The Tab previews the SU officer candidates ahead of next week’s elections

Like Clicendales, Goldrush and Varsity, the SU elections are a fixed landmark in the Bristol student calendar.

For some, they're the chance to discuss important issues and engage with a disengaged student body. For many, many others they're an irritating two day ritual of harassment in the ASS, furious doorknocking in halls and half forgotten 'friends' sliding into their DMs to request they vote for their best mate.

With voting set to open 9am on Tuesday 13th March, the final list of hopefuls has been published on the SU website. Ahead of Saturday's interviews with each of the candidates, The Tab previewed the six posts up for grabs and details the hot favourites and long shots below…

Which of these candidates will be claiming to represent YOU?

Union Affairs Officer

Traditionally the most prestigious of all the SU posts, Union Affairs this year will be contested between two of the biggest beasts in the student politics jungle. In what is being dubbed "The Battle of the BNOCs", incumbent Stan Ford is set to take on Chante Joseph in a clash of the titans that will match the former's high standing in theatre and student society circles against the latter's following amongst liberation groups.

Last year Stan Ford racked up some 1754 votes against current Student Council chair Hari Sood's 1503. He faces a similarly daunting challenge this year against the hotly tipped behemoth that is Chante Joseph. Boasting a populist manifesto that promises "free bus travel to exams and Coombe Dingle" and a microwave in the SU, Stan Ford will need all of his much fabled charm to cling to power. Get the popcorn in because this one's going down to the wire.

Fake news but at least the offices are just above the Balloon Bar

Equality, Liberation and Access Officer

Known as the 'Woke' position, various ELA Officers have provided The Tab with a number of stories over the years. This year there are four contenders for the crown: Sally Patterson, Spencer Blackwell, Adeline Nicholas and Mahera Zubair.

Of the four Patterson appears to be the favourite: the incumbent Chair of the Women's Network, she's well positioned to exploit her credentials as head of UBTV and NUS delegate into elected office. There could yet still be an upset however, in this, the most contentious position up for grabs. Blackwell has the longest manifesto, pledging to "to establish an SU Report & Support for hate crimes and sexual assault" whilst Zubair has concentrated on diversity with a "Minority Ambassador Scheme". Nicholas meanwhile has promised a "tiered system for student misconduct with sanctions in student contract" and "awareness campaigns on microaggressions and consent".

As elected officers, sabbs will have the joy of working in the SU

Undergraduate Education Officer

In another two way contest, the race for UEO will this year be fought between the redoubtable Co-President of the Intersectional Feminist Society Nasra Ayub and the vociferous Dylan Woodward, a serial picketer on the UCU strikes. Kissinger said of academic politics that they were so vicious because so little was at stake- this year's UEO battle looks like it could live up to that maxim as two hardened campaigners slug it out.

Student Living Officer

This year's firestorm about hall changes hasn't been enough to dissuade two brave/foolhardy candidates from throwing their hats into the ring to be Student Living Officer. Ella Fraser, City Centre Senior Resident and member of the 'Keep Our Communities' campaign will lock horns with Psychologist Vanessa Wilson. Should the KOC machine get behind Fraser it could make the difference; at the moment it's still too close to call.

The Richmond Building, home of the SU and its much loved sabbs

Sport and Student Development Officer

With the departure of two time victor John House, two new candidates have stepped into the arena to replace him as Sports Officer. Both are established names in the sporting community: Zoologist Ginny Troughton is a Sports Night regular, former Captain of Women's Rugby and most eligible bachelorette nominee whilst Chemist Isaac Haigh is Vice-President at Bristol RAG and heavily involved in the BeManKind campaign.

Postgraduate Education Officer

In what has unexpectedly proven to be the most popular post this year, six candidates are all running for office in a veritable melting pot of youthful idealism and studied careerism. Incumbent Shubham Singh will be fighting for his job against Shivangi Agrawal, Sadeta Mujkic, Lea Hampton-O'Neil, Connor O'Shea and Denisa Bernardova. Traditionally postgrads have been the most apathetic of all the university constituencies: in a six way race it would be mad to try and make a prediction here.

You can read all the manifestos here. The Tab will be conducting interviews with all candidates on Saturday.