Elections 2007

This year the Southampton University Students’ Union elections took on an Olympic theme and in a tense race every position went to a relative photo finish. Sarah Moore heads the new Union executive after being elected as President, joining her in the sabbatical team are Nick Culley (VP Media & Communications), Kate Jowett (VP Welfare & Societies), Claire Chappell (VP Education & Representation), Tom ‘Grandad’ Page (AU President) and Alice Williams (Winchester President).

2007 saw the most contested positions in recent history. However, the number of overall candidates was slightly down on last year. This took a further knock in the early stages when Dominic Robertson stayed in the starting blocks of the AU race and bakery themed Greg::S rolled into better employment.

SUSU elections have one of the highest turnouts in the country, record breaking for the last two years. However, voting numbers were anticipated to be slightly down. Commentators are suggesting that this could be partly due to a return to more civilised approach to getting students out to vote after the amendment to the election rules which stated "not to harass the electorate" after particularly hectic concourse action last year.

Others are attributing it to a technical hitch which led to a delay in the universal invitation to vote, sent out to all eligible Southampton students. This is usually distributed on Monday when polling opens, it did not reach some until the Tuesday evening, leaving some frustrated electorate less then 24 hours to vote.

Technology did come through in other areas, particularly the success of the elections.susu.org. Aside from the candidates’ manifestos, it hosted the hustings videos, the Surge interview and a section to question the candidates. The website recorded statistics showing that the number of unique visitors was up by 2000, a 50% increase on last year. Some candidates reaped the benefits with integrated and innovative blogs and vlogs.

There were pros and cons to the increased online prominence. The rise of social networking site Facebook added to the struggle of monitoring the amount of unsolicited e-campaigning occurring. Although explicitly banned in SUSU elections some still candidates attempt it, there was also considerable concern that the election would descend into a popularity contest rather than judgement on the candidates’ ability.

Like most previous elections, campaigning week was a stressful time as the potential Union directors tried to get their face and name out there. Most sites were littered with the usual array of banners, posters and stickers. Although this year saw Scooby Doo wandering round in the library, the annual Chamberlain motorcade across campus, a team of orange builders, a failed hot-air balloon and a group of well-marshalled wandering minstrels.

When the elections are in full follow the trail is hard to avoid, with most candidates and teams skating along to the Ice Disco, Kinki, Fat Campaign-adaddies and generally any night at Jesters. Such intense environments lead to the occasional controversy as tension increased between candidates and emotions reached boiling point.

Results round-up

The Union executive team is made up of 6 sabbaticals, and 6 executive officers – who all sit on the Union Management Board, making the decisions that run the Union. Two of the executive officers positions were uncontested, Tom Constable was duly elected as Societies Officer and Candy Snelling settles in for another year as Ethical and Environmental Officer, the post of Postgraduate Officer still lies vacant.

Elections Night Live! looked to build on the success of last year’s nail biting results announcement, hosted by Surge and filmed by SUSU.tv, a nervous hoard gathered in the Stag’s Head. The first result of the night was for the position of AU officer, the supporting role to the AU President. Sophie Wright dramatically overturned the Exit poll to record a 54.6% victory.

For the post of Equal Opportunities Officer, Martin Yau, who was unsuccessful this time last year returned with just 50.6% of the vote, despite his opposition failing to make a single appearance or put up any posters. As he took to the stage the haunting chorus of "Vote Yau now" arose.

Sites Officer was taken by outgoing Montefiore JCR President, Adam Parker, who was credited with orchestrating a bigger campaign than many of the potential sabbatical officers. With 1771 votes he ousted Dan Wright in a 56/44 split.

Results for the first sabbatical position were a fairly relaxed affair. The Winchester President is elected by Winchester students only and has the task of single-handedly running WSASU. Replacing Dan Hemsley is the uncontested Alice Williams with 98% of the vote, although for the second year running one vote was placed for RON.

All of the rest of sabbaticals positions went through to the final round of voting with no candidate securing the necessary "50% plus one vote" as required by the single-transferable vote system.

The VP Education & Representation race gave a comfortable victory to third year zoologist and SUSU marketing team member Claire Chappell, who had a convincing lead from the first round of ballots and in the final round polled 1996 votes (61.5%) to edge out Spiky Rob. Amongst three candidates re-running from last year a stoic Pete Lamb bowed out of union politics claiming he had been proved "unelectable". Claire’s victory speech was stalled by an impromptu nose bleed, but she returned to the stage to thank her campaign team with heartfelt gratitude.

Kate Jowett was elected VP Welfare & Societies with a slimmer margin than the Surge conducted Exit poll had predicted. In reality, although the midlander was given a healthy lead by the first round, she needed the elimination of Sarah Barber to sweep up the transfers to reach 1742 votes (56.2%) and successfully see off PolSoc President, Temi Odesanya and become the first female Welfare sabbatical since the post’s formation in 2004.

In the only head-to-head contest for sabbatical position voters opted for age over experience as Tom ‘Grandad’ Page eclipsed current AU Officer Hazel Learner in the first round with 1819 (54.1%) to Learner’s 1388. He used most of his victory speech trying to offload his decorated car which had been a prominent feature of his campaign.

For a third successive year, the battle for VP Media & Communications post was a hotly contest one. Nick Culley seemed almost over qualified as director behind the newly formed SUSU.tv and Surge Head of Production amongst others, but main rival Mackenzie Hunkin claimed to have the drive and understanding necessary and was backed up by a significant campaign team. Culley’s victory produced the biggest cheer of the night, who had swayed the majority of concourse opinion with his interaction. After Rich Bennett’s elimination he secured 58% of the vote.

In the Presidential contest it was unusual occurrence that in the four way race there was no clear favourite. Steven "Dobbsy" Dobbs was the first to make way, closed with a warning that the spectre of the socialist society is growing. The Exit poll had put Chamberlain JCR President Ian Burst significantly ahead but without a 50% stake. The stark reality was different, in the first round current Sites Officer, Sarah Moore, polled just 10 votes behind and after third placed Ella Hedley’s votes were transferred, Sarah cleaned up with 55% to complete the sabbatical team for 2007/2008.

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