DoSDA Candidate: Jimmy Bolton

The Stand has interviewed every sabbatical candidate. If you have any other questions that you’d like us to ask them just email us.

Why do you feel that the DoSDA position is important to St Andrews?

The DoSDA is responsible for so much of what is good about the student experience here at St Andrews. From line-managing all of our 160 societies, supporting our Charities Campaign and promoting our fantastic arts programme, the DoSDA has a great remit to provide a fantastic experience for every student at this University.

What do you believe makes you especially qualified for the job?

Since arriving nearly 4 years ago I have been involved in almost every single area of student life. I have been a member of innumerable societies, co-founded two and played a key role in helping students put on big events. Last year I became the SSC Societies Officer and in this job I have met almost every single student society and sub-committee here and have seen the amazing work that societies do here. I have seen how the Union works and I will use that experience in office should I be elected.

What three main principles do you plan to follow during your year as a Sabb?

Improve: I want to build on everything that our Union already does, and help make it an even better. Disabilities Week and Green Week do great work but I want to work on integrating and tailoring societies into these SRC Awareness weeks. Employability Week and the Professional Skills Curriculum are fantastic existing initiatives, I want to build on these to help improve the careers prospects of St Andrews graduates, bringing more careers fayres to St Andrews and arranging free transport to the biggest employment fayres in the country.

Innovate: St Andrews’ societies do a fantastic job currently and I want to facilitate ways to help them do even more. I want to work with the Development Office to better connect societies with their alumni to unlock their experience and contacts and develop a relationship with companies like ‘Sponsorcraft’ in order to help raise awareness and funds. To help societies put on the biggest and best events possible, I propose to offer extraordinary grants of £1000+ so that the natural creativity of St Andrews students can run uninhibited.

Expand: The 600th Anniversary Fund. This is currently attempting to raise £100 million over the next couple of years. I want to expand the aims of this project so that all students can get full benefit from it. I also will ensure that students get full value from their student fees. St Andrews is now a very expensive place to live and study and so we must make sure that we get the rises in Union budgets we deserve in order that we can continue to attract students to this amazing town.

If you could make a major change in St Andrews today what would it be?

I agree with Rory McLion- I’d remove the barriers from the library entrance!

More seriously, I will deliver a Union that has the promised 40% increase in society space. As changes to St Andrews go, a whole new Union building is a pretty big one!

Any additional comment or message you’d like us to pass on?

It would be great to see as many people at my campaign launch party, at Rascals, Monday at 9pm. It should be a great night. I’m really looking forward to meeting people there and finding out how I can meet their needs.

 (To see all the candidates, click here)

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