Sabb nominations set to open on Monday

This year’s SABBs.
Image credit: Exeter Students’ Guild

On Monday 13 January, nominations open for the 2014 Sabbatical elections.

Voting for the 2014 SABB Elections open on Monday February 3, but students have the chance to nominate themselves in two days time. Candidate Training Week then begins on Monday 20th January, closing that Friday alongside nominations.

There are several positions which students can run for: President, VP Education (formerly VP Academic Affairs), VP Activities (formerly VP Participation & Campuses) and VP Welfare & Diversity (formerly VP Welfare & Community).

The President leads and directs the Students’ Guild, acting as its figurehead, and voices the opinions and views of students. Following a comprehensive internal review, the President now has the extra responsibility of taking a lead on Guild commercial services. The responsibility of the VP Academic Affairs is to ensure that students receive the best educational experience possible while maintaining current standards and driving further improvements. As an example, Alex Louch has been involved in making sure that there is high quality provision of study space on campus, while limiting hidden course costs and ensuring that students get feedback on their work within three weeks.

VP Activities is responsible for all the Guild’s Activities and Volunteering Groups, encompassing societies, student media, RAG, Community Action and Halls Committees. Student views will also be relayed to Employability and Graduate Development. VP Welfare & Diversity is responsible for issues and concerns regarding the wellbeing of students at university, and is also involved with student housing.

All students are encouraged to consider nominating themselves for the upcoming SABB elections, with the Guild stressing the opportunity to get involved in University life and represent fellow students. In order to increase electoral turnout, the International Students’ Officer, the Postgraduate Students’ Officer and the St Luke’s Officer will be elected at the same time as the Sabbatical officers.

Last year saw Hannah Barton emerge victorious in her bid to become Guild President, which has led to particular success in leading the Exeter Experience Project which received a record number of responses. Alex Louch became VP in Academic Affairs and, as a result, is now leading “Research Uncovered”, a project which has doubled the success of a previous scheme. Jak Curtis-Randall, VP in Participation, has worked with both the Students’ Guild and the University to boost funding for societies from £12,000 to £25,000 – double the previous funding. Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare and Community, is currently co-ordinating the Housing Fair which aims for students to make sensible choices in accommodation, budget and landlord. This year, however, sees significant changes following the review.

Conor Byrne, News Team

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Sabbs speak out on their election win

The newly elected sabbs spoke with Exeposé Online this week, to reflect on their successes and thank their supporters. Hannah Barton, the new Guild President, expressed her shock at being elected, telling Exeposé Online:

“It’s hard to describe how it felt to win it was all such a blur. I just listened back to the radio podcast and most of what Welshy said I can’t even remember from the night I was so nervous.

“It was so close which really reflects how strong all the candidates were and how good everyone’s campaigns were, but I am completely elated to have been elected… I can’t wait to work with such a great team of sabbs.”

Chris Rootkin, elected VP Welfare and Community, celebrating with friends. Photo credits to Joshua Irwandi

VP for Academic Affairs, Alex Louch  also praised his opponents, commenting : “The other candidates were absolutely fantastic and they made this week the testament to the guild and to the unique engaged student body which Exeter must celebrate.

“The feeling to become a sabb is absolutely incredible.The week has been an extreme test of endurance for every candidate and I know that I completely owe my success down to the efforts of those who helped me, for hours and hours every day.”

Both Jak Curtis-Randall, the new VP Participation and Campuses, and Alex Powell, the new AU president, described themselves as overwhelmed with emotion on election night. Jak admitted there were “some happy tears”, while Alex said that her ” knees were shaking non-stop”.

Hannah Barton, elected Guild President 2013-2014. Photo credits to Joshua Irwandi

Jak went on to tell Exeposé Online: “I really am looking forward to representing the students of Exeter, and listening to them to make the changes they want happen. I am determined to give this role everything I can for everyone, and implementing my manifesto in full. “

Alex suggested the tireless campaigning had been worthwhile, explaining:

“It was an incredible feeling when they announced the result. All the hard work and running up and down Stocker Road in a wetsuit had paid off.”

Last but not least, VP Welfare and Community, Chris Rootkin spoke of the long wait to find out the winner :

“It was such a great feeling to win. I’d expected the Welfare results to be announced as one of the first so when I found out mine was the penultimate result to be announced, it gave me even longer to gather nerves.

“I think we’ve got a great team so bring on July!”

By Cathy Thom, News Editor

Guild President debate

The final instalment of the election debates kicked off this evening in the Alumni auditorium, with six hopefuls vying for the role of Guild President. The nominees were Kathryn Jarvis, Nic Craig, Stuart Still, Bella Berngart, Hannah Barton and Hugh Blackstaffe.

Photo credits to Guy Janaway

After a late start due to technical issues with the live Xpression broadcast, the candidates were each invited to speak for two minutes, before facing a round of questions from the audience and listeners at home on Twitter.

First up, Kathryn thanked everyone for coming before insisting she was not one to “passively sit back and complain”, vowing to enact positive change if elected. She went on to stress the importance of issues such as student safety and housing.

Nic also used his opening speech to highlight key points of his manifesto, proposing the recording of all lectures and a booking scheme for computers across campus.

Next it was Stuart’s turn, as he promised to match the University’s academic ranking with graduate prospects, while Bella wants to see a greener campus.

Hannah’s campaign is focused on a refurbishment of academic buildings as she describes herself as “passionate, particularly about representing students”. Last but not least was Hugh, who used three “E”s- Experience, Enterprise and Employability- to sum up his ideas.

First to quiz the nominees, the current Guild President Nick Davies asked how they planned to distinguish their duties from the other SABBs. Most of the candidates claimed it was a case of “working together”, with the president acting as a figure head for the sabbatical team as a whole.

Bella suggested she would “participate in every society” if elected, to find out what students required, while Kathryn stated a president should operate “an open door policy”, promising to go out and talk to students about what they want.

The topic of SSB reared its head again, as the candidates were asked whether the popular student event would be back for another year, in light of the recent CCTV controversy. Most of the nominees reminded the audience about the ball’s charitable cause, while conceding that “spotlight has been placed on the event for the wrong reasons.” Hannah suggested that the focus next year should be on “continuing the great work that RAG do” and “tightening up security. Bella took a different stance, asserting “there should be no future for SSB”, due to unfavourable reports in the national press.

Hugh then defended his promise to provide all students with internships, stating he hoped to “put down the foundations” for such a plan, as he referred to a government initiative which supported his idea.

When asked by Exeposé Editor Tom Payne, on where candidates stand on clashes between Xmedia and the Guild, Nic said it was not case of taking sides, while Hugh suggested he would “take the time to formulate the best possible answer”.

The nominees were then grilled on whether their policies were too ambitious. All seemed confident they could carry out their pledges, with Stuart stating: “everything on my manifesto is possible.” Nic and Kathryn went on to say that they had seen some of their ideas implemented at other universities, insisting that such schemes could also work in Exeter.

The next question posed by an audience member focussed on expanding the Exeter experience to the other campuses. Nic recounted a story of a St Luke’s student who said he “wouldn’t have known there was an election going on” which highlighted Nic’s suggestion of talking to students from all campuses. Kathryn pushed for her idea for a shuttle bus between Streatham campus and St Luke’s which could improve relations. Stuart explained that all his manifesto points should be applied to “all campuses” while Hugh told the audience there was a “risk of homogeneity” if all campuses lost their unique values.

Next, a comical yet dangerous question to answer was asked,  inquiring to know which VPs the candidates would rather work with. Kathryn, Bella and Hugh approached it in a diplomatic fashion explaining they would be proud to work with any of them. Stuart relied on a previous Guild President’s catchphrase of “no comment, no comment, no comment”. Nic Craig ended his answer with “it would be stupid” for him to answer that question.

Five of the candidates seemed to agree that their manifestos were applicable to postgraduate students. However, Bella believed that these students only stay at the university for one year so do not vote as much as undergraduates.

The final question asked the six candidates to sum themselves up in five words. Kathryn went for “fun, effective, confident” and “your president”. Nic quickly reacted with “because I care about you.” Stuart was “easy to get on with”. Bella miscalculated her “passion, representation, equality, good facilities, vote”. Hannah opted for “passionate about you want”. Hugh reminded the audience of his 3 “E”s and “vote Hugh”.

Elections close at 4.00 pm on Friday afternoon and the results will be announced in the Lemon Grove from 8.00pm.

 

By Cathy Thom and Guy Janaway

Sabb debates start tonight

The Sabbatical Election for 2013 is well underway, with the posts of Guild President, A.U. President and the Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs, Participation and Campuses, and Welfare and Community to be decided.

Photo credits to the University of Exeter Students’ Guild

The first debate kicks off tonight, at 6pm in the Forum Alumni Auditorium, with Alex Louch, Daryl Hurst, Alex Phillips and Louis Tsiattalou all competing for the position of VPs for Academic Affairs.

The debates will be held throughout the week, before the voting closes on Friday,8 February.

The role of president will be contested by Kathryn Jarvis, Nic Craig, Hannah Barton, Hugh Blackstaffe, Stuart Still and Bella Berngart.

The A.U. Presidency candidates are Laurie Potter, Alex Powell, David Rogal James Gibson and Brendan Gilson, whilst Abbe Cooper, Jak Curtis-Rendall and Emma Ollis are running for Participation and Campuses.

The nominees for Welfare and Community are Ledys Sanjuan, Sam Syce and Chris Rooktin.

The voting process allows students to vote for further nominations, or no preference.

The manifestos for each candidate are available on the Students’ Guild website.
Check out all the latest news on the elections at the Xpression page.

By Will Binks.