Carter looks to sporting future
Incoming AU president Jo Carter has promised a greater emphasis on charitable events. Photo: Rob BanksIncoming AU President Jo Carter has promised an expansive series of changes to the Union as part of the ongoing challenge to further the University of York’s position as a sporting institution.
Carter was the outsider in the race to be AU President in the Spring Term Students’ Union elections, but beat favourite and current AU Vice-President Nick Hassey to the prestigious role after winning over the electorate.
Her experience in the Athletic Union is extensive. Currently, she holds the positions of AU Press & Publicity Officer and Hockey Club President. Past involvement included Indoor Hockey captain, Women’s Hockey 1sts Vice-Captain and sitting on the AU Exec.
Speaking only weeks before she takes over from current President Tom Moore, she said the challenge of taking charge of sport at the University excited her.
She also made it clear that there was plenty of work to do in the year ahead, with her policies including greater publicity for lesser-known clubs, priority for sporting facilities at the newly approved Heslington East campus and an inclusive scene where sports clubs bond with each other rather than individually.
One of Carter’s main focuses, however, has little to do with the sporting successes of York and more to do with giving back to the community. She advocates that the AU push for students to get more involved in charitable work, an area that Nouse has highlighted in the past and one in which she admits there is “room for improvement”.
As a means of encouragement to others, Carter plans to take part in a sponsored charity cycle, alongside fellow student Jessica Walkup, from York to Amsterdam and back again, starting on Saturday, June 2.
The cycle, involving 20 volunteers, will take a total of four days and cover a total of 200 miles with proceeds going to terminally ill cancer patients. Destinations along the way include Hull and a ferry trip through the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
“This is a charity that is about those who cannot have cancer treatment and about making sure their last few weeks are as comfortable as possible,” Carter said. “It’s a worthwhile cause and one of the things I’m really keen to do is raise money for charity in sport”.
More has been promised for the 2007-8 academic year, with an emphasis on a more coordinated and accessible Athletics Union being one of the main policies that ultimately won Carter the election. She promises to achieve this through better publicity of big games, smaller clubs and AU events, and - more importantly - making it easier to access BUSA and college sport fixtures on the YUSU website, something which at the moment causes many problems.
However, the success of these policies will largely depend on the attitude and experience of the new AU Exec, who will be decided by student vote in the currently ongoing elections.
