We interviewed your election candidates

We went to the Union with your Union Pres candidates. Unfortunately, no one was drunk.

Andrew Kinnell

Sociology and Politics fourth year Andrew wants to be “A voice for all students” and had a J20 to drink, which is cute.

He also offered to buy The Tab a drink, but we’re not that easy and demand dinner at the very least.

Let’s start with the most important question for any Stirling uni student: are you a Dusk or a Fubar man?

I think Dusk has to win. Fubar’s probably a better night but it’ll cost you four times as much and you spend half the night waiting at the bar to get served which is a bit of a pain in the arse.

Sum up the job of Union Pres in one sentence.

It’s basically to stand up for students and I think I’m quite a good person to do that.

What makes you better than your competition?

Well I’ve got a lot of experience in politics outwith the university and I’m quite a down to earth and approachable guy. I think that’s what makes me the best candidate out of the two of us.

What’s your most played song on iTunes?

Ooh that’s a difficult one! I think it’s actually quite a strange one, ‘It’s My Life’ it’s called, it’s an 80’s tune by a band called Talk Talk. There’s been a cover.

Yeah, it was No Doubt. 

Yeah No Doubt, they did a cover but the original was much better.

That’s so hipster that you’re into the original so much more than the No Doubt one.

It is a bit hipster.

If you could be a Pokemon, which Pokemon would you be?

Again, this is kind of a hipster answer but I’ve never liked Pokemon. Even at primary school I didn’t like it. I was playing football, I just didn’t get into it. Everyone else did but I didn’t like it. The only one I know is Charizard, so I’ll go for that one cause I know the name.

If you were to compare yourself to a famous political figure, who would it be?

One of my heroes is James Connolly but I can’t really compare myself to him, he was a great guy. He was a socialist born in Edinburgh and he moved to Ireland and took part in the Easter Rising. He was executed for his part in that.

Union elections never get a great turnout. Why should students vote and care about their union elections?

I can understand that, if they don’t get the change, then what’s the point in doing it, in filling another position. But I want to actually make changes that are going to make a difference to student’s lives, stuff like affordable rents. It’s going to be hard to do but it’s worth fighting for, and students should vote towards that.

Finish these sentences:

Good girls don’t: cry.
My biggest fear is: spiders.
I love: life.
Stirling University is: okay.
When I was young I: used to play a lot more football than I do now.
The Tab deserves: an award. I actually prefer The Tab to the Brig, it’s good craic, you do funny stuff.
Vote for me because: I’ll be a voice for all Stirling students.
Gerry McCormac is: paid way too much.

One of your manifesto pledges is to introduce a cocktail menu to the Union. What’s your favourite cocktail?

Oh I like a White Russian.

What’s been your favourite Tab article?

I liked the one you did on the accommodation where you found out who was privately educated, it was like zero percent at Lower Bridge Street and that’s where I’m staying. There was quite a few I actually quite liked. Also In Defence of Geddes. I love Geddes but it’s so grim, it’s unbelievably grim. Does Geddes still have those baths? Does anyone actually use the bath?

If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could pick one current sabb to be stranded with you, who would you pick?

I think I know Amy the best, so I’ll say Amy.

As well as cocktails in the Union, Andrew wants affordable rent and an expanded activist forum. Read all about that here.

Jade Love

Fourth year English Studies student Jade advocates “One Love, One Union” and she obviously loves her Union as this is her second go running for Union Pres. You get back on that horse Jade!

Are you a Dusk person or a Fubar person?

Probably Dusk.

Sum up the job of Union President in one sentence.

It’s to be a representative of the wider student body and to work in their best interests and to champion equality within the union.

What makes you better than the competition?

I’ve worked in the union for years as a volunteer part time officer. I know how the union works and I believe I’m the most representative who would be better to fill that role. I know what students need and I know how to fulfill those needs.

What’s your most played iTunes song?

It would be ‘O’ Children’ by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

If you could be a Pokemon, what Pokemon would you be?

I’ve actually thought about this and I’ve never been able to decide. Probably a Jigglypuff. I was going to say Tangela but no one really knows who Tangela is.

If you were to compare yourself to a famous political figure, who would it be?

That’s a pretty good question. I don’t really think my style of political activism… there’s no one who, I’m not gonna say compares cause that sounds really conceited. I’m probably gonna go for Nicola Sturgeon, she’s a bit safe for me but I can’t think of anyone else at the moment.

So we know that turnout at Union elections is pretty bad and people don’t get involved. Why should people care and why should they vote?

They should vote because they’re electing us to lead their Union. It’s one uni, it’s a students’ union and we work in the best interest of the students. You think it might not effect you but it actually does. In lots of little ways and in big ways.

Finish these sentences:

My biggest fear is: failing my dissertation or spiders.
I love: my union.
Stirling Uni is: an institution that champions equality.
When I was young I: went to school.
The Tab deserves: more readership.
Vote for me because: I’m the best candidate.
Gerry McCormac is: someone I would need to work closely with.

You’ve stood for election before, what do you think you’ve gained since the last time you ran for Union President?

I’ve gained more experience in campaigning and I’ve learned from mistakes from my last campaign. I know what to do and what not to do and I know how to speak to students now. I know how to run an effective campaign and I know what I can now bring to the union and what the job entails.

What’s your favourite cocktail?

A  piña colada.

One of your policies is to introduce a safe space policy to the Union. Why do you feel this would be beneficial?

We’re working on that within the liberation zone at the moment but I feel that we do have the zero tolerance policy, the no sexual harassment policy, and the safe space policy would encompass all that.

It would provide a space for students to be there without fear of harassment and fear of discrimination. I think it’s something that we could use in Stirling or anywhere really.

If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could pick one current sabb to be stranded with you, who would you pick?

Probably Lauren Marriott. I’ve known her probably the longest and we have great banter.

Jade wants to start a Nightline service, create an emergency accommodation scheme, get more night buses and loads more which you can read about here.

Jess Morris

Fourth year Sports Studies student Jess wants you to vote “Jessmo for Presmo!!!!” of the Sports Union and is current president of Dance.

Are you a Dusk girl or a Fubar girl?

Oh 100 per cent Fubar for life. Although, we’re sponsored by Dusk so I’m not sure I can say that, but Fubar every single time.

Sum up the job of Sports Union president in one sentence.

They’re the representative of sport across campus. Sports teams from the high achieving ones to the people who just want to participate in sport for fun.

As well as that, I know now that the healthy living stuff comes under sport, so being an advocate for that too. Just generally being a voice for students and trying to create a better community through sports.

What makes you better than the competition?

Well I’ve been president of dance twice, and so I’ve been president while we were a club, a society and then this year we became a sports team. So I’ve experienced both, so I can come to the sports union with new ideas, with fresh eyes. I think it’s slightly different from other people who are kind of used to the tradition of it.

What’s your most played iTunes song?

That is a very good question. It’s ‘You Make My Dreams Come True’ by Hall & Oats. That is my fave.

If you could be a Pokemon, what Pokemon would you be?

Oh that’s a very difficult question! I don’t really know them that well but I guess that Charizard guy. I also like that, what was that pink pom-pomey type one?

Jigglypuff!

Yeah, I like that one too. One of those two I would imagine.

Compare yourself to a famous sporting figure.

Oh God. That’s very difficult, I’ve never ever thought about this in my life. I feel like it would be offensive to compare myself to anyone, they’d be like ehhh.

So we know that Union election turnouts are low. Why should students get involved and vote?

Because I genuinely think that their vote can effect what happens in the university and who doesn’t care about that? It’s in their Union, it’s all their university lives that are affected and it’s day to day stuff.

Like, earlier Andrew was talking about cheaper prices in the Union, who’s not interested in having cheaper drinks in the Union?

Finish these sentences:

Good girls don’t: cry.
My biggest fear is: balloons. No, seriously, it’s very embarrassing.
I love: dance. No, that’s a really loser one, I can’t say that. I don’t want it to be boring! I love to robot.
Stirling Uni is: incred.
When I was young I: wanted to be an inventor. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know.
The Tab deserves: a great night out in Fubar.
Vote for me because: I will be a great Sports president.
Gerry McCormac is: a top lad.

What’s your favourite cocktail?

Oh, I love a woo-woo, not gonna lie.

What’s been your favourite Tab article?

Well, when I saw today, it’s was like ‘The candidates running’ and it was just a picture of me as the Queen, that’s got to be up there. There was one recently about people that I know, about the burglars breaking in to John Forty’s. No, no, the one where you went to 24 Below or whatever it’s called, I like that one. That’s my favourite.

You are taking a really strong stance on lad culture. Do you think lad culture is still an issue at Stirling?

Oh, very much so. I think it’s not what it was, that whole incident last year drew it to so many people’s attention. What I was saying earlier [at the Union hustings], when people are aware of it, and know what it is, they know what not to do.

So I think that played a massive part in making it die down a bit. But it’s going to be everywhere and even if it’s not public I’m sure it’s in training, in private practices and stuff like that.

How would you tackle lad culture?

I think there should be compulsory education. An hour’s session when we have our clubs academy at the beginning of every year with the new committee. I think there should be a compulsory section where they are told “let me tell you everything about what lad culture is and if you do this, these are the consequences” because then they have no excuse, they can’t say ‘oh we didn’t know’. If you set out what lad culture is and what happens if you take part in it, then I think that’s the best way to go. People have to know where the line is.

If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could pick one current sabb to be stranded with you, who would you pick?

Oh I cannot answer that! I don’t know…probs Lauren Marriott. She’s a top gal.

As well as smashing lad culture, Jess wants to widen participation, promote intermurual sport and make Fubar Wednesdays as good as Fubar Thursdays. You can read her manifesto here.