Laura ‘Bo’ Borisovaite
Incumbent Welfare Officer Borisovaite claims she needs to retain the position both to see through long-term projects to their full implementation, and to start ones that have not yet “had the chance for air time”.
She believes strongly in community spirit, and hopes to make every student feel like a real York resident as soon as they arrive at university. An integral part of this policy, Borisovaite claims, is improving safety and security in order to “ensure a healthy learning and living environment.” As such, Lithuanian-born international student Borisovaite intends to kick-start a “student-led crime prevention scheme in partnership with the University Security Services and the North Yorkshire Police.”
If re-elected, she wants to address the on-campus accommodation issue, as she believes first years being pushed off campus is damaging to welfare, and added pressure to JCRCs running their Freshers’ Week events. “This should not happen again,” Borisovaite explains, “I will offer more support to JCRCs in their welcoming process through additional training and resources for non-alcoholic events”. Housing off campus is just as important, and must be “up to standard,” while “even more information in an accessible format” and stringent housing checks should be striven for.
Borisovaite hopes to build upon the success of this year’s Orientation Week, which she helped organise, and increase the involvement of students in the planning process, as this is key for next year’s Freshers to have an even better welcome.
“Experience, stronger and still full of ideas,” Borisovaite’s campaign slogan emphasises her refreshed vigour for the role.
ODDS TO WIN: 2/3 Incumbent Bo may have a ‘name recognition’ advantage over her rival.
Welfare: Laura Borisovaite produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Robert Hughes
Running against an incumbent officer can be a daunting challenge, but Hughes is by no means an unknown in Univeristy life. He is Vice President for Welfare in the James JCRC, Social Secretary in LGBT, and has been involved with YUSU Equality, Welfare and Diversity committee.
He told Vision that the Love Your Body Campaign with Women’s Committee is the most exciting involvement he’s had at university, because “it was so positive and exciting. When we were there at Woodstock last year it was brilliant to see so many people celebrating their bodies, whether through making postcards, or wearing stickers. It really cheered people up and made them think differently about body image issues.”
Hughes’ campaign focuses on sexual and mental health, and he hopes to secure the backing welfare issues require at both Union and University level. “Sexual health is a constant concern,” he explains, “We need more than termly Chlamydia chellenges; we need to broaden awareness of the GUM clinic and its services.”
In what is perhaps a direct affront to incumbent Borisovaite, Hughes claims that “our approach must go beyond posters.” Instead, he suggests, we must “ensure that students understand issues affecting them, what help is on offer and how to access it.”
Accommodation appears in Hughes’ manifesto also, claiming it needs an approach of “structure and strategy.” He believes acting soon is the key, to stop students “signing for houses too quickly and getting messed around by landlords.”
Hughes believes he has “an understanding of what we have and what needs improving in terms of welfare provisions.”
ODDS TO WIN: 3/2 Hughes is a realistic challenge to the incumbent, and has some strong policies.
Welfare: Robert Hughes produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license