The Student’s Manifesto

As the YUSU elections begin to rumble into action after a year of quiet, the candidate manifestos pour onto the internet containing all the ideas and plans that the upcoming contenders have for our little university. Such ideas range from utter lunacy (such as building a YUSU moon station) to the more grounded and often, more controversial plans concerning one YUSU policy or another. These manifestos are, of course, an invaluable tool in sussing out the most innovative, experienced and inspiring candidates which have a huge significance on the sway of the election.

Yet, all manifestos seem to have one undermining fault about them, and while I do not question their utility, they do only give us the candidate’s view of what they want to do. While this is all well and good, it is important when considering who we want running our union over the next year, to consider what we want and what the incoming fresher’s of 2012-2013 will want. It is with this point in mind that I think we should take a minute to stop worrying about the heaps of rhetoric and promises pouring out of the election volcano and instead decide what is really going to affect us and how we want to change it.

So what do we really want? The one looming issue amongst most students, especially those in Langwith, Derwent and Goodricke is the mammoth migration of Langwith to Hes East and the merging of Derwent into the emptied buildings. Concerns have already been raised over the status of common rooms, bars and changes to colleges which any candidate who wishes to become Student President will need to resolve. The move will need to be made as smooth as possible without any of the administrative teething problems that usually occur. More importantly, YUSU will have to remain responsive to all student issues in the face of a huge increase in student numbers. Any YUSU team that wants to win the election will have to put this as one of their main focuses.

Another big issue will be the influx of students who will be paying the full £9,000 to come to York. While York hasn’t experienced the large dip in students that other universities around the country have, it is reasonable to predict that the new flock of students will be very aware of their economic situation. This means YUSU must be ready and willing to provide concessions and to utilise their funds to ensure that the new students get true value for money. In the future the hefty cost of events such as Big Bang or the bulky cost of buying a York Sport Membership will need to be reassessed to stop the feeling of haemorrhaging of money that incoming students will inevitably have. Both YUSU and Heslington Hall are on the precipice of a tough time fiscally and how YUSU uses its resources will be a significant determinate in how well they will do.

Then there is student housing, a problem that is always lurking around like a menacing itch that YUSU just can’t scratch. Recently, students have been confronted with the news that rent prices will rise above the rate of inflation (and in many cases far higher than inflation). Council plans to curb the amount of student areas and people living in rented accommodation will also be a challenge to anyone we choose to elect. With a begrudging feeling of resentment between the student body and York residents, the relationship that the university has with the city will be a crucial issue.

Finally, there is the collegiate system to think about. Once again this is a dispute that goes far back in York’s history with many JCRCs scared that the collegiate system is simply become an advertising ploy by the university, a ploy that has increasingly little significance in university life. With a large divide between those students that see their college as a main part of their university life and those that see their college as just a formality, YUSU will have to ensure that the university remains united together whilst still giving the colleges a strong sense of identity.

So there we are. While of course, I do not expect everyone to agree with this list (or that its exhaustive), my point remains that at this vital time of the year it is worth stepping back from the mind numbing campaigning and crowd pleasing policies to think seriously about what we truly want. Perhaps if we think about it enough, the right candidate will be easy to choose.