NEWS
YORK VISION Tuesday March 6, 2010
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TAYLOR MADE FOR SUCCESS ON THURSDAY, KALLUM TAYLOR BECAME YUSU PRESIDENT-ELECT, BEATING OFF TOUGH COMPETITION FROM ZAHRA LATIF AND NACHO HERNANDO. VISION SPEAK EXCLUSIVELY TO KALLUM ABOUT HIS ASPIRATIONS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
By harry pick KALLUM TAYLOR has been elected the new YUSU President after a tightly fought election campaign which saw him receive 2129 first-choice ballots. After two weeks blitzing campus with now-fraying cardboard cut-outs, the results night on Thursday saw the former Vanbrugh College JCRC Chair beat off close competition from Zahra Latif, English combinedcourse rep who received 1745 votes, and Nacho Hernando, former Goodricke Chair, who lagged behind with 973.
KELLOGG's Press Office were apparently "flattered" by Kallum Taylor's use of the Special K symbol. Despite rumours they would sue if permission wasn't sorted, a quick call to the company showed they were supportive of Kallum and everyone campaigning.
Also running were Peter Warner-Medley, James Carney, Abir Ahmmed and Thomas Stuart Taylor.
SOME candidates let the campaign season get to their head. James Carney, Presidential candidate, annouced to the world that "Being noticed can be a burden. Jesus got himself crucified because he got himself noticed." Guess that explains his absence on election night... The campaigning season, littered with the usual manipulation of omnipresent, multi-national brand names (Doritos, Kellogg's and H&M, to name a few), began on the 17th February and ended with the closure of voting on 1st March. The strategy worked; the election led to over 5720 students voting, or 36.8% of the student body, the highest turnout in five years. Taylor will be joined by new sabbatical officers Charlotte Winter (York Sport President) and Chris West (Student Activities), alongside returning sabbs Bob Hughes (Welfare) and Graeme Osborn (Academic). However, amidst the celebrations of Thursday's election night, there were tears from losing candidates and qualms from others. Perhaps most controver-
sially, Torris, a member of the Board of Student Trustees, revealed to Vision that it is going to be "a bit of a task working with Kallum next year." Speaking to Vision, Presidentelect Taylor said he did not always see himself as the frontrunner, despite polls and pundits coming out in his favour throughout campaigning, and was ecstatic with the win. "Me and my team set out like we were chasing someone ahead of us all the time and went for it. I'd like thank my whole team; this win was down to the grafters." Taylor now faces a four month waiting period until he formally ascends to the presidency on the 1st July. "There is nothing formal for me to do until then, though I'd like to speak to other candidates in the meantime as I'd like to incorporate some of their policies into the Union's activities." "One of the other candidates had a policy to disconnect sabbs' internet once a week, just to make sure they do get out and about. When I heard that, I was like, that's alright you know." He admitted his strategy was to go for the "average student voter" – and that is certainly who he
hopes to represent with his initial policy programme which stresses 'value for money'. Articulating how he intends to achieve such value, Taylor did pinpoint some policies. "Like any managers of a business, charging more means we should provide more service – like key texts on a single CD, for example."
OTHER candidates just cannot accept defeat. Tom Taylor has already began his campaign for next year and has started posting videos for 'TST 2013'. Fellow candidate Abir Ahmmed also announced on election night that this year was merely "the platform for his next election."
YUSU's ELECTION campaigning rules have come under criticism following a number of complaints over the conduct of this year's presidential candidates. 14 separate complaints were made across the board, with seven of these being directed towards presidential hopefuls. One complaint is now being dealt with by the University itself. YUSU's rules about online campaigning have been most heavily criticised due to the open nature of social networking websites such as Facebook and the inability of candidates to prevent their supporters from inadvertedly breaking the rules on such social media outlets – an offence for which the candidate is liable. James Carney, who had his right to campaign online completely removed by YUSU's Returning Officers, was especially critical of the rules YUSU currently have in place: "The accountability of candidates and those related to them is something which needs to be looked at within electoral rules, as is setting out clear guidelines to online campaigning. Current-
ly, they are just not clear enough," he told Vision. YUSU President-elect Kallum Taylor, who had his campaign Facebook page taken down for 24 hours on the Friday before elections, also spoke to Vision about the difficulties he countered with the online regulations: "What happened was a thirdparty Facebook group backed me by putting my page on their group – within five minutes this was deleted. "All was done within five minutes but that was why I had to delete the Facebook page; because people were endorsing me who I didn't know, in private groups that I didn't know existed. "I can see why the rules are in place, but it's tough to police the internet, I can understand some of the warnings, but at the same time I can only tell people I know not to promote me illegally. I think the rules need looking at, in a sense nothing stopping me from getting friends to promote another candidate and for them to get punished for it." YUSU President Tim Ellis commented on the current set of election rules, telling Vision: "Whilst there have been some issues with certain candidates
breaking these rules, they were all made extremely clear at the candidates briefing and all candidates signed up to these. I do feel however, that a conversation should be had in time for next year's elections regarding campaigning rules as I think there are potentially areas where rules could be relaxed as it is increasingly hard for Returning Officers to police what happens on social media." YUSU President-elect Kallum Taylor has come under scrutiny for his own campaign, with enquiries being issued to the Returning Officer regarding his expenses. Complaints were made against Taylor on Thursday afternoon and the Returning Officer has since ruled that his expenses are so unclear that Taylor will only be able to reclaim £5 of his £20 allowance. The complaints made against Taylor suggest that his budget, although coming in under the £30 limit, was missing a number of items used during his campaign and was not presented with valid receipts. A source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Vision of how a receipt for spray cans "was not itemised" and the invoice for
ACADEMIC OFFICER: GRAEME OSBORN
More immediately, he hopes by Christmas to "set up weekly surgeries on both campuses with no agenda, which I can do straight away. I'd also like to start chasing up more cycle spaces and bring in lockers [which] off-campus students will be made up with – it'd be nice for them to see the Union is doing something for them as well." The new YUSU Officers will take office next academic year.
COMPLAINING OVER CAMPAIGNING
By Alex finnis
TAYLOR'S TEAM:
his t-shirts was dated 01/03/12, when they had been used before this date. Additionally, the source spoke of how "the video used in his campaign was not included in the expenses form. Due to the use of editing software and good equipment we assume that a £5 charge would have been incurred." Despite the complaints, YUSU's Returning Officers came to the decision that Kallum was a valid candidate in the election. The Deputy Returning Officer was keen to stress the importance of considering whether what the candidate has done warrants removing them as a choice for the electorate. Taylor was quick to defend himself, saying; "I was called in on the Thursday afternoon and spoke with both the Deputy Returning Officer and the Returning Officer about these – who then spoke to the NUS to properly clear my form as fine. From this, they were happy with what I had supplied and I was given the go ahead to continue to stand in the elections. Since, it has been a non-issue for me and I'd rather not deal with baseless rumours and instead the more important issues such as the job itself."
STUDENT ACTIVITES OFFICER: CHRIS WEST
WELFARE OFFICER: BOB HUGHES
YORK SPORT PRESIDENT: CHARLOTTE WINTER