Blog
"Weekly Info", Summer Week 4
As battling sets of speakers blast out different Lemar songs across the YUSU office - thanks Matt and Rory - I find myself trying to write this week’s update. It turns out it’ll mostly be of interest to the folks that have been around on campus for a while.
MANIFESTO PROMISES
More than a year ago now, an overlong joke backfired very, very badly and Mad Cap’n Tom found himself suddenly elected as Students’ Union President. And despite the fact that I’m not turning up in costume every day, I haven’t forgotten how I got here.
So let’s have a look back at some of the campaign promises I’ve managed to fulfil:
1. “Cutlasses fer all”. It’s only gone and bloody happened: thanks to Alex Lacy’s spectacular plans for Roses, hundreds of foam cutlasses with “Go York” emblazoned along the side were seen all over campus, and are still around on and off campus. And, as promised, they were sourced ethically.
2. “A cannon on th’ Central Hall balcony”. Done - and done before I got elected, no less. At the big bars protest, the university’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society put together a fifteen-foot, MDF and cardboard cannon, painted black, which swung out from the Central Hall balcony towards the Vice-Chancellor’s house -- and fired a flag that said “BANG”.
3. “Plundering o’ Lancaster University”. To be fair, we didn’t sail over there, but we did completely obliterate them in Roses and take all their treasure. Well, all their trophies anyway. That’s a push, I think.
4. “Discount rum in all bars”. No points there, alas.
5. “Hammocks at all Union Senate meetings, for easier napping.” Done - at least, for one meeting. The hammocks proved... impractical.
6. “Society budgets t’be paid in gold doubloons, or failin’ that, actually givin’ societies some warnin’.” Done. Rory's done a bloody excellent job with the society budget applications, which have gone out this week. I wish the process had worked this well when I was a society chair.
7. “Demolish half o’ Goodricke-Vanbrugh bridge, leave th’ rest as a long plank”. Not necessary any more. This time last year, the closed bridge was a big issue - but now it’s back open and a brand new bridge is in the works. This one’s a draw.
8. “Pharmacy on campus”. Still rumoured, not happening yet.
So, out of 8: 4 done, 1 semi-done, 1 now irrelevant, and 2 not done yet. That’s not a bad result for any student union officer. “Actually Competent” was the slogan on my poster, and I think I’ve lived up to that.
TREVOR, THE GOLDEN DUCK
Let me quote a successful UGM motion from a while ago: “To mandate the President to purchase a new ruddy shelduck and name it Trevor.”
For those who haven’t been on campus for as long as I have: Trevor, the much-loved campus golden duck, died around 18 months ago - and the Union was mandated to buy a new one for the lake.
Well, I’m proud to announce that the York Annual Fund, through the Development and Alumni Relations Department of the University, have provided the funds for us to purchase a new pair of ruddy shelducks to brighten the lives of students and staff for years to come. The university’s estates division have approved the release of the ducks, and so all that remains is to buy them and get them to the lake. Watch out: the In-Duck-tion (and the final appearance of Mad Cap’n Tom) will be happening soon.
WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK
There’s been a bit of a blip over the last week, as I took a few days of my annual leave - taking time to speak at the Thinking Digital conference, at the Sage in Gateshead. Aside from that, in all honesty, it’s been quiet: I’ve been trying to find the time to carry on with the promised elections review, which is already a touch behind schedule. I’ve been in University Senate, the highest academic body at York; I compiled the highlights video from the Roses Closing Ceremony; and I’ve sat on the Union’s Rules and Revisions Committee.
AND FINALLY: YORK CARNIVAL
Head to the city centre this Sunday to see York Carnival: there’s a parade through the city and two stages of live music in Parliament Street. There’s loads of societies involved as well as local schools, and it’s going to be fantastic.
