Your essential guide to the York SU elections: Meet the candidates

The candidates for this year’s York SU elections have been confirmed, campaigning has well and truly been exhausted, and voting is now officially closed. 37 candidates are hoping to fill seven positions.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s candidates.

Union Affairs Officer

The Union Affairs Officer acts as the head of the Union and the Chair of our Trustee Board, liaises with college committees and takes on other leadership responsibilities.

Here are the candidates:

Lewis Parrey (he/him) – seeking re-election and pledges to put power in students’ hands, fight the cost of living and improve the student experience.

Sharon Álvarez Pérez (she/her) – promising smart networking and better job opportunities, championing inclusivity for all and pledges investment in our campus and safety.

Simon Edwards (he/him) – advocating for student leaders and championing the colleges, tackling the cost of living and pledging better support for international students.

Woody Kadis-Ross (they/them) – pledges structural changes to York SU so it better represents the students, their interests and holds the university to account.

Kate Collins (she/her) – wants to bring back the buzz, use our financial resources effectively, minimise waste, and wants to create solutions and cheaper accommodation for students.

Jacob Boneham (he/him) – pledges to renegotiate the York Parties contract to prioritise student safety, give our campus bars a defined identity to reinvigorate campus culture, and to better integrate our campus by working on bus routes that work for students.

Union Development Officer

The Union Development Officer leads on events as well as activity in on-campus venues.

Here are the candidates:

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Gen Andrews (she/her) – seeking re-election by promising to fight alongside students to reopen Nisa at the weekends, scrutinise the university’s latte levy, introduce SU venue loyalty points and to keep York SU accountable on sustainability and nightlife safety.

Joe Venables (he/him) – pledges to improve student experience in venues, protect student safety and prioritise transparency and sustainability.

Anna Lindberg (she/her) – promises to prioritise student safety and wellbeing, sustainable solutions and create a system to recognise volunteers.

Community and Wellbeing Officer

The Community and Wellbeing Officer supports and advocates for student mental health and overall wellness at the university.

Here are the candidates:

Freddy Russell (he/him) – running for re-election and pledges support, transport and power for students.

Sam (he/him) – fighting for subsidies on circuit laundry, rent freezes on university accommodation, a dedicated university service to assist students with off-campus properties and advocates for greater action to tackle spiking and assaults.

Centli Bramlett Cortés (she/her) – pledges to launch mid-semester wellbeing check-ins with trained wellbeing mentors and advocates for fair housing, the expansion of financial aid, and local discounts for students.

Yihan Lin (she/her) – promises to enhance student wellbeing, improve living conditions and to build a stronger cultural community.

Aiman (he/him) – wants to spread information to students about latest events, foster a welcoming student community, boost student engagements in sport sessions, and plan student trips.

Lizzie Freitas Teixeira (she/her) – pledges to tackle the cost of living crisis, fight the rising bigotry and sexual harassment on and off campus, and to turbocharge social mobility through networking opportunities.

Equality and Inclusion Officer

The Equality and Inclusion Officer leads on community engagement within liberation groups, and advocates for marginalised and underrepresented communities at the university.

Here are the candidates:

Adeline Coupe (they/she) – promises to increase visibility of pre-existing accomodations and initiatives, empower equality, place diversity and inclusion officers across campus, and ensure the safety of those in minority groups.

Sheila Kamanzi (she/her) – pledges to amplify representation and advocacy, combat discrimination and promote inclusivity, and enhance community engagement and support systems.

Cici (she/her) – advocates for a cross-cultural music project, to empower marginalised voices and to promote equity.

Abi Harrison (she/her/they/them) – promises to redefine accessibility, support working students and focus on open communication to amplify student voices.

Janvi – wants to amplify student voices, enhance belonging and build inclusion.

Academic Officer

The Academic Officer represents students on issues relating to their course, teaching and learning facilities.

Here are the candidates:

James Driver (he/him) – pledges to secure value for money for students, foster positive learning environments and improve assessment and feedback.

Hannah (she/her) – promises to reduce barriers to academic success, enhance social life on campus and make representation effective.

Youssef El Sherif – seeks to enhance academic support, build active channels between students and academic leaders, and to advocate student interest in academic departments.

Yuling Shi (she/her) – advocates for more academic support, more career support and for a more transparent course selection system.

Aya Haidar (she/her) – wants to standardise dissertation support, improve assessment timetabling, and strengthen academic representation.

Isaac – pledges to update the outdated AI acceptable use guidelines, strengthen the assessment feedback requirements, improve digital accessibility, and support students during exam periods.

Activities Officer

The Activities Officer supports and develops engagement and inclusivity in extra-curricular activities including societies and student media.

Here are the candidates:

Kaitlyn Beattie-Zarb (she/her) – seeking re-election and promises a long term vision for societies, a guaranteed home for societies and a breakdown of bureaucracy for societies.

James Taylor (he/him) – promises to make York SU easy to reach, create a united student body and uphold the character of each society.

Ellie Jarman (she/her) – pledges to use student experiences to make a real change, connect students across our university and community and give everyone the chance to get involved.

Kory Anderson (they/them) – advocates for a fairer distribution of funding for societies, open communication with societies and to provide tools for societies to ensure future survival.

Maggie (she/her) – wants ensure every student’s voice is heard, optimise orientation week and enhance existing activities such as Give It A Go.

Sports Officer

The Sports Officer is the main point of contact for all university and college sport clubs.

Here are the candidates:

Liv (she/her) – pledges to collaborate with student media to increase the promotion of sport, organise Intra-Yorkshire University Competition to develop bonds, and campaign for free sanitary products in sport facilities.

Akash (he/him) – wants to create a positive impact in sports in collaboration with all colleges and societies.

Darcy Graham (she/they) – promises to reduce barriers to participation in sports for all underrepresented groups, provide students with high quality help, and ensure that the Sport Union is sustainable.

Kim (she/her) – campaigning to involve students more in the growth of York Sport centre and village, provide injury rehabilitation, and more support for leaders in university sport and college sport.

Sofia Gauntlett (she/her) – pledges subsidised memberships, better access to sports for all students and more information for students.

Millie Martin (she/her) – promises the total package for students, equal opportunities, and to work in unison for a fresh start.

Voting is now closed as of midday on Thursday 27th of March.

See more on the York SU candidates here.