CANDIDATE BOOKLET

THE ELECTION RACE 2016

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WHY VOTE PAGE 3

HOW TO VOTE & VOTING SYSTEM PAGE 4

UNION PRESIDENT PAGE 5

VP EDUCATION & WELFARE PAGE 6

VP STUDENT ACTIVITIES PAGE 10

CAMPAIGN OFFICERS PAGE 11

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONTHE ELECTION RACE 2016

USWSU's ambition is to give students the best possible experience here at the University of South Wales. For this ambition to become a reality we need strong leaders.

Each year five Executive Officers and a team of Campaign Officers are elected into office. Together they direct and shape your Students’ Union. They make lasting changes to improve the lives of students. They make sure your voice is heard at the highest level.

In this booklet you can read about all of the Candidates who will be fighting to win your vote this year.

As a student at USW you are automatically a member of the Union and you have the right to vote in the Election. But why vote? Voting is your opportunity to affect decisions made by the Union and University. By taking part, you are directly shaping your University experience.

XWHY VOTE?

YOUR OFFICERS REPRESENT YOUThe Elected Officers will act and speak on your behalf for the whole of the academic year. By voting, you’re making sure the right people are picked to make your voice heard at the highest level.

SEE THE CHANGES YOU WANTOfficers work tirelessly throughout the year to campaign for things that will improve the lives of students. You can find out what each candidate is planning to do to improve your student experience by reading their manifesto - all of which are available online at uswsu.com.

SHAPE YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCEThe Elections are the biggest event in the student calendar. This is your opportunity to affect decisions made by the Union and University. By taking part, you are directly shaping your student experience.

A STRONGER STUDENT VOICEThe more students who vote in the Union Elections, the greater the authority those elected Officers will have in making positive change. By voting in the Election Race 2016 you are making a contribution to the continuity of the student movement.

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PROBLEMS VOTING?

If you are experiencing any problems voting online at uswsu.com/elections, please contact studunion@southwales.ac.uk with your:full name, student number, phone number and details of the issue you are having.

THE VOTING SYSTEM

HOW TO VOTE

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At USWSU we operate a Single Transferable voting system. This system, also known as STV requires you to rank the candidates in order of preference.

Under STV, your vote is initially allocated to your most preferred candidate and, as the count proceeds and candidates are either elected or eliminated, is transferred to other candidates according to your stated preferences.

R.O.N.

1. Go to uswsu.com

2. Click 'Sign In' the top right hand corner. On the sign in page you should select the large blue box which will take you to your UniLife log in. Once you have logged in using your USW Student ID and password you will be taken back to the USWSU website

3. On the USWSU homepage select the ‘Vote Now’ banner, which will take you to the voting screen (providing that you have successfully logged in)

4. Once you’ve had a good read of the manifestos, it’s time to cast your vote!

5. Select the position you want to vote for, e.g. President

6. Rank your candidates in order of preference (Single Transferable Voting)

7. If you don’t think any candidates are suitable, you can select ‘R.O.N.’ (Re-Open Nominations)

8. When you’ve finished voting for each position, be sure to share our 'I've Voted' gif using #USWSUElections

If you feel like the Candidates listed are not suitable for the position you may choose R.O.N. (Re-Open Nominations) as your preference.

If R.O.N. receives the most number of votes for any position that post will be re-opened at the next By-Election.

MÉLISSA MANUELA AZOMBO

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Ensure Awareness Weeks of key issues, such as Metal Health Awareness Week, Alcohol Awareness Week and Anti-Bullying Week.

• Improve graduation ceremonies for all students, with the help of results collected last year from my time as an SVR and focus groups throughout the year.

• Provide a May Ball in Cardiff all students can attend.

The President of the Students’ Union serves as the senior elected Officer of the Union whose prime role is to represent the interests of all students studying at the University. The ideal Candidate will have a mature outlook and the confidence to represent the student voice in the wider higher education arena.

UNIONPRESIDENT

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'MÉLS'

JONNY JONES

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Continue to work towards resolving the READING WEEK issues, finding a solution for individual courses!

• Establish a SUMMER BALL for ALL USW Students.

• Work with students and faculty to develop a USW CREATIVE FESTIVAL, showcasing work from all departments to relevant industry professionals!

'JONNY'

THE ABOVE EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATE’S MANIFESTOS. READ THE FULL MANIFESTOS & VOTE AT USWSU.COM

JOSEPH HAWKINS

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• I will campaign with the NUS for the abolition of student fees with the return to the old grants system, this will include campaigning for the reinstatement of nurses bursaries.

• I will increase the Awareness of Mental Well-being, Disabilities and Sexual Health around the university.

• Reinstatement of shuttle-bus between here and Cardiff and reinstatement of the End of Year Ball as well as endeavoring to lower prices at the Union Recreational Facilities.

There are two positions for VP Education & Welfare with regional remits covering the Cardiff & Newport region and Pontypridd region.

The prime role of this position is to ensure the provision of support to and representation of members of the Students’ Union, which will include the organisation of appropriate campaigns, information events and publications, across campuses.

VICE PRESIDENT

EDUCATION & WELFARE

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'JOE HAWKINS'

PONTYPRIDD

CARLOS TUBBS

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Glyntaff isn’t just an extension of the Treforest campus; I aim to improve student engagement on Glyntaff by working on the SU space already available.

• I will work on improving the waiting times to see an advisor and create a service where students can get immediate help when in times of need.

• I will fight for those students who will be affected most by the maintenance grant cuts and the DSA reduction.

'CARLOS TUBBS'

DANIEL THISTLETHWAITE

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Push to improve Glyntaff facilities, from printing provision to core texts being available. While treforest has had work done, Glyntaff seems to have been forgotten.

• Encourage the inclusion of of industry specific qualifications, adding value to our degrees and improve employability.

• Strive for fairer treatment of all teams, clubs and societies, with provision of facilities to encourage greater engagement.

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'DAN THISTLETHWAITE'

SAM SENIOR

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Parking - I will ensure that lower Glyntaff and lower Treforest are student EXCLUSIVE car parks with access only via ID cards.

• Timetables - I will work closely with the University exec to get personalised timetables by September 2016. This is very much achievable and something you have all asked for.

• New Menus - I will survey what is wanted and reflect this through new menu choices throughout the University and with hopes to add healthier/cheaper options.

'SAM SENIOR'

CAST YOUR VOTE ATuswsu.com/elections

VOTING OPENS 9AM, MONDAY FEBRUARY 29TH

THE ABOVE EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATE’S MANIFESTOS. READ THE FULL MANIFESTOS & VOTE AT USWSU.COM

There are two positions for VP Education & Welfare with regional remits covering the Cardiff & Newport region and Pontypridd region.

The prime role of this position is to ensure the provision of support to and representation of members of the Students’ Union, which will include the organisation of appropriate campaigns, information events and publications, across campuses.

VICE PRESIDENT

EDUCATION & WELFARE

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KELSEY TAYLOR

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Free Transportation between Campuses All students should have the same access to activities without having to pay travel expenses.

• More Accessibility to Student Services. I want to encourage the university to have at least one staff member from every department available at every campus, five days a week.

• Equal or Better Provisions for Campus Moves. I want to ensure that the university upholds their promises so that those students still have an enjoyable and stress-free year.

'KELSEY TAYLOR'

CARDIFF & NEWPORT

STEPHEN HUGHES

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Parity across campuses.

• Increased funding for sports and societies.

• Chicken Tuesday's.

'OLD MAN STEVE'

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ASHLEY FRANCIS

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• I believe that the Students' Union needs more events to draw in students during less crowded hours.

• I aim to make sure student support is provided, if students wish not to go to elsewhere first, so the SU can help with decisions to seek help at the advice centre.

• I plan to make the SU somewhere students can find out about available services and to make it a place where students can get together, as opposed to somewhere to go when there's nothing else to do.

'ASH BASH'

CAST YOUR VOTE AT uswsu.com/elections

VOTING OPENS 9AM, MONDAY FEBRUARY 29TH

THE ABOVE EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATE’S MANIFESTOS. READ THE FULL MANIFESTOS & VOTE AT USWSU.COM

LIAM POWELL

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• The promotion of disabled sports in our university with the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics I believe this is the perfect time to support our disabled sporting community.

• I will lobby the university to give more funding towards our societies, they are massive support systems for our students and it is only right that our university gives them the support they so desperately need.

• I plan to run more job fairs and voluntary fairs to give students the experience they need to find full time employment.

The prime role of this position is to ensure theprovision of support to and representation ofmembers of the Students’ Union that participate in sports teams and clubs, societies and Union supported activities. This will include the organisation of appropriate campaigns, information events and publications. The role will also require a ‘hands on’ approach to providing support to the running of Freshers’ Fairs, student Officer training and the competitive playing programme.

VICE PRESIDENT

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

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'LIAM POWELL'

RACHEL WATSON

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Fundraising events being held every month across ALL campuses to raise money for charity.

• Equality of funding for clubs and societies across the University.

• Volunteering opportunities within Industry to increase work experience for students and potentially gain employment after.

'RACHEL A K WATSON'

THE ABOVE EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATE’S MANIFESTOS. READ THE FULL MANIFESTOS & VOTE AT USWSU.COM

ADAM SIMMONS

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Encourage more students with disabilities to take up some sort of sport.

• Encourage more students to be more aware of disability students.

• To treat disability students as equal to able students.

Campaign Officers are voluntary roles. They are elected by students to work closely with the Exec Officers whilst campaigning on issues relating to their liberation groups or regions.

The ideal Candidate will be an active member of and committed to the population group that they represent. The ability to communicate effectively is a distinct advantage.

CAMPAIGN OFFICERS

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'ADAM SIMMONS'

HARRY THOMAS

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• I plan to have ‘drop in’ rooms around the university, to be run by Nightline. This will be a safe and confidential environment for students to talk about any problems that may be effecting them.

• I intend to run monthly meetings around each of the campuses which will allow students with disabilities to voice any concerns they may have.

'HARRY THOMAS'

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OFFICER

NIKA VULETIC

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

• Building a stronger international community.

• Making the international students feel more at home and more involved.

• Having home students more integrated with the experience by becoming 'hosts'.

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'HOME FROM HOME'

TOM MCCARTHY

MANIFESTO SUMMARY:

'TOM MCCARTHY'

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' OFFICER

SOCIETIES OFFICER

• I'll make myself available for societies to talk to me at any point during the day.

• Make sure there is clear lines of communication between the societies and the students union.

• Do my best to make all societies feel appreciated.

THE ABOVE EXTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CANDIDATE’S MANIFESTOS.

READ THE FULL MANIFESTOS & VOTE AT USWSU.COM