key factor in any election.
It must be significant that the three most visible campaigns all won (Kinchin, Bretts, Ngwena)but none of them are complete gimmicks like Scott last year, all have got a decent set of policies and could argue for them fluently and expertly.
#27 absolutely spot on.
I was a member of Tim's campaign team and we campaigned EVERY day... not just in Vanbrugh in every college and even 22 Acres on Wednesday. We got out and talked to people and Tim told them his policies and they liked them. Tim got 1308 votes... I think that is a few more than Fusion and Bad Taste (which weren't block votes in any case).
Those that think he is a bad choice... you're in for a big shock as he works harder than anyone I have ever met and will bring extra creativity and transparency that the Presidential role requires.
# 27 is spot on. As a member of Tim's campaign Tim I know that there some of us out every day postering and speaking to people. Once Fusion was over Tim got out and spoke to as many people as possible. He went out to 22 Acres on Wednesday to speak to sports teams as well. He won due to a phenomenal amount of hard work he put in
I have no doubt Tim will do and excellent job. He will be prepared to put in as many hours as necessary in order to succeed. Go Tim!
#24 - 'Kinchin won (let's face it) not because she was a better candidate than Shanks but because the people who saw her thought she was hot.'
Mate, have you ever had to deal with Shanks through a society? I'm pretty sure anyone who has will have voted for Rhianna, Ella and Ron.
I agree. Though I didn't vote for Tim as my first choice, I think his hard work with Fusion etc. gives him the right attitude to make a good president. I did however, find that he had a lack of clear policy and personally, not specifying policy at hustings was an error- not everyone who voted was a member of someone's'facebook group'.
Don't think I'm slating him though. His campaign was the most visible of all 4 and I guess that told in the end!
#27 'If Langrish had organised an effective visible campaign then maybe he would have won'
Now I have to agree with everyone that Tim does have the right skills and is a modest fellow and will be an effective president, but as a member of the Langrish campaign team I can happily say that the above statement does not do justice to the hard work of Langrish and his campaign team.
The plan for Langrish was to focus on 5 presidential promises and he is one of the few candidates who I felt had a campaign that was really about policies (a distinct nod to Bretts and Durkin here). He wanted every campaigner to talk to 7 people a day, minimum, and push the policies and win the votes. Tom was out and about himself every day and he spoke to students and tried to win votes. I realise and appreciate Tim did too, but I still fail to see the concrete and necessary plans Langrish pushed for.
I personally think Tom's work constituted an effective visible campaign, where a lack of banners or gimmicks is not a lack of a campaign. I say this because I saw how Tom worked and I was at Hustings and I saw the presidential debates and Langrish was simply amazing. Tim was an obvious second for me and in no way do I feel that the campus has lost out completely, but Tom Langrish would have been an amazing president and he will be sorely missed.
Either way I think that we have an amazingly varied sabs team and I look forward to seeing what they can actually do.
But this is exactly the point I'm trying to make - no one really reads the candidates policies, it's all about visibility and popularity!
To #27- I saw Kinchin's idiotic naked campaigners quite a few times on campus, but I didn't vote for her because her policies were so flimsy! You say 'Kinchin won because people saw her campaign'. It's disappointing that people can't take the time to read policies, and instead they're swayed by the campaigns they've seen most often on campus!
Conversely, although I never saw Langrish or Ngwena campaigning I voted based on their policies. I wish people wouldn't be swayed by the visibility /gimmickry of campaigns etc. How much time does it take to read someone's policies and think about who they'd like to see in the YUSU office next year?
#33 Firstly, I was an idiotic naked campaigner and I wouldn't have done it if I didn't believe in Kinchin's policies. Rhianna needed a big campaign to overcome a year of experience and so she played upto the gimmick element, I think thats fair enough.
Secondly as mentioned earlier, a number of campaigners who wern't necessarily 'the popular vote' such as Bretts or an even better example Humphrys won, so there are some cases in which maybe policy does win through.
The problem is clearly more sophisticated than a popularity contest and I think that is why it is so hard to adress the problems of these elections. I dissaproved of many of Tom Scotts election rules because I felt they reduced transparancy and played up to the popularity contest element. Lets just hope his proposed electoral reform isn't so contentious and may adress this problem for next year.
#33 because personality matters more than policy.
Policies rarely get enacted, except for ones about personality. Its a lot easier to pledge to be approachable than it is to get more cash machines, cutlasses for all or lighting in rape alley.
Each job is far too constraining to actually put policies into action, and the budget certainly won't allow for some policies. You might have a political genius running, but if they can't communicate with people well, they're not going to do a very good job as an officer.
So yes, it's all a personality contest. Thats not just a flippant disillusioned comment, it's just remarking on how being visible when campaigning will always be more important than a few promises.
This election just proved how much of a popularity contest YUSU really is.
I have heard people saying "Fix up, vote Sharp is catchy, so I will vote for him". What about policies? It's only a matter of campaigning. I've read people's opinions, stating that they will only vote for people who are visible. Why?! The fact that they have excess free time does not make them better candidates. People complain about YUSU's state, yet when it is up to them to vote for the best person, they just vote for people they've seen around campus, without even knowing their policies!
And I am not against Kinchin, but her campaign was just a proof that she cared for publicity more than she cared for policies. What does nakedness have to do with student activities?
It becomes blatantly obvious that in these elections, people who campaign more win. It is embarrassing if you ask me. In my opinion, candidates should not be allowed to campaign - they should just provide the outline for their posters, and it should be up to YUSU to advertise the elections. Campaigning more does not show greater determination - it shows more free time.
Best,
A.
This election just proved how much of a popularity contest YUSU really is.
I have heard people saying "Fix up, vote Sharp is catchy, so I will vote for him". What about policies? It's only a matter of campaigning. I've read people's opinions, stating that they will only vote for people who are visible. Why?! The fact that they have excess free time does not make them better candidates. People complain about YUSU's state, yet when it is up to them to vote for the best person, they just vote for people they've seen around campus, without even knowing their policies!
And I am not against Kinchin, but her campaign was just a proof that she cared for publicity more than she cared for policies. What does nakedness have to do with student activities?
It becomes blatantly obvious that in these elections, people who campaign more win. It is embarrassing if you ask me. In my opinion, candidates should not be allowed to campaign - they should just provide the outline for their posters, and it should be up to YUSU to advertise the elections. Campaigning more does not show greater determination - it shows more free time.
Best,
A.
"It becomes blatantly obvious that in these elections, people who campaign more win. It is embarrassing if you ask me."
Ummm that means it rewards the candidate who wants it most.
I'm getting sick of you and George moaning online - get over it, and get involved in the election review when Tom Scott launches it. Please stop diminishing the victories of some great candidates last night.
Just because you have a visible campaign doesn't mean you'll be a friendly, approachable person. I think some people are confusing the two things here.
I didn't see Ngwena's campaigners or campaign material much around campus, but I do think he won based on the support from those in Fusion/Bad Taste, 2 groups which have a large number of members.
I feel that Langrish or Bradley would have been much more approachable than Ngwena. Oh well, as #35 remarked, it's not like the new officers can implement any sort of significant change. No wonder students are so disillusioned with YUSU.
And for positions like President, or Policy and Campaigns - the ability to run a high profile, effective campaign is INTEGRAL to the position!
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