Putting York back on the map
The University of York is famous for a number of reasons. We hold the record for the most number of people to stand on top of a post box (32 Wentworth students, 1988), the record for the longest human caterpillar (length unknown, 1991) and the record for the longest programme directed by a single person (28 hours and 1 minute, 1988). York students have had an impressive influence on world events over the years; indeed, the Hippotion hateleyi species of moth is named after a former York student. York even used to be home to an eccentric Lord who used to try and sell his abstract paintings to students on the edge of campus. We are also, so far as I can tell, the only University in the country with a Cheesy Pop Society. There’s a lot to be proud of!
Now here’s something else to add to the list. Over the next few days YUSU Academic Officer, Charlie Leyland, will be running for the position of National University of Students’ Vice-President for Higher Education. This is, I think, a far bigger deal than any of us have realised. Whilst normal students don’t have a vote in the NUS election (we elect representatives to do that for us), that doesn’t mean that the elections have no impact on us.
I’m not going to lay out Charlie’s policies here. They can all be found at www.votecharlie.co.uk. What I will say is this; the NUS constantly campaigns on student issues. It is our own Union and we are all members of it. We know and trust Charlie, she’s our Officer, we’ve elected her twice and we know how well she has represented the interests of York students. For that reason, although we cannot vote, we should actively support Charlie. Post something in a comment here, on her website, or on twitter (http://twitter.com/leylandforvphe) and make sure you follow the election. Whilst we can’t make much of a difference, we can show the rest of the country that Charlie has York’s support.
I hope some of that emotive stuff hit home! Please do support Charlie and take a minute to check out her website. Nouse‘s lovely Deputy Editor Laura Connor and the equally lovely, if somewhat hairier, Comment Editor Ben Gascoyne (Oh, and Chris Young) will be at the conference, blogging hard so that you can stay on top of what’s going on.
Comments
Nice work!
Agree with pretty much all that’s said here – this is a massive, massive position, and the fact that we have a candidate from York is something we should e proud of.
Charlie’s been a fantastic sabb for us all for the last few years, so if you’ve had any academic support, “kept your cool” at Keep Your Cool Week, Got Techie or Sourcey this year or found out you were Golden, or perhaps had help from a well trained Course Rep, got feedback quicker than you used to then post a comment saying that either on her twitter or on her site.
Oh, and if you know any delegates going to conference give them a nudge in the right direction and encourage them to make the right decision and Vote Charlie Leyland for NUS VP HE – the best and most experienced candidate.
David Levene has point blank refused to wear a Leyland t-shirt. Rumour has it that he will only vote where the labour party tells him to.
Wasn’t he elected by York students to represent OUR views? York students have elected Charlie twice, she is clearly our choice.
Ground for no conference? I think so.
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I am dissapointed by this article, as it dashed my high hopes that every Jim Bulley piece would start of with an exciting, edge of your seat account of the author going to Spar and buying grocery items as the last memorable installment did.
The rest of its fine, but I must admit my attention wasn’t grabbed.
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