We asked every FTO candidate the same questions, and here’s what they said: Part Three

The banners in Alex Square are flying, and we’re all itching to vote for our next FTO officers for LUSU! For part three of our interviews, we added in the obligatory fun one, and it was great to have so many varied answers!

What are your short term and long term visions for LUSU?

President candidates

Adam Baguley: “I am a communist. My long term vision is the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of genuine workers’ democracy, i.e. Socialism and Communism. In terms of short term visions, the first task will be to prevent the 10 to 15 per cent staff cuts that management promised (whilst the administrators above £100k have increased by 34 per cent over the last two years). Not a single staff member fired, not a single department cut!”

Ben Carter: “In the short term, I want to focus on transparency and accountability, creating a union that students feel truly belongs to them. This means clearer communication, increased student engagement, and ensuring LUSU is proactive in addressing student concerns. Long-term, my vision is to build a sustainable and active union that stands with students and achieves real, lasting change. LUSU should be a powerful voice that consistently fights for student interests and delivers meaningful improvements to student life.”

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Ollie Earnshaw: “In the short term, I aim for a students’ union that’s more transparent and accountable. A union that speaks to their students and listens to their students. Students must feel welcomed when speaking to the union about their issues. Officers and staff should also be held accountable. Too much does it happens where decisions are made behind closed doors that affect students. I will put my very best effort into stopping this. In the long term, I’d like to see a union that’s structurally built so that they follow the best interests of the students they represent. Similar to the point before, a union can only build trust and respectability once it shows that it acts in the best interests of the students at hand.”

Rory O’Ceallaigh: “Short term – obviously, short term visions for LUSU are implementations of my manifesto pledges! But more generally, I’d like to change the culture of LUSU to have good and approachable vibes. I think there’s very little positive things said about LUSU currently, so in very quickly into my term I’d like to see LUSU perceived as a force for good at Lancaster University, rather than a roadblock to what students want to do and see happen. Long term – I’d like to set LUSU on the right path to have more student representation for the wider student body, such as postgrads and international students, which each make up around one third of students at Lancaster (with overlap of course!). We currently have Liberation and Campaign Officers (student volunteers) which represent these communities, however the work required to properly represent them is really worth full-time paid roles. The groundwork for this can be laid during my tenure, ready for implementation when we can afford more staff again.”

Education Officer candidates

Matthew Lamb: “My short term vision is to enact my policies so that LUSU will be an organisation that serves and supports the educational needs of students. In the long term, I hope some reforms allow LUSU to become more democratic, more representative, more transparent and more accountable.”

Morgan O’Carroll: “My short term vision for LUSU is to create a strong and healthy bond between the FTOs and concurrently, the students of the university, making sure they all understand not only my goals but the goals of the FTOs in general. Allowing for a more communicative SU for students, by students. On the other hand for the long term, I wish for the vision and improvements I, and others strive for to be improved upon by the expertise of students yet to come who will achieve a better job than anyone could of imagined due to the action taken by the upcoming FTOs.”

Niamh McAuley: “Short-term: To implement structures and processes for deadlines and assessments which improve students’ current educational experience. Long-term: Ensuring that the work I undertake surrounding the university’s curriculum transformation programme listens to and serves students.”

Wellbeing Officer Candidates

Eliza Young: “Short term I want to improve communication between students – including the JCR and the SU. Long term I want the SU to be a force for change and accessible to all.”

Leah Buttery: “In the short term, I want to see a LUSU that is more actively involved in student life. Giving LUSU a more visible presence will increase student engagement and, in the long term, enable the union to more effectively represent the student body on issues that matter to them. LUSU has recently been fantastic at representing students at a national level on issues such as the impact of the rising cost of living, but I want to see the return of a much more localised Students’ Union that focuses on the problems faced by Lancaster students. Of course national lobbying will improve student experiences everywhere, but I don’t want the union to lose touch with the specific body of students that they represent.”

Activities Officer Candidates

Emily Woods: “In the short term my main goals would be to fix the basics – better SU communication, clearer support for clubs and societies, and a review of the sports pass and kit system. In addition to expanding the student leader training, making sure student groups have the tools they need to succeed. In the long term, my main goals would be a more transparent and student led SU. Where students are genuinely consulted and supported. And a lasting legacy for women’s+ in activities – ensuring that women’s+ sports and societies receive equal funding, promotion and opportunities. Women+ participation in sport is still far behind men’s, and I want to build long-term strategies that ensure true equality in access, resources, and recognition. Finally, working to ensure we have a strong and reliable access fund system for all activities, so no one is priced out of participation at Lancaster.”

Finn Van Breugel: “In the short term one of my main visions is to just make the union more transparent so societies know what they can achieve. I want to be a friend to all societies so the union is more approachable chill space that gets things done. With a more chill atmosphere students feel more comfortable expressing how they feel therefore allowing me to act upon on what they’re saying they truly want. My long term vision for the SU is to strengthen the relationship between the SU and uni. Working together could achieve so much but communication and collaboration is now where it needs to be. The uni wants to improve student experience, the SU knows how to do that. The uni has the facilities, the SU knows what to do with the facilities. Further collaboration and a greater relationship is only a good thing for the future of Lancaster.”

Nic Robinson: “I want to see LUSU be the best is possible can be, so that students are getting the best support and experience whilst at university. Overtime, I would love to see LUSU become more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint. I believe it would be great if relations between the University and LUSU, as well as LUSU and the Sports Centre improved, with students at the heart of decision making.”

Tom Hopkins: “Short term to increase society engagement. Long term for LUSU to be known as reliable and consistent when supporting societies on campus.”

And finally, a fun one – what’s your favourite spot on campus!

President candidates

Adam Baguley: “It was Bowland Bar.”

Ben Carter: “Oooh, good question! I’d have to go with Pendle Brew—I’m always holding meetings there, and it’s a great place to connect with students.”

Ollie Earnshaw: “I’m a fiend for an Nduja and Cheddar toasty from coastal. Picking this up and eating it on the steps in Alex Square is a ritual for me nowadays (when it’s hot enough!). Other than that, at the moment, I probably spend the most time in the library, so i’m aware of how the library taps need fixing!”

Rory O’Ceallaigh: “It has to be Trev! I’m a Furness student at heart, and I’ve loved all the activities I’ve run and taken part in in that bar at my time at Lancaster, from Trev Quiz, to Trevaoke! Not to mention, the best Guinness on campus!”

Education Officer candidates

Matthew Lamb: “It has to be Popeyes (Friends Bistro for the first years). You will often see me enjoying some chicken nuggets and fries there. I am grateful that they have kept me perhaps a bit too well-fed for the past three years.”

Morgan O’Carroll: “I gotta say my favourite spot on campus is definitely Infolab Skylounge! Definitely recommend.”

Niamh McAuley: “I’m a bit biased being a LICA student who spends lots of time on north campus! Outside the architecture building (Bailrigg House) overlooking the Health Innovation Centre in summer is such a lovely part of campus.”

Wellbeing Officer Candidates

Eliza Young: “Obviously Greggs, it’s a national treasure.”

Leah Buttery: “It’s got to be Bonington Steps when the sun’s out! Especially during duckling season!”

Activities Officer Candidates

Emily Woods: “My favourite spot on campus is Pendle Brew, because of the bagels they have just brought out! If anyone hasn’t tried them, you need to!”

Finn Van Breugel: “Fylde bar, good food and an unreal atmosphere when a big game is on.”

Nic Robinson: “Fylde Bar! Whether socialising with friends, celebrating winning a game, or getting a bit of work done, you’ll always find me in there! Nothing beats sitting outside in the summer!”

Tom Hopkins: “Been visiting Greggs a bit too much recently.”