Presidential Debate Live
22.07
Ended in chaos.
Well that was fun. Toodles
22.06
Descended into nonsense
22.05
Questions from the flooorrrr!!!!!
22.05
Looks like the local child groomer, according to Ollie. May just be
22.04
Off with the shirt Levene!
WHAT IS HE DOING???????
22.04
Party piece?
Ollie comments on Fb statuses… come on guys!
David Hansen puts on his invisible sunglasses… sorry still visible, Dave
22.03
Ollie would marry Tim… awww.
He doesn’t want to shoot David apparently… he clearly does
22.02
Everyone agrees that Grenville would win a cage fight…
Dave H doesn’t know them… hahahaha. Do any of us, really?
22.01
They’re shouting encore!!!
22.01
Hansen is verrryyy confident. You keep sipping that water Dave.
No more guys. All wrapped up. No funny questions, sob.
22.00
Tim: Ollie’s got the guns… How long does he spend in the gym again? Well he is tee-total
21.59
Tim wants to fly in a machine… Ollie points out that indeed we do have aeroplanes in this country….
Dave H: Does Roberto like cocaine?
“Not really no……”
21.58
Who is your hero and why??
Matthew: someone no-one knows. Sorry, Matthew: boring.
Something inspirational boysssssss!!!!!!!
Tim: iron-man
21.56
Wheyyy Ollie is undressing.
The jacket was affecting noise, unfortunately, although it was lovely
21.55
When and why did these guys get involved in student politics?
Powell: realisation came when he did the quiz in JJs. Life-changing…
… Tim: First got involved when he actually ran for the position… late-starter it seems.
Does this work?
21.54
Ollie mentioning Nouse stories… get in
21.53
Please can we get some more serious comments please! Do the potentials really care whether Foy went for a number 1 or 2?????????
21.51
Levene doesn’t want to talk numbers… what about HOW they are integrated???
21.51
Matthew: more international students would be “great”. Wants them more integrated.
Ollie feels this is a hard aim… hard to reach international students for college chairs.
21.50
More international students?
Powell focusing on REVENUE… few twitters from the floor.
What about diversity??
Does not want international students put above home students.
21.49
Levene wanted to know just how many students filled out the strategic questionnaire. Over a 1000 according to Tim… Ouch!
21.46
First new act as president?
Ollie thinks Matthew is being a bit idealistic with his idea of an online YUSU forum.
People have become “apathetic” to events on Faebook etc. according to Ollie. Ollie thinks his policies are achievable soon, such as water coolers in the library.
21.43
Hey guys… sorry if you think all the questions aren’t getting through… Charlotte is still working on the ones she prepped earlier
21.42
NO NO says Levene… says there are no men’s committees in any unions in the country
21.41
OOO talking about Peter and Mark and their naughty campaign… are we thus justified in having a men’s committee..?
Levene thinks there is value in having a gender equalities issues… doesn’t think there should be a men’s committee.
Hansen: thinks a lot of men don’t went to get involved in WomCom… Ollie disagrees… thinks it was “a lot of fun”
21.39
Levene thinks it is important to have someone with specific welfare experience
21.39
Powell only thinks that president, academic and welfare are the vital positions.
21.38
Sorry about that guys… connection problems. Been lots of healthy debate been going down here!
21.29
Woah Tim questioning Matthew on whether he actually knows how long planning permission takes… he doesn’t. Tim does
21.27
Guys send me more questions over!
21.27
Tim: We need to get welfare teams at porters’ lodges. David L sees this as a graveyard shift
21.26
Is there an achievable end to the portering campaign?
Well well, Roberto claims if you were at the UGM you would know… as far as I can remember he popped in for two minutes… Tim talking again.
21.24
Dave still enjoying the pizza there. He keeps wavering his head.
The others are remaining serious though. Tim seems to be interrupting a fair bit. Clearly showing some passion. Levene keeping surprisingly quiet.
21.22
Matthew believes that all the departments here are top-rated…. a few huffs from the crowd suggest otherwise…
21.21
Ollie feels that the University is fit for purpose, Tim does not.
How are you guys going to change the employability for York students?
21.19
PEOPLE WANT TO TALK POLICIES NOT PIZZA
21.19
Dave Hansen: For one slice of pizza, what year was Nelson Mandela released from prison?
21.19
No-one answering Charlotte’s question there…. too distracted by Dave perhaps?
But what are people’s priorities here?
21.18
CHJ: Should there be more emphasis on science or arts?
OOO wait, Dave H is back… followed by an appreciative clap from the audience…
21.17
Levene: Let’s lobby more MPs in York and Yorkshire.
21.17
Hutchings: Keep York diverse. If we start pushing tuition fees up it’s a step backwards.
Tim: People are questioning the prices because people are looking at the quality of their education…
Levene: Mentions research done in 2008… getting a few chuckles from the crowd as a result there…
21.15
David L: Too much YUSU work is done behind the scenes… let’s start bigger campaigns. Do you think this will help?
21.14
Matthew wants to start creating debates on the YUSU website…. O Miss H-J just received some honking for her reference to lack of hits on YUSU website in comparison to our own…. Matthew certainly maintaining his argument here
21.13
Is YUSU politics alienating, boys?
Roberto: YUSU is not accessible enough. Regular drop-in centre.
Tim: Roberto has stated the problem but not presented the solution!! Feisty feisty…. David Hansen has left the room to answer the phone!
21.11
WOOO let’s get it started
21.09
Powell sucking on a lolly. Dave Hansen having nice chat with Freckleton. Ollie looks intrigued… O to be a fly on the… chalk board
21.08
Some interesting questions here guys… keep them coming
21.00
Nice shirt Jim Bulley
21.00
YSTV getting very excited
21.00
Woah posted that Jim has a nice shirt numerous times… just too damn pink Jim.
Anyone else’s internet switching on/off?
20.57
GIVE ME SOME QUESTIONS PEOPLE!
20.57
Lights on, lights off… making me feel a tad nauseous!
20.56
Be interesting to see what these guys say about media censorship…. what does everyone think about Freckleton and Levene’s controversial policies regarding YUM?
20.55
Indeed Hutchings is looking verrryyyy smart…. check out the tie. He must be serious?
20.54
Richard McLoughlin, YSTV Station Director (big kudos to YSTV for the amazing work they are doing here tonight!!!) tells us: “The atmosphere is tense… electric one might say, as the audience wait impatiently for the show to begin. YSTV plough valiantly onwards, despite the powers of technology being set against them…” Wow Richard, that’s profound. Thank you.
They are all looking a taddddd nervous… lots of pen clicking…
20.47
Laura here… we are beginning this year’s exciting LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BLOG! Please send over any questions you want to ask to to candidates collectively or individually… Let’s get this started! What do YOU think about their policies?
Loading ...
HONK!
Am I being blonde or is there no sound?
I can’t believe you weren’t planning to do one. Good job I forced you into it
Hey guys in the middle, anyone ordering any food? I’m starving still.
I don’t think there’s supposed to even be a live video yet… Not starting for a few minutes, anyway!
Is it me or does Hutchings look somewhat smarter than usual?
Sorry Rosy, we already ate!
Where is Oli Lester?
We have four cans of beer – I hope this doesn’t last longer than an hour!
QUESTION: Who is your hero and why? Points for originality.
We need some sound YSTV!
How do we send in questions, can we do it on here?
Question for the candidates:
When did you get involved in student politics, and why?
Answer to Miranda: Yes.
Question: How dangerous is the Beast of Hes-East?
Question for David Levene:
If elected YUSU President, how will your policies help prospective and current Jewish students?
Question to candidates:
Which one of you is the joke candidate? Discuss among yourselves. I know who I think it is
They could have at least got table cloths.
Oh God, Jason Rose has maneuvered himself on-screen..
It’s pastel coloured! Pastel coloured!!!
A question from my other half – If you could have £100,000,000 but your eyes would be permanently relocated to your butt, what would you do?
Where’s Oli. We’re lost without him. Who’s gonna go on Chat Roulette!??!
Why is it so quiet? I can’t really hear it!
“my internet’s not working” ok ok you don’t have to say it 5 times in a row love
We can’t here anything. Can’t they speak up
YSTV feed really messed up tonight. Can you sort it out and make people shut up whilst candidates are answering questions. thanks.
don’t the candidates agree that most students are perfectly happy for the ‘politicians’ to come up with ideas and drive the debate. They don’t want to ‘get involved’ (in fact whenever they’re encouraged to, they feel less inclined to).
Can you turn the volume up please Nouse?
Are any of our questions going to be asked? I want to know if my views and comments are going to continue to be ignored
Tell Tim to speak up! and…
Where has Dave gone? and…
QUESTION: What do you make of the decision to shut down Henry James Foy’s election blog on Nouse? Would you have done the same?
I’m here guys. Cans of strongbow at the ready!
Please can YSTV make the image brighter. I can’t see their pretty little faces.
any chance we can have the blog without the ystv feed.. it’s slowing everything down
Who’s the fitty on the laptop? Also, getting sick of my questions being blocked by the mod
Yeah sorry, refresh to get rid of the feed
If you were to be any animal, what would it be?
And why?
Ernie, re. your deleted comment, they are alphabetically seated
ok thanks ali i was just wondering.
Dave was amusing for a few minutes at Hustings, but needs to understand that while he thinks he is funny, tonight is about making sure we vote for the right Union President.
Tom Scott won on a joke ticket, but he always respected the right of other candidates to run “serious” campaigns. Dave should take note.
Comment edited by a moderator
Tell Tim to speak up. Please.
Shoot, Shag or Marry:
Charlie Rowley
Nick Scarlett
Oli Lester
foy leave dave alone.
question for the candidates:
who is more powerful? yusu president or henry james foy?
Tell them to stop clicking their pens, it’s getting on my… goat. Why isn’t Dave being asked any questions?
Who would win in a fight:
Dave or HJF
I’m enjoying Dave Hansen. He’s breaking up a politics-heavy and arduous debate with some light-heartedness. It’s actually a pretty good idea
Sorry, no comments on personal appearance (of candidates), that’s yusu rules
these questions are so boring and circular. ask them some fun questions please
Who would you much much rather lose in a fight: Dave or HJF
Jason, much agreed, brings interest and attention from people outside the “in-crowd”
Re: Question
Dave would blatantly win. Henry James Foy nearly got beaten up by two chav girls. Did you not read that fantastic article?
Henry, James, or Foy?
What are your views on the male Womens’ Committee candidates? Do you think it was enough that they were banned from campaigning?
So you want me, in addition to my PGCE and regular college tutor duties, to be on duty and do a porters job? Tim needs to find out what college tutors actually do.
who is this dave character? I don’t like him one bit
What would your first act as President be?
Question for the candidates = Nick Scarlett
Charlotte please tell all the candidates to speak up.
Vision love xx
Planning permission does not take 3 years. The whole project, however, may do.
@ College Tutor:
Maybe that’s why PGCE students SHOULDN’T be college tutors.
Why aren’t any of our questions getting asked? These ones are crap
Goldberg, he doesn’t even have a laptop..
Which character of The Animals of Farthing Wood would you be?
CHARLOTTE… STEP IN AND CHAIR IT
@Really?
Trust me. I know
In Derwent the tutors meet all the students in freshers week, then meet them in smaller groups throughout the term.
It works well as a welfare system so far… although I’m sure there can be improvements. I agree, to juggle being a PGCE student or even Sabbatical officer and College tutor would be difficult…
NO MENTIONING OF UNION STAFF PLEASE
Do all the candidates agree with Levene’s policy to take pages out of Vision and Nouse in order to self promote YUSU?
@Goldberg. Trust me, I’m next to him. Unless he has a laptop inside that Cheeseburger, he ain’t posting!
Is that food I see over around Leyland et al? >.>
Charlie Rowley is on his second pint…. and informs me he’s “open to offers tonight” – whatever that means.
@Really?
Piss off, I’m next to him. What’s his middle name if you really are with him? I bet you don’t even know
Tim what is a “communication strategy”?
Laura, we’ve sent 100s of questions. They may not *all* be that serious, but we care!!!!!! – what’s happened to them
Charlie Rowley is now rubbing my inner leg.
Which is your favourite campus media publication?
@Goldberg. Andrew.
We’ve noticed a few of our regular AA attenders missing as of late, we think this may have something to do with YUSU elections.
Can someone please get in touch at:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
If Ernie Goldberg is in the audience, can you stand up? The middle of the room gang want to salute you!
Charlie Rowley says “hi”.
@Really
That’s not true. It’s Josephine
AMC didn’t get us a student centre.. that might take two years
Which politician do you most closely align yourself to and why?
Shoot shag marry?
Rich Croker, Anne Marie Canning or Tom Scott?
@Middle
No I’m not. Glad you are enjoying the show
Where has the blogger gone?
The YSTV stream keeps clicking on the sound and breaking up.
Kudos to Roberto for saying Academic is an important role
The 3 sab question is riddiculous. They’re all needed in YUSU. GET OVER IT!!!
Shoot, Shag or Marry:
Jim Bulley
Jim Bulley
Jim Bulley
The internet here is atrocious. The blogging and the reading-blogging is running slowly so the video connection has got to be suffering too?
Foy just went to the toilet – number 1 or number 2?
Shoot, Shag or Marry; Tom Flynn, Angelina Jolie, Chery Cole.
That bird who was on coach trip for two episodes and got voted off straight away is sitting next to me.
Booooya!
Foy has confirmed it was a number 1.
She doesn’t cry as much as I thought she would….
@I’m sitting
Do you mean Laura Horton? She’s so sexy
That bloke off of that cartoon with the mysterons and SIG is sitting next to me!
Well said by Ollie!
he does
<3 Efes
Didn’t Ms Horton lead our successful University Challenge team?
Who’se just left a massive whopper in the boys toilet? It absolutely stinks and I’ve had to hold it in! NOT HAPPY!
I want a swimming pool in the 24 hour pharmacy on campus!
he’s left. Time to save the world from evil or something like that
@Unhappy
I reckon it was Foy
@ Unhappy constipated
FOY!
Levene & Ngwena definitely coming across as the heavyweights.
does that ngwena lad ever shut up and let others speak?
Miss Horton is the sexy girl who led our unsuccessful university challenge team.
Comment edited by moderator
Who else is sick of Nick Scarlett?
Ehm,
How many of the candidates are aware of the MASSIVE Governance Review that happened two years ago, and which looked extensively at all the issues of D&M Officers etc. which they are all discussing?
Serious Question; please ask them!
Can we let some of the other candidates talk.
Fraid we can’t put the sound up any louder guys; turn your speakers up as high as they go!
~ YSTV
Question for the candidates:
I would like to know which candidate thinks that their milkshake best brings all the boys to the yard?
Levene got PWNED
Rhianna Kinchin is on the Strongbow tonight, I see.
Agree with ex-senator. Important question, especially for Tim
How much involvement have you had with Union committees and how aware are you of the history behind recent changes within the Union? How will you take these forward?
does ollie hutchings value style over substance? he seems only to care about how zany he is
Crash and burn Powell, students aren’t just piggy banks!
Ex-Senator:
That governance review was terrible. It’s probably worth ignoring it now…
QUESTION: Who do you think will become YUSU President NEXT year? To all candidates please.
How will you make sure you can win arguments with the University, and avoid them treading all over you like what happened with the porter campaign?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
@ Ernie Goldberg:
We liked you, now you’ve gone too far. Nick Scarlett is our hero. We have decided we now want to destroy you.
All this talk about integration.
But can you do it:
Integrate y=2x-4
foy leave powell alone he could take you any day
I think you’ll be breaking the comment record again tonight!
Are colleges at York just glorified halls of residence now that most aspects have been centralised?
mod please stop censoring me
Laura, if the candidates don’t care whether Foy went for a number 1 or a number 2 then they’re out of touch with the student population and shouldn’t be considered a serious candidate.
x^2 – 4x + c???
Will levene please stop clicking his pen…..he was asked about this not more than five minutes ago, if he is unable to remember to stop clicking his pen how will he remember his campaign promises?!?!?!
Ernie, only insults are harrasment, not complements, also i don’t have time to decide over some of your comments, they just get deleted.
@Ernie, stop saying censurable things then
Ex YUSU Sabb – it was certainly lacking in some pretty crucial ways, but might I humbly suggest it would be an appropriate place to start before suggesting sweeping reforms, if not else simply to reflect on the fact that a huge painful review has recently been undertaken, and ask yourself whether you want to subject yourself and others around you to it again.
End of run-on sentence.
Can somebody actually confiscate their clicky pens?!?!
Serious Question; who do you think is more attractive? Charlie Rowley or Chris Young?
@Not the mod
OO big man are we? I hate you
Who will offer change we can believe in?
Unless you’re a female. In which case my number is: *
*Comment edited by a moderator
Rachel Hesselwood just came in with a massive box of cardboard… looks like a late night of making tonight!
What is your most embarrassing moment to date??
@ Middle
Is the mod censoring you as well? I’m getting so annoyed
If you could illegally invade one university, which would it be and why?
Romantic story – frecks 4 this chap http://www.clickz.com/3622868
@Ali Clark
are you the fit one from nouse? I really fancy you
Sorry I mean muse
Never give a boy a clicky pen
It is not. That’s because we’re not posting anything offensive. Plus, you insulted Nick Scarlett so you deserve to be moderated.
@ Middle
You’re not as cool as I thought you were. I’m glad you don’t like me anymore
Internet cut out for you then?
@Ali
Just read back the comments. It’s spelt compliment, not complement. That’s a different word. Are you single?
Well these comments are very amusing. Not.
Ernie – if you were funny your comments would be good. You’re not. So shut up. The only thing you’re achieving is making everyone wish they knew who you were so they could tell you what a * you are to your face.
Anon: get a life mate haven’t you got anything better to do? And sarcasm was so 1990s, it’s all about deeply intro-active irony now.*
@Mod
How does Ernie Goldberg is such a **** not get censored? This is anti-semitism at its very worst
“Ernie – if you were funny your comments would be good”
Isn’t that like saying if your comments were good they would be good? You don’t seem very clever to me. I’m glad you don’t get my sense of humour. Obviously over your head
I think we should all just chill out a bit.
What are you? All Foy enthusiasts or something?
Friends, calm down. Your enemy is my enemy, together we can crush the Foy-Shergold axis of Evil
PS anyone who has anything more to me, do feel free to phone me on my number, you will find it on a comment on this article. I will be happy to answer any of your questions
On a more serious note, I think Roberto’s comment on international students was outrageous. We may be bringing revenue mate but we’ll certainly not be bringing you any votes.
Err, sorry Ernie, think it’s safer for me to just delete that.
OH GOD I THOUGHT ALI CLARK WAS A FEMALE!
dude, it’s spelt Ally for a boy. Like Ally McCoist. Ali is either an Islamic name in its own right or short for Alison. It is not short any variation of spelling Alistair. God’s sake
“Dave was amusing for a few minutes at Hustings, but needs to understand that while he thinks he is funny, tonight is about making sure we vote for the right Union President.”
As far as I can remember, I only really said anything when I was asked something. I was never going to hijack the debate and I hardly think people would have stood for it if i’d tried to. I bought a pizza at the beginning which made a bit of a commotion, which I meant to apologise about as Mr Efe interrupted Tim. Then I disappeared completely for 5 minutes and hid at the back upon my return to wait for Dave to finish talking before coming back down.
‘I found him amusing for a few minutes at hustings”
I was only speaking for a few minutes at hustings.
I think Ernie Goldberg is getting a little too excited by this debate…
Awww, has Ernie Goldberg had a wittle bit too much too drink tonight… Awww bless him
The Foy-Shergold axis of evil. First York, next the world.
There’s nothing you can do.
Ernie Goldberg, first before the firing squad.
I support the Foy-Shergold axis of evil. I am under your command. I will do whatever you say.
I watched the debate tonight and think it’s outrageous to suggest that Dave Hansen in any way undermined the other candidates. If anything, I think he paid them a lot of respect and could easily have talked over them, interfered with their arguments, etcetera. If you can name one occasion on which he was anything other than gentlemanly, I’m all ears.
Henry Foy, I think it is pretty cheap (and immature) to resort to calling any candidate a ‘plonker’, particularly Dave, who judging by his hustings performance (and tonight) seems like a genuine, likeable chap. He also provided some much-needed light-relief. Your candidate certainly seemed to approve.
Yours,
An impartial observer.
HENRY JAMES FOYLED
i agree with those comments about dave. not only was his hustings performance comedy gold, but i think it was supposed to raise an important point about student politics – that people take it too seriously.
i remember he was doing something at derwent’s got talent and the uni’s got talent ages back, he was comedy genius then too! he should do stand up or something, get his own show…
besides, if someone calls someone else a ‘plonker’ isn’t that libellous and should be moderated? or do ex-editors not count in the legal bit?
No, it is very clearly personal opinion, not trying to state as a fact.
seems to me that he’s trying to say that him being a plonker is a fact… what with the serious nature of his previous statement and that he gave advice… :p not defamation or slander??
anonymous, I was going by this: “fair comment (whether the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held)”
Having said that, IANAL, and if you feel strongly enough about it to argue this much, I’m happy to moderate the comment.
so you think it’s reasonable to call dave a plonker?? well now you’ll have to moderate yourself!
Why do Henry James Foy and Oliver James Hutchings feel the need to include such a boring middle name when they comment?
@JAMES
Oliver puts it in because that’s what will appear on the ballot paper next week when we all vote in the YUSU elections. Just a bit of harmless re-enforcement.
As for HJF, couldn’t say.
Just watched this: first off, Tim was the person who removed the links to student media from the YUSU website as part of the site redesign. In fact, this is a direct quote from an e-mail from him.
“Its all been taken down. All content will be rewritten and I have to be honest YUM are not planned to be featured”
Secondly, regarding the swimming pool planning permission *the Uni already has it*. Indeed as this recent article from The Press shows, the deadline of 2011 is realistically being talked about, with it only being funding holding it up.
Swimming pool planning permission was given in the early 2000s as the first building to be built as part of “second stage” Hes-East. It should, according to Hes-East planning permission, be built before Langwith. It’s harsh to criticise the only candidate who wants to hold the university to their promise to York Council!
@ Chris Northwood..
…correction they weren’t removed, they we moved.. (http://www.yusu.org/societies ) would be nice if you quoted the conversation I had with you after that email…
The media was moved from the front page as it didn’t seem fair to other media societies and our consultation suggested they were better suited for the societies page.
It wasn’t fair that we only publicized 4 media societies when there’s an abundance of media outputs on campus, for example Ebor Lex, Lemon Press, Zahir, … and more some un-official but sub groups of societies, visit this page.. http://www.yusu.org/societies/category/media
This also lead to the media societies being grouped together on the YUSU site. Admittedly, the societies page redesign is behind as collating content from societies and making it current as well as interesting has proved difficult, but i stand by my decision to remove YUM ( York University Media ) societies from the front page and instead work towards a more inclusive resolution on the front page of the societies page which attracts just over 40% of the YUSU website usage and generates well over half a million referrals to society websites.
What goes on the front of our site is governed by the needs of our students, and means placing societies where students want to see them.
ex-senator & Jason Rose
Governance review was just under 3 years go and is now becoming dated. We also have a new strategic plan which will see us working closer with affiliates and groups, our officer structure and workload will need to reflect that.
Dan Goddard
A communication strategy simply put is an assessment of how the union communicates to all of its students, and then a plan and strategy to ensure that our communications are effective and represent a unified voice. You look at the audience you communicate with, the messages you send out, the channels you use to send those messages and then evaluate how to measure the effectiveness of those messages. It’s a crucial part of communicating activities of the union which is an important part of accountability.
”Governance review was just under 3 years go and is now becoming dated”
Tim, the governance review took place in May/June 2008 = under 2 years ago. How exactly is it dated? Which features need to be changed in order to implement the new strat plan?
Changes to officer responsibilities, staffing structure, etc are not governance issues.
Tim: I was just making notes as I watched the debate this morning and it was the comment you made in response to someone else’s comment about stronger links between the YUSU and student media websites that made me want to point out the hypocrisy of how what you were saying (that you were wanting to build stronger links between the YUSU and YUM websites) wasn’t matching what you were doing (moving the independent media to subpages of the site).
Indeed, I suspect you go back and check what you just said, as the link to the “Nouse” website doesn’t actually work.
Okay, and whilst I’m on a rant about the YUSU website, why the hell does it still not contain features which the website is required to have *by constitution* (specifically section 11.5 of the schedules)… Your idea Tim seem short-sighted and more focussed about “consultation” and “strategic” plans rather than action – let’s not forget it’s only been 5 years(?) since YUSU’s “Year of Reform” and even less since the most recent governance review (as pointed out earlier). The main thing that concerns me is that for a truly effective 2 year term you’d do consultation in your first year and implementation in your second year, so why you’re running for a year of consultation on your second year confuses me…
Of course, my opinion is completely unimportant as I can’t vote and should have left the York ecosystem by now, but before anyone jumps on me and calls me a sad act for not letting go – I already know I am.
If I may add to Chris’ rant, why on earth does the main menu only contain symbols? Thanks to that giant usability fail, to find something users should either try to interpret each menu item or just scroll over all of them. Quite inefficient.
http://web.archive.org/web/20051025055729/http://www.yusu.org/
This is the website as it was in Chris’ 1st year. See those 4 media links on the left Tim? And the fact that they go to the actual websites rather than sub-page redirects.
I miss the old YUSU website
. The new one may be slightly better coded and look more flashy, but the usability has totally gone!
Compare this to the YUM websites and you’ll see that they’ve really embraced Web 2.0 without losing (and infact probably improving) their usability.
This. The YUSU web dev seems to know how to add stuff to the website, but they also need to learn how to remove stuff from it.
The major offenders: the icons (see george’s comment), the advert on the right (center the page on the screen afterward), the obnoxious slider.
Increasing font sizes, bigger difference on heading font size, and more padding wouldn’t hurt either though…
(I don’t mean to be harsh, those few points will take a day of work and improve the site no end)
Sorry Foy but is there ever really a “right” presidential candidate? You seem to forget the president has a pathetic amount of power over anything but the colour of the YUSU office walls. All of the presidents I have seen have been as useful as a snooze button on a smoke alarm. At least the pirate provided us some amusement in all the inanity that is YUSU.
AMC did a lot in her year (before Tom Scott) but in reality the President isn’t any more powerful than any other member of the Union. Any student can submit a UGM, campaign for it and make the decisions (and overrule the President) so it’s just democracy in action. How powerful is the Prime Minister? Depends what you rank it against…
In response to the debate above; I do agree that the icons aren’t exactly “accessible” since even I click on the wrong logo from time to time and I know exactly what they all represent… It’s more up-to-date than the old ones (similarly to the new URY website) but there are things that aren’t quite as good.
And in response to Tim; the Governance Review isn’t outdated. However the Governance Review was more geared towards the role of the Sabbs and sections of YUSU as they were and many of the recommendations have taken effect (see YUSU Studio and Academic/Welfare split). YUSU is better now than it was before and still needs to have long-term strategies put into place. My problem wasn’t with the strategic planning (which is important) but saying that nothing similar has happened for a long time when the governance review finished as Tom Scott came in. I look forward to seeing how next year’s President, whoever it may be, responds to the strategic plan and communication strategy. Each President has a different vision and each Sabb team sees different holes. Matthew Freckleton would see a greater turn towards ease-of-access on the YUSU website but would have less of a focus on other areas, for example.
But it’s good to have people making points publicly – this is why I have suggested for 24 months to have a forum/comment section on the YUSU website. It facilitates debate with experienced people outside of YUSU and less experienced people that are interested!
60 second manifestos are now on the elections site, courtesy of YSTV.