- Candidate Interview: Samuel Dedman, VP Education
- Candidate Interview: Simon Pinney, Union President
- Candidate Interview: Thomas Gravatt, VP Engagement
- Candidate Interviews: Greg Williams, VP Democracy and Creative Industries
- Candidate Interview: Dan Varley, VP Engagement
- Candidate Interview: Sam Higman, VP Welfare
- Candidate Interview: Kirby Moore, Union President
- Candidate Interview: Ben Parker, VP Sports Development
- Candidate Interviews: Flora Noble, Union President
- Candidate Interviews: Stephen Gore, VP Sports Development
- Candidates Interviews: Alex Hovden, Union President
- Candidate Interview: Amelia Ng, VP Democracy and Creative Industries
- Candidate Interview: Arun Aggarwal, VP Student Communities
- Candidate Interview: Leyla Elsey, VP Welfare
- Candidate Interview: Henry Lane, Union President
- Candidate Interview: Evie Reilly, VP Democracy and Creative Industries
- Candidate Interview: Liam St Dennis, VP Welfare
- Union Election: Rumoured Candidates
- Union Elections 2017: Who’s Running?
- Union Elections: Candidate Interviews with Wessex Scene Published
- Voting for Union Elections is Now Open
- Voting For Union Elections Closes Today
- Union Elections: Meet the Candidates 1 – Liveblog
- Union Elections: Meet The Candidates 2 – Liveblog
- Union Elections 2017: Post-Election Analysis
- Union Elections 2017: Exit Poll Results
With voting opening today, Wessex Scene have prime seats for the first of two ‘Meet the Candidates’ events on the Concourse. Tonight we will hear from candidates for VP Education, VP Sports Development, VP Engagement and VP Democracy and Creative Industries. Keep reading to hear the latest news from us as it happens with our Liveblog.
Voting opened at midday today and already over 1000 students have placed votes for the candidates they want to see in sabbatical and student leader positions!
Welcome to the 2017 Meet the Candidates for the Spring Elections! Tonight, we will be meeting the candidates for VP Engagement, VP Sports and Engagement VP DCI and VP Education. Stay tuned for all the information!
Join us at @Union_Soton for the live meet the candidates, have your say and tweet in using #grillthecandidates
— SUSUtv (@SUSUtv) February 27, 2017
You can tweet in questions for the candidates using the hashtag #GrillTheCandidates @susutv #VoteSoton
— Union Southampton (@Union_Soton) February 27, 2017
With 3 minutes to go until the grilling begins let’s look at some of the stats after day 1 of voting …
Over 1000 students have sealed over 8000 votes with turnout currently standing at 3%
And we’re LIVE!
The grilling begins with the two VP Engagement candidates Thomas Gravatt and Dan Varley …
Gravett thinks that the key to an engaging Union is an ‘open’ Union
Varley says ‘keeping student voice at heart’ of Union is key
Gravatt says we need to ‘learn the lessons from the re-brand’
Varley discusses his union rewards points-based system
Asked about danger of union rewards points system increasing prices, Varley says ‘aim would be to not rise prices’
Gravatt proposes working with residents associations in Southampton to combat the bad blood between students and the local Southampton population
Conversation turns to a permanent space for RAG on campus …
Gravatt asked about his involvement in societies in the Union. Emphasizes role in University Liberal Democrat Society
Varley says we need to stop dwelling on the re-brand and move forward…
and that concludes the engagement interviews, lots of interesting points raised from both candidates
We’re now backstage with Varley and Gravatt!
Backstage are jumping straight into, digging out Tom’s first ever tweet was ‘enjoyed my poo with the doctor’; which was apparently written by his housemate …
VP Education candidate, Samuel Dedman, is next to take the stage to talk to @SUSUtv #VoteSoton #GrilltheCandidates
— Union Southampton (@Union_Soton) February 27, 2017
This year Tom is taking the elections 100% seriously, after the fun of running from last year. And Dan comments that he has more ideas this year.
Dan, VP engagement we know is not a real word, you are really chief snap chatter! And Dan doesn’t disagree ….
Now, they’re making the best ever 30 seconds snapchat. Dan goes straight for a filter. Tom is clicking away. 3 2 1 STOP
Tom’s made a pile of marshmallows to make a pig and cat. Dan’s used the dog filter. Tweet SUSUTV with your favourite!
The Chubby Bunny challenge is now being attempted. Who’s going to win? And it’s Dan who is the winner!
Turnout now at 4% …
Now up is VP Education candidate Sam Dedman
Dedman criticizes student workshops as having tendency to be ‘boring’ and ‘patronising’ at present
Sam stresses that work needs to be done to ensure that study spaces are being used appropriately
"I will be looking at expanding Hartley library but not in the short term" – Sam #VoteSoton #GrilltheCandidates
— Union Southampton (@Union_Soton) February 27, 2017
Sam talks about needing to make the most of the quality study spaces we already have at the university like Avenue campus and the Murray building
Dedman says Education Zone’s reputation as the ‘Boring Zone’ puts off people applying for senior Union education positions, e.g. faculty officers
Sam discusses his plans to introduce online feedback …
Sam believes that free printing could be "cost neutral for the Union" #VoteSoton #GrilltheCandidates
— Union Southampton (@Union_Soton) February 27, 2017
Sam says we’re currently ‘letting joint-honours students down’ and talks about introducing a joint-honours officer position
We’re backstage with Sam, who is infront of the camera for once!
1 year from now, if I [Sam] got the role I would be very proud if I achieved getting the free printing in the library.
Yes, we are amazing 😉
Make sure you check out our amazing student media's Elections coverage @SUSUtv @WessexScene @SurgeRadio #VoteSoton #GrilltheCandidates
— Union Southampton (@Union_Soton) February 27, 2017
There’s a large plate of crackers on the table and there’s only one thing to do with them – EAT. How many can Sam eat in a minute?
SUSUTV bought an entire packet of crackers and Sam has managed to eat … wait for it … ONE …
“Sam, what is your guilty pleasure?”
“Historical box sets”
Over to the main stage now, where the VP Sports Engagement Candidates are being questioned!
Next up are the VP Sports Development candidates Ben Parker and Stephen Gore
Gore wants clubs to introduce more beginners programmes
Ben discusses his plan to introduce a ‘women’s hour’ in the gym once a week
A ‘women’s hour’ in the gym has been introduced already at other British universities such as Leeds
Gore argues that a ‘women’s hour’ isn’t the solution to tackling women feeling intimidated in the gym and wants to address the root cause of the problem
Parker proposes introducing wearkitwednesdays to promote teamsouthampton and sport within the university
Parker responds to a question asking if he still stands by his comment that there is nothing wrong with lad culture, the problem is only when it gets out of hand
Parker says that the line when lad culture becomes inappropriate is when any individual is made to feel uncomfortable
Gore argues we don’t want to be encouraging lad culture and it looks bad on the union as a whole
Gore discusses how he will deal with the sports and wellbeing price increase
Parker suggests introducing peak/off-peak gym memberships
Both Ben and Stephen would welcome the introduction of a second bunfight
We’re backstage with the two candidates now!
They both comment how stressful they have found elections; but they’re on the homeward stress now!
Well that was certainly the most heated interview …
“So, what would you say to someone applying next year?”
“If you do care about work and you really want to make a difference then you should apply!” Stephen
A football has been brought out and the boys are put head to head
Stephen manages 3 kicks of the football; whilst Ben makes 19 …. That was a clear win, Ben!
But don’t worry Stephen as there’s other sports to compete at!
How long can they keep the volley ball up in the air?
They’re being surprisingly tame at the moment….It was an impressive 55!
Upper body strength is next to be competed with the “Plank Off’
Stephen comments that he hasn’t had much time to work out during the election period … Ben is looking very relaxed …
We think it’s a draw and time to come back to the sofa with the presenters. Obviously the candidates for VP Sports Development have been working out in the gym still!
To end the first night of ‘meet the candidates’ we’ve got the VP DCI candidates, Evie, Ameila and Greg
Greg says rather than telling students to come to the union, the union needs to go to them
Ameila, a WSA student, want to get students based in Winchester more involved with the union
Evie says the union needs to be more approachable
Greg talks about how lhe will ook at how funding is allocated within media and performing arts
Ameila describes herself as ‘new blood’ within the union
Greg discusses how he will encourage clubs to look into commercial funding to substitute for budget cuts
Stephen's had enough. Gore blimey #grillthecandidates pic.twitter.com/1QQu6z4Jtx
— Wessex Scene (@WessexScene) February 27, 2017
Ameila says she’d like to see Surge and SUSUtv at WSA
Thomas Gravatt post the chubby bunny challenge, marshmallow overload …
Evie thinks too much pressure is placed on societies turning a profit #GrillTheCandidates #Votesoton
— Wessex Scene (@WessexScene) February 27, 2017
Greg talks about his plans for Creative Industries Careers Sessions
The candidates discuss the need to review the quota system currently in place
and that’s a wrap
We’re now backstage with the three candidates, Greg, Amelia and Evie, who are running for VP DCI.
thanks to everyone for keeping up to date with the ‘meet the candidates’ via our live blog, we’ll be back tomorrow night for round two …
The team have been digging again. Greg’s first ever tweet was enjoytheboob … So many questions!
And don’t forget to vote !
We’ve got our eyes on these cardboard cut-outs of current VP DCI Cameron …
Welcome to the 2017 Meet the Candidates for the Spring Elections! Tonight, we will be meeting the candidates for VP Engagement, VP DCI and VP Education. Stay tuned for all the information!