Presidential hopefuls begin positioning
President hopeful Ryan BennettThe race for the next YUSU President is beginning to take shape as potential candidates reveal their intentions to succeed current President Anne-Marie Canning. Friends of both Ryan Bennett, the former Vanbrugh Chair, and Nadeem Kunwar, current YUSU Ents Officer have revealed that they are considering running for the position. Under YUSU election rules neither is allowed to speak publicly about their potential candidacies.
Bennett, currently in his third year studying Economics, comes with a glowing recommendation from Vanbrugh’s next college provost. “I think that Ryan Bennett would be an outstanding YUSU President,” said Vanbrugh Provost-elect David Efird. “He was an exemplary JCRC chair – entirely professional, hard-working and enthusiastic. He helped re-establish Vanbrugh’s profile on campus and managed a highly effective JCRC. What is remarkable is that he did all this with a ‘light touch’ – he never seemed to make hard work of what was clearly a hard job.”
Bennett’s ex-boyfriend, Adam Quigley, echoed Efird’s praise, saying that “the good thing about Ryan is that he knows what needs to be done, but he goes about it in a light-hearted way. He knows where the rules lie, and he gets things done, but always in a cheerful and easy-going fashion.”
Bennett was elected chair of Vanbrugh extension Fairfax House within six weeks of arriving at university. He resigned two weeks later after winning an unlikely victory against JCRC veterans in the race for Vice-Chair. Bennett scraped by in the 2007 Vanbrugh elections, winning the post of Chair by one vote. He presided over a year of uncertainty for Vanbrugh, with concerns raised that the Bleachfield extension would break up the college’s spirit.
Bennett acted as a representative for all JCRCs during fraught negotiations over whether students should be allowed a vote on the powerful Student Services Committee. He was seen as instrumental in convincing University officials of the importance of student representation and securing a postitive result.
Ents Officer Kunwar, a third year PEP student, has been hailed by friend Chris Maclay as “not just another SU cronie.”
If elected Kunwar will break the tradition of YUSU Presidents coming from JCRC positions. Both Canning and Rich Croker, her predecessor, moved up from chair positions to the presidency. JCRC chairs can rely on strong turnouts from their colleges to boost their electoral prospects.
Kunwar made an abortive run for Derwent chair in 2007 but was defeated comfortably by Jamie Tyler. He was successfully elected to YUSU in a by-election in partnership with Rory Shanks and played a key role in the organisation of Fresher’s Week. The pair have been amongst the most conservative and business minded voices on Senate.
Kunwar currently sits on the board of directors for the Yorker. “As a guy he’s really cool and really fun, not just an SU politician. He’s also the most generous guy I know, and always has time for everyone,” Maclay added.
Former Goodricke Chair, Ben Wardle, worked with Kumar and admitted he felt that “Nadz would bring attributes to the position of SU President that are not there at the moment. During my time as Goodricke Chair, I found that the most important thing is for an SU President is that they are approachable. Nadz definitely is; he’s one of the nicest people I’ve met.”
The current YUSU President, Anne-Marie Canning, comes to the end of her year’s term this June. Online voting begins on Monday of Week Nine and the results will be announced in an event in Goodricke on Thursday.
