International Officer
Leslie Tay
TAY intends to create a “home away from home for international students,” ensuring the provision of an International Common Room, a bigger and better International Week, and regional nights.
He believes events should promote cultural exchange and cater to the needs of international students. He wants International Committee to take the lead in organizing orientation programmes for Freshers and exchange students.
Tay intends to work closely with college chairs and international reps from JCRCs, and communicate regularly with with GSA, York Sport, societies and the Student Union.
International Officer: Leslie Tay produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Disabilities Officer
Liam Haakon Smith
LIAM Haakon Smith found that as a student with multiple disabilities, it is often difficult to find out what his department could do for him, or even who to approach. Therefore, as Disability Officer he intends to work with different departments and Course Reps to come up with solutions to potential difficulties to make it quicker and easier for students to get the most out of their course.
Haakon Smith has held two representative positions on YUSU LGBT, and also worked with Women’s Committee and Disability Committee.
Disability Officer: Liam Haakon Smith produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Campaigns Officer
Andreas Gabrielsen
ANDREAS Gabrielsen is a Politics and Philosophy student who has experience as Campaigns Officer for Goodricke JCRC 2010. He helped to plan and run the London November ’10 Demo and actively participates in protests on various issues, including opposing the cuts to higher education and the privatisation of British forests.
Gabrielsen also has experience as President of the York Capoeria Society, increasing membership from 20 to over 50. He describes himself as flexible, passionate and active – essential qualities for the position.
Campaigns Officer: Andreas Gabrielsen produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Ents Officer
Chris Edwards & Özge Bektasglu
ÖZGE Bektasglu and Chris Edwards have experience as Halifax Common Room Rep and Ents Rep, respectively. Bektasglu ran the weekly quiz and organised the Fax Off trip to Sheffield, while Edwards is working on the Take Me Out II, and the multiple college trip to Amsterdam.
Both have existing links with club promoters in York, and promise to communicate with college ents teams to bring big name acts to events both on and off campus.
Ents Officer: Chris Edwards and Ozge Bektasoglu produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Racial Equality
Basim Al-Ahmadi & Lawrence Binite
BETWEEN them, Al-Ahmadi and Binite have lived in Britain, Africa, Asia and Continental Europe, and believe this has given them a “unique sense of perspective that is important for this position.”
They want to represent all York students by leading the debate on how to create a culturally aware community that celebrates diversity.
In the position they intend to tackle what they call “the big racial issue facing the university” – the promotion and acceptance of diversity.
Racial Equality Officer: Basim Al-Ahmadi and Lawrence Binitie produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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RAG Officer
Rebecca Irwin & Baxter Willis
IRWIN has held various committee roles including HCSE RAG and Ordinary Officer, and spent a year on RAG Committee, overseeing Halifax place runner-up in RAG Cup 2010.
Baxter has been Bar Rep and LGBT Rep in Derwent JCRC, Ordinary Officer on RAG, and has sat on various committees.
Their policies include placing collection boxes in campus bars, strenghtening participation, and rebranding the RAG Bash.
RAG: Rebecca Irwin & Baxter Willis produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
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Volunteering Officer
Hannah Brearly
Hannah Brearley is a second year History and English student from James College. This is her second year running for the position of Volunteering Officer and as such believes herself to be experienced in the demands of the position.
If elected she hopes, among other things, to focus on the democratization of the project co-ordinators selection process, as well as forming stronger links between volunteering, colleges and societies. When asked why Hannah wanted the position her response was “I want to make a difference and I know I can.”
Volunteering: Hannah Brearley produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license
Zhao Yin
Zhao Yin is a graduate of the York Management School. She says she is enthusiastic about volunteering in both its practice and organization. In her manifesto she states that her interest in the position stems from her love of the university and the environment it transpires. Her manifesto in full reads: “I love this orgnization that provide a lively environment for students, and I also want to do some volunteering organizational work. I will very exited and capable to be a member of you.” (Spelling and grammatical errors are the author’s.)
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Women’s Officer
Cat Wayland & Nell Beecham
WITH experience in Women’s Committee, LGBT, Labour Club, and in working with YUSU and the NUS, Wayland and Beecham intend to strengthen ties with grassroots feminist organisations, YUSU Liberation Campaigns and other Unions.
In this position, they will continue to campaign on issues affecting women on campus and in the local community, building on successes such as Reclaim the Night and Love Your Body. Their goal is to “create an environment in which all students feel they can participate in Women’s Committee.”
Emma Gardiner
GARDINER has spent time in Photo Soc and Women’s Committee, and has set up her own society representing fellow Social Policy students. She is also an experienced youth worker, and ran workshops promoting safe, consensual sex on campus. She told Vision, “they were about enabling all genders to have the confidence to say ‘yes’ to things they want and ‘no’ to things they don’t, sexually.”
In the role, she proposes changing the committee’s introspectiveness, and opening up positions to male candidates, as well as widening discourse with the male student body.
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LGBT
Emma Brownbill
HAVING occupied virtually every LGBT role at a society and (James) JCR level, YUSU seems the next logical step for Brownbill, third year Computer Science student.
In a recent interview with Vision, she revealed that “it’s the low key, piecemeal stuff that I’m most excited about and proud of rather than the loud, colourful campaigns.”
She is currently involved in a campaign with York Sport to improve accessibility to LGBT students, and another with Student Registry Services for better transparency regarding LGBT. She’s even been to Parliament with the Lib Dems to lobby for the Equality Act.