YUSU

"Weekly Info": So Long, and Thanks for Everything

Posted by Tom Scott, 01/07/2009.

On Tuesday, I released two new ruddy shelducks onto the campus lake to replace Trevor, the much-loved golden duck who died last year. It's going to be one of my final acts as president of the Students' Union. For the first years who don't remember Trevor, this will have very little impact; but I've had a couple of comments from final year students saying that, surprisingly, it's made them a little bit emotional.

That really sums up something about this university - it's a lovely place to live and work. We're not an anonymous city campus, made of lookalike buildings and interspersed with nothing more than streets; we're the University of York. It might not be a perfect place to live, but by university standards it's pretty damn close.

As my six years on this campus draw to an end, and with no idea where I'm going to be in a month or two's time, I'm starting to take a look back at my year in office. I don't intend on recapping everything; suffice it to say that, more than a year ago, I promised to do the best damn job I could - and I believe that's what I've done. But this wasn't the year for the president to shine; it's the most visible position, certainly, but the plaudits should go to the team I've worked with.

Matt Burton and Rory Shanks: it really has been their year in so many ways. Let me get something straight - I believe that, if Matt hadn't been re-elected, we'd have crashed and burned this year. The knowledge and skills he had after his first year were utterly invaluable, particularly after we lost our general manager at the start of our time in office. His institutional knowledge filled in for what I - coming in from entirely outside the Union - lacked; he was absolutely the lynchpin of our team. The Courtyard, just one of the many projects he's been working on, has proven itself a complete success; it's easy to forget that, a year ago, we had nothing but dreams and a promise of some space. Vision placed Matt at the top of their student Power List this year and you know what? They're right.

The campus papers have sometimes painted Rory as Matt's sidekick, which I think is unfair. Yes, he's been working with Matt on a number of the same projects, and as an ex-Ents Officer his skills were put to damn good use there. But let's not forget all the things he's achieved himself. From the society chairs I've talked to, he's been one of the most competent Societies officers in many years; and I know from my perspective that he's fulfilled his Communications remit admirably. He's handled himself commendably and professionally in debates with campus, local and national media, and - from the reaction of everyone at the university media awards last night - I know I'm not the only one that thinks that way.

Alex Lacy deserves a hell of a lot of recognition for pushing through a tremendous amount of positive reforms against strong opposition. The new York Sport branding, the black-and-gold kit, and the new colours system have transformed the AU into something much, much greater. He's also - somehow - got media societies working together, which is something that's never really happened before: it started with the York Sport show and it's blossomed into so much more. And let's not forget that we won Roses, spectacularly. I'd suggest Alex do one more thing before he leaves: buy an enormous trophy, the Alex Lacy Shield, for whoever's been the most awesome person in York Sport this year. And then award it to himself. I'd also like to thank Alex for the wonderful - and sometimes wonderfully obscene - lines that he tends to throw around the office at vaguely inappropriate moments. He's helped keep me sane.

I think next year is going to be Charlie Leyland's year. She's spent the last twelve months juggling a truly spectacular Academic and Welfare workload; passing her Welfare responsibilities to her successor, Ben, will mean the university's committees will be facing someone with the knowledge, ability and time to be an absolute powerhouse for student interests. In some ways, the commercial expansion of the Union into the Courtyard has overshadowed Charlie's many achievements - and there have been many - so far. I reckon that's going to change, and fast.

Jamie Tyler has done a hell of a lot of work with very little recognition. His victories over the year have been fairly low-profile in the campus media, and they've not deserved to be. Successfully raising thousands and thousands of pounds of sponsorship money, running Kids' Camp and supervising a dozen other projects without a hitch, and helping put together what's been the best Woodstock in many years don't really make big news stories - but make no mistake, he's put so much effort in and it's shown in how well RAG and Student Action have performed.

All the part-time officers - those that we spent two terms with and those who are just settling into their roles - deserve their own space too. A few highlights: LGBT's Love Without Borders brought home the NUS Award for Best Campaign, and Environment and Ethics' campaign for an ethical investment policy has seen it successfully adopted at Council. I was proud to be in that meeting, and walking out successful onto the lawn of Heslington Hall afterwards, with the setting sun illuminating the whole scene, has been one of the high points of my year in office. Those are just the high-profile events; all the officers have been pulling their weight and running their own campaigns.

To Saul, our new CEO: I'm staggered by just how fast you've got up to speed with everything that goes on here. Your advice and leadership have brought this office, and this team, so far forward that I find it hard to remember what it was like in the months we had no-one in the manager's office. Your term doesn't end after one year, and you're going to see some amazing changes in the university, in the union, and - well - everywhere. I wish you the very best of luck.

To Laurie, Kevin and the entire Courtyard team: you have done what many thought impossible, on an incredibly tight deadline. There were so many obstacles to overcome, and you managed to beat them all. You've gone above and beyond the call of duty in the last few months - hopefully you can get some rest over the summer.

To every single member of staff in the Students' Union offices: it has been a pleasure and a privilige to work with you, and I'll no doubt stop by and tell you that in person. It can't be easy working with a team of students that changes every year, but you're able to cope with it somehow.

And to every student: good luck to you, whether you're off into the wider world or staying on campus for another year yet. Make the most of whatever comes your way; never turn down an opportunity; and never forget, now and then, to look at the big picture. The worries and troubles that you have now will move on, in time, and things always look a bit smaller when you take a step back.

It's been a year of staggering changes in the Union and the University. But as soon as the next intake of students arrives, as soon as October rolls round - they'll be forgotten. There will always have been a fantastic Students' Union venue in Langwith. There will always have been a student activities office in Market Square. And Goodricke College will always have been out on Heslington East.

Over a year ago, as the fuss after my election swept over campus, I mentioned an old proverb: גם זה יעבור, "this too shall pass". It's as true now. Remember that all good things come to an end; but remember, too, that the darkest hours must, sooner or later, give way to daylight.

So long, and thanks for everything.

— Tom