Sabbatical Election Interviews
Felix Editor
Jeremy Thomson
Questioned initially as to why he is standing for Felix Editor, Jeremy suggested that he is "the best person to do it, from the experience point of view." He stressed that he has been involved with Felix throughout his three years at IC and therefore knows "all the background to it." In addition to his experience Jeremy emphasised that with so many major issues due to be discussed in the coming year he is "someone who isn’t afraid to mince their words."
Discussing this year’s News pages and how he wishes to change them, Jeremy accepted that there may have be too much London news saying "It’s very important that any news that’s not in IC is directly relevant to students." He went on to say that while news of IC research may be important it must be realised that Felix "is not a College newspaper it’s the student’s newspaper."
As to the expression of political views in Felix, Jeremy insisted that although he has his own opinions, "it’s not up to me to make Felix my political mouthpiece." He further expressed his wish to reunite the current two sections of Felix into a single A4 publication, insisting "We can get a lot more done, in the time, effort and money available."
With his extensive experience on the production and writing side of Felix, Jeremy was asked whether he felt that there are any areas where he needs training. He responded by conceding that most of the finance side would be new to him and that "I don’t have much experience in advertising."
DP (Clubs & Societies)
Sarah Thomas
Apart from her experience in City & Guilds and ICU hockey, Sarah admitted that she has not been involved in other clubs and societies but suggested that this was not a problem. She highlighted her dual perspective both from an individual club member and from the organisation level as C&G President. With this and her current role as ICU Council Chair in mind she denied suggestions that she might be regarded as a hack, but pointed out that her experience has enabled her to "pick out the way things have been done wrongly in the past".
With communication featuring in both manifestoes Sarah suggested that she would like to see joint events between medics and those on the South Kensington campus to alleviate the current "animosity". She emphasised the Mary’s involvement in the rugby club tours but had difficulty suggesting what other type of joint events she envisaged. She denied that "overlapping" clubs and societies should be forced to merged but that people should be encouraged to communicate and "let them make their decisions."
As Council Chair Sarah suggested that it was difficult for her to say what she would have done differently to the current sabbatical team with regard to the bookstore tender but did say that "in retrospect maybe it should have been publicised a little more beforehand.". She said that "however much protesting we do it’s not going to change, we have to accept the fact that we can’t get it back."
Encouraging students to vote for her, Sarah said that her experience would enable her to "change the things that don’t work and continue the things that do."
DP (Clubs & Societies)
Smita Chaturvedi
With her limited experience in hockey and ACC, Samita denied that she did not have enough experience to do the job, and suggested that whatever she did not know at the start she would be able to pick up at the start of her sabbatical year. Samita accepted that the only direct experience she has of clubs, other than hockey, is of the Indian Society and being involved with "a few of the sports societies". She denied suggestions that she might favour sports clubs saying that "because they are so small I’d like to bring them out and promote them."
With regard to communication Samita suggested that joint social events would be a way to break down the existing rivalry between South Kensington and medical students. Samita agreed with her rival candidate that any mergers should not be forced saying "I really do think it’s their decision". She did however admit that this might be to the detriment of the overall student body commenting that "Yeah maybe it will be a bit of a disadvantage", but denied that her position was due to electoral expedience.
With regard to the recent loss of the academic bookstore, Samita felt unable to offer an opinion on how the tender should have been handled differently. "I wasn’t there, I’m not on Council or anything" she said before adding that "as far as I can see I wouldn’t have changed much."
Questioned as to why students should vote for her she replied that "I’m very enthusiastic to do the job, I’ve got the energy and determination to do it well and would like to do it well."
DP (Finance & Services)
Duncan Tindall
Duncan revealed that he decided to stand a few weeks before papers went up because "it just seemed the right thing to do". He picked out communication as being an important issue, stating that as soon as sabbaticals are elected, the 50 students on council "are the only people that they see". He suggested that the new Clubs and Societies Resource Centre would aid communication, and it would be "helping clubs to help themselves".
Duncan thought that he was "an approachable person" and that "people would find it easier to talk to me than some of the other sabbaticals of previous years". He thought that MSC and club treasurers would have an easier job "if they have previous examples" of Budget and 5 Year Plan submissions.
He claimed that we should ensure that "College knows the student populous wasn’t happy with" losing the Bookstore, although he emphasised that it was "just one part of one of the Union’s trading arms." He said that the loss could raise interest from the students and that "we have learnt a number of lessons" from the experience.
In defence of the current sabbaticals, he admitted that "it was a very difficult situation for the Union to be in" and that "whatever happened the sabbs would be blamed."
On the future of ICU Bookstore, Duncan made the point that "there will be more space for stationery, regalia and things like that". Finally he said that they would have to "think quite hard" about their options with the Bookstore.
DP (Finance & Services)
Robert Clarke
Robert stated that he had "an ideal perspective" due to his experience in Industry. He also would like to see stronger communication, especially with academic staff, saying that "academic staff do tend to listen, far more than people give them credit for".
He pointed out that "its the average club treasurer who has to draw up the 5 Year Plan" and thus they should be given more help, particularly details of previous years’ finances. He also suggested that the training given to "people like club treasurers is not significant enough".
Still on the topic of training, he felt that it could be expanded to teach MSC treasurers "how they can train their clubs to improve the input of 5YPs, budgets and costings." Robert stressed it was important for there to be "a general filtering down of information from the top," such as providing justification when 5YPs are cut.
Commenting on the loss of the Bookstore, Robert said that he felt "its a bit of a disgrace that we lost it". But as the contracts were signed all that could be done "is ensure that this type of thing never happens again". He recommended that there should be "some deep thought" into what the Union will use the current Bookstore site for. With regard to tenders, he claimed the Union has "got to be strident and actively chasing them".
He thought that the Union should seek to raise its profile "so that people understand why we needed the bookstore" and the importance of financial independence.
He proposed that ICU ought to make use of its "direct 1-1 contact with many members of staff" and warned that there was a risk that "Waterstones will stock a very limited range of high profile books."
DP (Finance & Services)
John Savery
John started by drawing attention to his experience in SCAB, as Chair and Treasurer. He claimed that in the last year "things have improved significantly" in SCAB. He said that "the next big thing" would be the move of medical schools to the South Ken campus. He mentioned that it was "a bit worrying" that the new halls have not yet received planning permission, and that when Biology moves out of Beit Quad "there isn’t going to be any building time" to expand ICU. Stressing that "the first year is going to be really hard work" due to the increased demand on space and services.
On the subject of communication, John stated that "MSC chairs get a hell of a lot of flak" and highlighted the need to "work together as a team."
To help clubs prepare 5YPs and budgets, he recommended that DP(F&S) should give more information on the previous year’s submission, in particular why it was cut. He thought that "we need to be a lot more open in what we say and do."
Speaking about the Bookstore he said that no matter what is done "it’s not going to win us it back." But we should "make students realise" what services ICU provides and how they can influence them.
ICU must advertise itself more, he claimed. If people had been better informed about the Bookstore "there would have been a lot more… gut feeling about it".
As to the future of the Bookstore, he said that we could "ask the student what they want … on their campus", making the point that "nobody’s asked that question yet."
President
Omar Kheir
Asked initially why he is standing for President, Omar emphasised the fact that he has "been here a long time", and of his experience "from the whole thing." He was unable however to suggest two things which he would do during his year in the post saying, "I can’t tell you what I’m going to do. I couldn’t honestly make any promises."
With the recent loss of the Union bookstore, Omar was pessimistic about College’s assurance to refund lost profits commenting, " if they want to do something else they will and there’s not much we can do about it." He also suggested that "people are making a lot of fuss over an issue I don’t feel too strongly about" and that he doesn’t see it as a "horrible loss."
Following his joke manifesto, Omar refuted suggestions that he is not a serious candidate insisting that he had been trying to "make an impact" and that "there are some subtle digs in my manifesto." He did admit though that there were irregularities with his nomination papers and that his proposer did not actually sign them, as required by the ICU Constitution.
On the issue of future education funding, Omar emphasised his personal preference for a form of graduate tax, and said that unless he is advised otherwise by IC students this would be his public line as President.
Commenting on why people should vote for him, Omar suggested that since he is a "people person", he expects support "simply because they know me or they’ve been recommended to vote for me."
President
Sam Baker
Pointing to her role as Academic Affairs Officer with the RCS and her position as Dance Club President, Sam suggested that she was a suitable candidate as she had "seen things from different angles." Questioned as to what she would do as President she responded that "you can’t move mountains", but that if elected she would do her best to "represent all of the students at IC".
On the issue of the loss of the Union bookstore she felt that "there’s nothing we can really do about that, we can just work on what we do have." Sam suggested that she would attempt to keep College to their commitment to make up lost profits by "liaising with College."
Asked about her limited experience, Sam admitted that "perhaps compared to Omar yes I’ve got a lot more limited range of experiences." She insisted however that her experience of Academic Affairs would do "nothing but help me".
Sam conceded that on the issue of future student funding, "I don’t have a firm idea at all" but insisted that "I don’t believe as President I should have." She emphasised that she would represent all IC students, but had difficulty saying how she would obtain a "consensus of opinion" on this matter.
People should vote for her because "I can do the job, I’m willing to do it", she said, adding that "I’m not just going for the people who know me, think I’m a great person, if they like what they see and believe I can do the job then they should vote for me.
