In this week’s What’s Just Happened?, Oliver Pridmore recaps last week’s Candidate Question Time at Tower Bar…
What’s just happened?
Last Friday, those running in the latest round of the Lincoln Students’ Union elections faced questions from the audience gathered at the Tower Bar – as well as some pre-prepared questions and some from the Board of Trustees at the Union.
Two candidates are running for SU President, whilst three are running for VP Academic Affairs, five are running for VP Activities, three are running for VP Welfare and Community and six for VP International.
What did the VP Academic Affairs candidates say?
Connor James Roberts said one of his priorities would be module options, arguing that the current system for choosing them is unfair. He also said more needs to be done to improve the course rep system, including rewarding course reps better.
Jack Frederick Dos Reis Silva said that he wants to introduce separate classes for those who may be struggling with university. On the course rep system, he argued there needs to be more evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of course reps.
Tommy George, running for re-election, said his priority would be improving the situation with academic tools on offer for students including making them more aware of them. He also argued in favour of more complementary societies alongside courses.
What did the VP Activities candidates say?
Cassandra Coakley focused on increased co-operation between the societies and sports clubs as well as giving the same opportunities to smaller clubs as bigger ones.
Daniel Sheehan raised the issue of sporting opportunities for disabled people which he said were currently lacking at the University. He said there also needs to be more communication from societies in terms of getting their brand across.
Laura Jane Gates said that she thought social sports should be free for every student to help them in getting involved. She also focused on the importance of academic societies saying they helped students in getting jobs.
Lauren Kathryn Spence agreed with the point on academic societies, arguing they should be getting the best out of students to help them in future job-searching. She also argued for better encouragement from societies during ‘Refreshers Week’.
Rebecca Marrows said, after a difficult year in terms of venues for some societies, that the situation on venues needs improving – something all candidates agreed with. She also said she was in favour of an online calendar so that students could be better informed on when societies were holding fundraising events.
What did the VP Welfare and Community candidates say?
Connor Delany, running for re-election, said he wants to make it easier for students to access their University GP when they’re at home during the holidays. He also noted his work on bad landlords this year, which he said he would continue to work on if he was re-elected.
Grace Corn argued in favour of permanent campus-based STI testing, a commitment she made in her manifesto. She also said there needs to be more feedback on landlords and that this feedback should be published.
Lauren Pincher said her main priority was improving the mental health situation at the University of Lincoln, a theme picked up by all of the Welfare and Community candidates. She also outlined the three things which she believes affect student welfare the most during university: mental health, housing and finances.
What did the VP International Candidates say?
Ali Salim Ali Al-Saeed said that international students currently have a lack of confidence in talking about what they want and what they need, and said he would work to change this. He also said, after the recent vote to leave the European Union, that he would do his best to support European students.
Beatriz De Arcos Marin said that more needs to be done in helping international students feel part of the community at the University of Lincoln. She outlined one of the things she would do to achieve this, increasing the writing support at the library for international students.
Cigdem Elikci agreed with points about improving the community for international students at the University of Lincoln. She said that she would improve guidance for international students on getting used to a new way of life.
Maria-Eleni Stourgiot said that after leaving the EU, the main issue could be an increase in tuition fees for international students and said she would team up with student union’s across the UK to protect international students on this. She also said a main issue for international students was homesickness, which she said she would try and help students with.
Sophia Liu, running for re-election, said that given cultural differences, the social and academic needs of international students are going to be different to those of home students. She said, following the vote to leave the European Union, that she would hold a survey for European students asking what they wanted in terms of representation.
Thi Phuong Dung Tran said she would focus on getting international students more involved at the University of Lincoln including by getting them more involved in activities. She also argued for a positive outlook on education post-Brexit.
What did the presidential candidates say?
Justice Tenna Ogbaburu said that he would improve communication between the Students’ Union and students, arguing social media wasn’t enough. He also said, after controversy around the Students’ Union receiving a ‘red’ rating on freedom of speech, that he would increase student knowledge on what was going on and how they can get involved in the Students’ Union.
Kudzai Muzangaza, running for re-election, said that on freedom of speech, it should not be an unreserved right and that student’s should also feel safe as well as being able to express themselves. He also said that he would like a quicker turn-around in SUggestions from students being implemented.
What comes next?
Voting will close next Friday and on that evening, results will be announced at an event in the Tower Bar. You can follow live coverage of results on the night here on The Linc.
Meanwhile, you can view the full manifestos of candidates, and vote, on the Students’ Union’s website.