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.
Although some positions are uncontested, I can safely say that student apathy is no where to be seen at Goodricke College; perhaps living together in a rather isolated community has given rise to strong college spirit across the occupants of Heslington East. Facebook groups starting with “Vote… for…” have flooded Goodrickans’ accounts, taking them by storm, along with posters that seem to mysteriously appear on our refrigerators when we return to our flats at the end of the day.
Adam Botterill and Sarah Collings are running for Welfare Officers uncontested, but are still campaigning as they feel it is “important to let people know who we (they) are and what we (they) stand for”. Despite the slight embarrassment of having to put a condom on a cucumber at hustings, they feel they managed to “articulate most of our (their) main points.”
They aim to “work closely with the International Officers, LGBT Rep and Disabilities Rep to create a more inclusive atmosphere”. Another item on their agenda is the creation of a welfare sub-committee, which would “improve cohesion between groups within the committee” and allow for a more transparent JCRC. Also among their policies, Adam and Sarah “want to make a greater amount of condoms available on Hes East, a mini-nightline service, as well as making a suggestions/complaints box” for Goodrickans to give ideas on how the JCRC can be improved. Both Adam and Sarah were STYCs this year; they are “very passionate about Goodricke” and are excited to play a role in the “best college” on campus.
One of the most contested positions this year is the International Officers position, with four candidates vying for only two positions.
Candidate Rahul Verma told the Yorker that international students “have come to a completely new environment and having support and more social integration” would help students settle down in York better. Rahul aims to “promote and encourage all possible social activity among international students” as well as to try to get “as many home students involved so that we can all share our cultures and traditions.”
Being of Finnish nationality and Indian heritage, Rahul has gained a reputation with the name “Findian” across Goodricke, giving him “some edge with popularity”. In true electoral spirit, Rahul has his own Public Relations Manager, Andrea Genovese and a promotional video on Facebook to boot.
Another candidate for this position is Toshi Kawata. Toshi told the Yorker that he “wants to contribute to the JCRC and support international students” as he knows “how hard it is to live as an international student”. Among his policies, Toshi aims to have “more regular international events for international and home students”, “strengthen the support system for international students, such as having regular open meetings and introducing senior international students to freshers” and regularly “publishing news about events organised by the ISA”, allowing easy involvement. As it is his fourth year as an international student here in the UK, Toshi has a “good understanding of how difficult but great it is to live as an international student here”.
Leslie Tay is also in competition for this position. One of the more interesting policies that he has would be “holding a naked charity mile along the yellow brick road”.
Other policies include “organising events celebrating festivals from different cultures and nationalities ... ensuring intergration of both home and international students, and promoting ISA events within Goodricke”. Leslie believes his commitment in “delivering what I (he) promised to the voters” gives him an edge over the others, and promises to “get things done, no matter how challenging it might be”.
The fourth candidate for this position is Nacho Hernando Serrano, who has one of the most entertaining posters around- “Vote Nacho: 300 million customers around the world cannot be mistaken!!!”
For the position of Treasurer,candidates James Bowdler and Katie Beddoe are running. James told The Yorker that he aims to “bring transparency to Goodricke finances” by “posting budget and any major changes on the Goodricke website”. James is running on the basis of his extensive experience in financial responsibility, “managing large accounts in Nepal”, being on the “YUSU College Sports Committee”, “as well as being president of Goodricke’s College Rugby Club”.
According to James, due to previous Treasurer Nick’s policies, Goodricke now has “a little more spending money”. As Treasurer he aims to “allocate feasible budgets to each position” and to “maintain an appropriate financial cushion”. He also wants “as much money as possible to go back to the students, whilst keeping in mind that the grants (…) may shrink in the future”.
Charlie Rowley is running against Anamika Vitthlani and Catriona Brown for the position of Vice-Chair Services. Charlie told the Yorker, “as a Social Policy student, I have always been interested in student politics”, and after a year of observing and learning how it works, he is “ready to serve the college”.
To prepare himself for the job, Charlie met with Gill Macdonald, Goodricke’s College Administrator to find out exactly what was needed and what was feasible. His policies include “a postbox to allow students to send mail, porters to remain in the Nucleus, a cashpoint, a change machine and lowering Goodricke ball prices”. Charlie is also working on “reimbursing Goodrickans who bought stuff that should’ve been provided by the college such as shower curtains, heater etc.” To promote college spirit, Charlie aims to create Court Rep positions and to organise “inter-court sporting and drama events.”
However, the most exciting competition will be the race for Chair, with an unprecedented total of four candidates running for the ultimate JCRC position. The candidates are Alexander Christopher-Robin Chadwick, Sophie Walker, Tim Ellis and Danny Munro. To make things even more interesting, Danny Munro is a first year, very commendable indeed.
Candidates at a Glance:
Chair: Tim Ellis, Sophie Walker, Alexander Christopher-Robin Chadwick, Danny Munro.
Vice-Chair Activities and Participation: Alex Reid, Oliver Metcalf,
Vice-Chair Services: Charlie Rowley, Catriona Brown, Anamika Vithlani,
Treasurer: James Bowdley, Katie Beddoe,
Secretary: Oliver Law,
Ents Reps: Emily Hogan, Amy, Caroline Sanderson & Angela Musoke
Welfare Officers: Adam Botterill & Sarah Collings
Social Secs: Gabriel Adebiyl & Gregor Morris Beth Fryer & Lottie Gammie
Disability Rep Arthur William Jiggins Roffey
Junior Common Room Officers: Abigail Rushton & Danielle Smith
Newsletter Reps: Paddy Harte & Tom McDermott
Environtment & Ethics Officer: Risga Jane Carson
Bar Rep: Dan Hill
International Officers: Rahul Verma, Nacho Hernando Serrano, Toshi Kawata, Leslie Tay,
Volunteer Rep: Laura Brumfitt,
Sports Rep: Chris Smith,
Press and Publicity: Anna Louise Senkiw,
LGBT Rep: Thomas Paul Martin,
Ordinary Members: Kyle Taylor James Killer James Harte
Voting closes this Sunday! Visit http://www.yusu.org/election/voting to vote for your personal favourite and fight student apathy!
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