Candidates Manifesto

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Ashley Howell

President

My name is Ashley Howell, I am in my final year studying Computer Games Design.

Over the past two years I have served as the Clubs and Societies Officer here at The University of Bolton. Over this time I have learned many useful skills, such as chairing meetings and having the confidence to bring forward issues within a formal setting. I have also sat on different boards within the University such as the Academic Board and the Senate and was elected as chairman of the Board of Trustees and deputy chairman for the Senate.

If I am elected as Student Union President, I will continue to uphold the duties that are required but not hesitate to go the extra mile for the students. I will strive to be a President that the students will be able to trust to get the job done and also be approachable at any given time. I intend to work closely with the Vice Presidents and the Non-Sabbatical Officers to give the students the best help and representation they can possibly receive as well as give them a great university experience.

My goals if I get elected are:

• To accommodate the new students that have moved from the Chadwick Campus by trying to get Macs readily available so their work can be done in 365 and the Social Learning Zone.
• Attempt to get the library to open for an extra hour during the week and to have it open on a Saturday so that students have access during the weekend.
• Work closely with the bar staff and the university to get the prices more student friendly.
• Continue to promote the union as not just a place for sports and entertainment but also a place for advice and help of any kind, be it academic, cultural or just general welfare.

With the new SU, the introduction of the Social Learning Zone and the Chadwick students moving over to Deane Campus, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure that the students get the best experience they can here at The University of Bolton. I think I am the person for the job, and if you think so then:

VOTE ASHLEY HOWELL

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Rob Church    

Vice President

(Education & Representation)

Who am I?

Hello everyone, my name is Rob and I'm running for Vice-President of Education and Representation. I am currently a third year BA (HONS) Business Studies student, the Chairman of the University's Dart's team, a proud member of the up and coming Students' Union Radio Bolton (SURB) and a valued employee of the SU bar. 

I have an international upbringing, having lived in various European countries over the years whilst obtaining a great desire for people interaction.

Why am I running?

The UBSU is an organisation that holds major potential. Since governance changes last year and the opening of this VP position I believe there has been a massive improvement. But as always seems to be the case, many students still see the UBSU as an irrelevance. Reinforcement of the current open-door policy should be made, but to also expand it further, creating a more face- familiar impact and interactive approach with students - on a daily basis. We are still a relatively small University, and keeping an intimate bond with the students is key. The UBSU should have a more direct and indirect impact on providing a positive influence on the lives of all students, acting as a hub, a constant, by reaching out and engaging us all in a range of events and activities, and keeping a generally well maintained atmosphere, with strong support. I have the vision, driving power and will to provide the best experience and service for our students.

What I can achieve

I want...

• UBSU to reach its potential!
• to progress with the technologically advanced world we live in, to open up learning through better means of communication and interaction. To Promote and use SURB Online is one prime example of this.
• to provide more support. To ensure satisfied students and a positive student environment.
• to make Sabbaticals more accessible, visible and active; engaging and supporting the students and Union's voice.
• to uphold the UBSU motto: to "enhance the student experience"
• to ensure with the other operating officers that with a well combined team, we can tackle many of the problems UBSU face.

Why me?

I understand that students are the hub of the university and how every student is different, holds many different desires, wants and needs. I'll do my best to cater for everyone.

I have great belief in UBSU.

Vote Rob #1

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Kelly Melia

Vice President

(Activities & Recreation)

Hi, my name is Kelly Melia and I am running for the position of Vice-President of Activities and Recreation.

I am a student of the University, in my third and final year studying a Bsc Hons in Sports Rehabilitation. I am due to graduate in July of this year and can fully say that I have enjoyed being a part of this University. It has been an enjoyable time studying on my course as every part of it has been a successful challenge for me. I am an active member of the Netball Team, and for the past year I have represented myself and my fellow class mates as our Course Representative. Doing this has given me an insight in what the students want, what they think and feel about how the course is structured, how it is being taught and what improvements can be made for the near future. Studying on the Sports Rehabilitation degree has given me a wide range of knowledge and understanding of the sports industry and how it works. With me being an active member of the University Netball Team, it has involved competing in BUCS for the past three years and representing the club as the Chair has allowed me to gain a good understanding of how things are being run.

I would like to think that my qualities as a person are of a big variety. Describing myself, I would have to say that I am an outgoing loud, proud scouser who is up for a laugh, easy to approach, good listener and who not only enjoys the academic and sport side of studying, but also enjoys the social side of being involved in events and meeting new people. Beneficial to this, I am a member of staff working in the Sports Centre for the past 2 and a half years. This has given me an insight of how hard the sports industry works and how demanding it is to organise fixtures and training times for the University sports teams. Within my time working at the centre, I have learned a lot about myself due to the fact that I have to deal with students and staff who wish to use and hire the facilities. This requires me to have excellent communication skills in order to make sure that we are providing the best service we can possibly give to our customers.

I feel that I would be a good co-ordinator and the right person for this job role due to the experience I have had working and studying within the sports and social side of the University.

If there are any questions that you would like to be answered, then please feel free to come and ask.

Thanks

Kelly Melia 

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Josh Alcock

Activities Officer

I am of a strong opinion that the students social calendar for next year needs to be packed full of events and activities. I am prepared to organise consistent weekly events that will be of interest to a wide spectrum of students.

Events Would include:

•  Student nights run by students
•  Monthly celebrity appearances
•  Gamer Tournaments
•  Live Band/Acts
•  Entertaining themed nights

Activities Would include:

•  Paintballing
•  5-a-side football
•  Orlando Vs The Hollins Sports
•  Theme park outings

It's my intention to make university as entertaining as possible. I feel that consistent activities and a wide range of events will help me fulfil this intention.

Currently, I am one of the resident DJ's at the Loft bar, with this in mind, I understand what activities students want and I'm sure I will have no problem providing a variety of events and activities that will entertain all students.

I am very accessible being a resident DJ, so if you have an opinion I will be more than happy to hear your thoughts and help you in any way I can.

Providing amusement/entertainment for students is my number 1 goal and I can assure you that I will succeed if elected.

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Mark Higgins

Part-Time Students Officer

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Keir Stitt

Environmental Officer

In a recession you're probably thinking that the last thing you need to care about as a student is the environment. You're probably thinking that the Students' Union should be more interested in helping students with getting from day to day then saving the planet. After all don't Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace exist to save the planet?

The focus of my campaign as Environmental Officer will be to save pennies in your pocket by allowing you to make simple changes that also save the planet. So here is my four point plan:

1. More cycle lockers on campus, and install lockers at the halls

So you make that giant switch to cycling into uni, you get here and end up with no locker and you inevitably revert to driving. Ok drivers have a bigger problem finding a parking space, but cars also have immobilisers etc. If we want more people to cycle then you have to give them the places to lock up. The halls of residence don't even have lockers.

2. Giant energy meters at each halls of residence

The lack of electricity bill at the halls of residence is a godsend, just leave your computer on 24x7 and don't bother to turn of the TV when you go out. We've all done it, and why wouldn't we when somebody else is paying the bill.

I would never be up for putting meters in the flats, but the university know how much energy we use so why not make a light hearted competition out of it, and give a rent rebate at the halls that saves the most energy?

3. Allotments at the halls

If you're feed up of "credit crunch" breakfast and your overdraft doesn't stretch to anything else, try something new. Fresh fruit and veg is the future, eat healthy and only pay a fraction of the supermarket price. I know that there are enough green fingered students who are prepared to get growing.

4. Footpath between the bus-stop and Deane

Anybody who gets the bus in down Derby Street every morning knows what its like to get your feet stuck in the mud on your way to lecture. Who in the right mind would put a bus stop opposite a campus with a field of un-drained grass between them?

Its ridiculous and it needs fixing!

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Warren Griffiths

Equality and Diversity Officer

I have been your Students with Disability officer for three and a half year, and next year it will be replaced by an Equality and Diversity Officer.  As the name suggests, the post will reach out to not only the disabled, but people from all walks of life. Whatever the colour of the skin, the god they worship or the disability they have, I will act as a 'missing link' between student and staff.

When elected I will:-

• Organise events and exhibitions regarding ethnic and disabled issues.
• To work closely with the University-run International Society and the Union's Afro-Caribbean, Christian and Muslim societies as well as the Disabled Student's Action Group (DSAG).
• To help students and staff with ethnic backgrounds of disabilities to get the most out of life in Uni.
• To make sure that all parts of the University is disabled friendly (i.e. special equipments in the library) and sticking with its equality and diversity policy.

All of these actions will not happen unless you put a'1' next to 'Warren Griffiths'.

So if you believe that the human has one colour on the inside but many on the outside...

WARREN GRIFFITHS IS THE '1' for 1 RACE – THE HUMAN RACE!