Set for a new year as head of the Sports Union, Cass Brown faces another year aiming to make York a special place for sport, but what does she think makes York stand out from other universities?
“The York Sport Union has a stunning spirit which has thrived in recent years and especially last year when we managed to reach our highest ever placing in BUCS of 38th! We stand out from other sporting Unions due to our commitment to both performance and participatory level sport. We have University sport, College Sport and a ‘Get into Sport’ programme aimed at complete beginners.”
Sports clubs are sometimes deemed as cliquey and intimidating to those who are beginners, but Cass was keen to assure anyone who’s unsure of the positives of joining a sports club.
“Sport made my university experience, and if you get involved, it will certainly make yours. Your club often becomes your family at University and the atmosphere you get to be a part of is just amazing. Playing sport is also a highly attractive thing to future employers!”
Cass recalls her first experience of the sports union fondly. “As a Fresher I thought sport at York was super inclusive. I represented the Badminton Club which is without a doubt one of the friendliest sports clubs on campus and I got to play every college sport I wanted. As soon as I joined I knew I wanted to be part of the Black and Gold family.”
The beginning of a new academic year brings with it, for many students, resolutions of taking up a sport, something that is much easier to do while at university than at any other time. When asked how non sporty students can also get involved, Cass argued that there are just as many opportunities for those not wanting to compete.
“York is the perfect place to get involved even if you don’t like sport. We have an array of sports clubs that aren’t considered typically ‘sporty’ – just check out the list on the YUSU website www.yusu.org/sport. Also, we have various events throughout the year, like Roses which attracts thousands of spectators who go to support York and get involved in the Lancaster/York rivalry, rather than the actual sport!”