Manifesto Points
1. Advocate for greater action by the University to tackle spiking
2. Fight for subsidies on Circuit Laundry machines to help lessen the burden on student finances.
3. Create a dedicated university service to assist students with tenancy rights and bad landlords.
Hi! I’m Sam, and I’m running to be your Community and Wellbeing Officer. I am currently a Third Year Social and Political Science student, and the Press and Publicity Officer of the University’s Labour Club.
I have passion for meaningful, people-led politics, and I want every student to be able to thrive here at York. Here’s how:
University Support Services
I want the University to take concrete action on the issue of spiking.
The ongoing situation with some venues in York highlights the all too familiar scourge of spiking. The University simply does not do enough regarding this issue, so I am calling for the University to utilise its leverage within the city to work with venues that fall foul of student confidence and ensure proper safeguarding and effectively communicate what is being done about this issue.
I want the University to engage with organisations in York’s nightlife to ensure that its students are safer, and have access to meaningful support if they fall victim of spiking.
It’s time to make spiking everyone’s problem.
Student Community
I want the University to subsidise Circuit Laundry at the University.
In first year I ran the Stop Circuit Laundry campaign and was met with silence and inaction from the University. The cost of laundry is extortinate at the University and students can easily pay £400 a year on washing clothes. It is time for the University to end this exploitative practice and assist students with these costs. With rent ever increasing, it is simply unfair for students to be paying £4.90 per wash and dry.
Student Wellbeing
I want the University to establish an in-house rental and tenancy rights service
The rush to secure housing in York is an incredible stressor, especially in first year. This leads (myself including) to students rushing into housing agreements without knowing their rights and what is a good price for housing.
So I will push for the establishment of a university-run support service for students in private rented accommodation within York to safeguard their rights as tenants, and prevent exploitation by bad landlords.
I will also hold regular meetings with students to let them know what their rights are and where to find good information on renting in York.
I hope that you agree with me on these issues at York and will consider voting for me so I can act as your advocate within the Union to get real change on the real issues students face.
The manifestos appear here exactly as they were submitted to us. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of York Vision.
Don’t get us wrong, the York SU elections are very important. But so much of the election process is formal and serious…which means it can also (at times) be a little bit dull.
But we don’t think it has to be like this. So alongside their manifesto, Vision asked each candidate a series of light-hearted, get-to-know-you type questions. This should give you a little dive into the individual personalities of the candidates:
What would be the theme song for your campaign?
Top Dog – Magdalena Bay
If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be?
Beyonce
What is your go-to comfort show after a stressful day?
Brooklyn 99 (very millenial I know)
We gave the candidate a word, and asked them to think of what the question would be:
Answer: A long hug
What do I need during exam season?