Bob Hughes, incumbent YUSU Welfare Officer, is the frontrunner of the race – though by no means the dead cert.
A prominent person around campus, Hughes has enjoyed a fairly successful year in office. He delivered on his promise of extra sexual health screening at the University Health Centre, establishing an “extra GUM clinic sessions in the Health Centre”. Hughes also introduced the rather under-used, but well meaning, Clubbers Bus – though the future of that policy remains to be seen.
His planned focus if he were re-elected would be housing issues, particularly the new developments on the Heslington East site. Hughes laments how “the quality of campus accommodation varies wildly”, and wants to ensure that all welfare requirements are implanted smoothly in the new campus accommodation buildings, including “support services and security to help you get home safely”.
Hughes has also pledged to work more to ensure a fair deal for students requesting mitigating circumstances, an issue that was recently highlighted by Vision when students were not given easy leniency for untimely deaths around exam times, even being asked to produce a death certificate – still part of university policy.
Alongside his years’ experience as a Sabbatical officer, Hughes was also formerly Vice-Chair for Welfare on the James JCRC and Social Secretary for LGBT, enjoying significant support from both communities alongside a breadth of experience, which he will hope will guide him to a second successive term.
Tipster’s Odds: 3/1
The smart moneys on Bob – he faces some competition, but his time in office has been successful enough, and his name recognition may seal the deal. Don’t forget, Hughes ousted an incumbent to take the position last year, and will hope to draw on the same wave of popular support that secured him that win.
Bob has held some great events and campaigns this year- Come Dine With Me on YSTV to promote healthy eating and cooking, the recent Living Library for a focus on emotional wellbeing, plenty of help and advice for housing etc. etc. He’s just been so visible and thus approachable. I’ve been thouroughly impressed with all his ideas and enthusiasm and at seeing how he actually manages to make things happen!
Bob Hughes has used his time in office so far excellently, promoting healthy eating on campus through his York Student Come Dine With Me, and making himself a visible and approachable presence on campus. Contrary to the above report, the Clubbers’ Bus has been an extreme success, taking many drunken students back to campus safely and cheaply. Bob definitely has my vote, as for once I can be sure that a vote for him will be a vote for a SAB that actually works hard at his job.
The testimonials above were brought to you by Bob Hughes & Co.