Students from the Glasgow School of Art have been turned away from voting in Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) elections. This comes despite Art School students being allowed to vote in previous years, and presidential candidate Chris Millar planning in his manifesto to canvass those students.

The decision comes as the result of a clause in the membership section of GUSA’s constitution which reads:

Membership shall apply to all those registered students of the University of Glasgow who have paid their subscription to the Sports and Recreation Service.

GUSA President Leo Howes told Guardian that this meant that the eligibility of students from the Art School to vote in these elections depended on the course the students were studying:

It basically comes down to if they have a University of Glasgow matriculation card or not. So some students who study on courses co-delivered between Glasgow and the School of Art would count as a Glasgow University student for GUSA membership.

However, Guardian spoke to a number of students from the GSA who don’t study on a co-delivered course who said they had voted in previous years. They all said they thought it suspicious they were turned down in year when GUSA and SRS are discussing limiting the number of GSA students who would be eligible to use Glasgow’s sporting services.

A third year Visual Communication student at the GSA, who wished to remain anonymous but showed us his GSA matric card, said:

I’ve voted in the past two years and it’s only this year when one of the Presidential candidates, whose not being backed by the GUSA establishment, raises the issues that effect the GSA that we get turned away at the door. That doesn’t seem right.

Howes sought to clarify GUSA’s position:

The clause has aways been in our constitution but perhaps in previous years there has been confusion or something that perhaps nobody really clarified in the last few years. As soon as we became aware of it we decided that we needed to clarify the process for this year.

He also addressed the idea that his early support of presidential candidate Steph Collins had affected GUSA’s decision as her opponent Chris Millar had specifically sought to canvass students from the GSA in his manifesto:

I obviously put out a statement saying that I believed one candidate was better for the job, because of that I have had very little to do with the elections outside of chairing the hustings. It is actually a neutral member of staff who is responsible for running the elections.

Glasgow School of Art Student Association president, Sinead Dunn, told Guardian that she had spoken to students from the GSA who technically shouldn’t have been able to vote who had been able to cast a ballot and others who had been turned away at the door:

I think it is strange that if students were eligible to vote in previous years, by convention rather than regulation, that this is happening now and it needs to be seriously looked at.

Polls close today at 6pm for GUSA elections, with the results being announced later this evening.

Q&A

Guardian: You seem very concerned about transparency in the SRC, is the lack of transparency inherent in the organization or the result of an apathetic student body?

Helle: The apathy and mistrust towards the SRC root from the fact that negative stories about the SRC outweigh the positive work, especially when the failings are systematic and structural. Realistically but unfortunately, I know the activities of the SRC are not of any interest to a portion of the student body. Whether this is because of a lack of caring, understanding, or frustration with the SRC, I don’t know, but in order to tackle the issue we need to find out.
It may be easier to fix a broken system than it is to convince thousands of students, but I do believe the two are correlated. It is not an easy job, but we have to start somewhere. The SRC needs to engage with students more, not just during Freshers’ Week, but throughout the year, and not just in the John McIntyre building. The SRC needs to be completely open with those it represents. Transparency is just one of the reforms the SRC needs if it is to regain trust and support.

Guardian: Do you think the kind of inherently political activity harms the ability to represent students effectively?

Helle: I believe the SRC is a political organisation, but only to the extent of campaigning and lobbying on behalf of students. The task of the president is to represent students, not to drive a personal or political agenda. Politics can often divide this campus, as the past few years have shown us, and I believe it is a detriment to the students to elect a President who has a political agenda. I believe it to be a distraction from the larger issues.
Everyone has political opinions and biases, and many belong to a political party or movement. There is no litmus test for SRC candidates, and there shouldn’t be, but I believe the candidates, particularly the sabbatical candidates, should be open about where they are coming from, politically.
The SRC can be a powerful political force, and at times it has been utilized well. I believe a candidate with an agenda of concern for students will be the best equipped to effectively lead the SRC and campaign on behalf of students.

Guardian: Do you think the internationalisation policy pursued by the university is being followed with enough consideration for the student experience for all students for the university?

Helle: The university’s approach to student experience with its internationalisation policy is focused heavily on employment and placements, as well as providing for a diverse learning environment. While I believe all students can benefit greatly from this cultural diversity on campus and from the experiences to be acquired, we must not forget to actively tailor the services, events and experiences offered by the four student unions and the University to include and invite more International Students. The SRC, with a substantial portion of its services being used by international students, ought to be at the forefront of this push. I’m also encouraged by an increasing number of candidates in the QMU and GUU elections mentioning international students.

Insider Odds

3/1
Well-liked and with a strong base after having been president of two campus societies. The big question though – with so many reform candidates in the race does Helle’s voice get drowned out?

Q&A

Guardian: MyCampus has been a major issue for much of this year. Do you think the worst problems, like difficulty of access for the visually impaired, will be sorted? If not, what would you like to see the SRC do to bring forward a solution?

Harrison: I am cautiously hopeful that the majority of software problems with MyCampus can be fixed by the next academic year, as the university have been putting considerable resources into fixing all problematic areas that have been highlighted. Over the summer months I’ll ask if SRC council members and our advice centre team can have a run through of the newly updated MyCampus to ensure that all problems have been dealt with. I believe the main problem that is still facing MyCampus however is the lack of training that many staff have been undertaking. Last year we had several staff just not bother with the training, leading to many of the problems that we faced during the registration period as there was confusion not only on the student side but on the staff side. Following the resignation of the last SRC president, I sit on a few of the committees that will be dealing with these issues and I will strongly emphasise now and over the next year the extreme importance of administrative and advisory staff undertaking the training required to use the system.

While the implementation of the new advising system last year was a separate issue to MyCampus, the fact is that again many of the new advisors are not dealing with the system well, and many staff members who should be signing up to become advisors are not doing so after seeing the problems of last year. Many advisors of studies are now finding themselves responsible for hundreds upon hundreds of students, and we really need the university to act on making sure we have enough well-trained advisors of studies to accommodate our student population.

Guardian: In what ways do you think being a current sabbatical officer helps or hinders your campaign? Does being in an office for a year limit your campus profile?

Harrison: Working as part of an executive team over the past year at the SRC has also allowed me to see what has been working and what hasn’t, and I think I’ll be a great help to the other vice presidents as they get settled in to their new roles. For me running freshers’ week was an absolutely terrifying prospect at first, but I know that if I’m president I’ll be able to help reassure the new VP learning and development about how to deal with some of the issues best. Overall, and especially following some of the internal problems last year, I know that to be SRC president you must know that you are an equal member of the team, and not merely the boss. I know I will work well with whoever is elected, and will be a confident voice to speak out on behalf of our students – I’ve already been doing it for the past year!

Insider Odds

2/1

A lot of support on Facebook, insider knowledge of the SRC and a dedicated campaign team make Harrison the obvious frontrunner in this election. But with well-known challengers and a joke campaign with lots of support, this won’t be an easy campaign.

Q&A

Guardian: It seems pretty clear from your manifesto that your big concern is about democratic accountability and transparency in the SRC. Is this lack of transparency deliberate or the result of an apathetic student body?

Dhillon: I don’t think we have an apathetic student body. Over the past 18 months students of Glasgow University have continually been involved in demonstrations, debates, etc. over the future of education and the wider questions of austerity. However, there is a level of apathy towards the SRC because students don’t think that they have a real opportunity to shape it and its policies. The petition calling a vote of no confidence in our now resigned president Stuart Richie set the tone for these elections and unless we transform the SRC it will become irrelevant on campus and students will become more and more disfranchised from it. Nothing apart from total transparency, democracy and accountability should be accepted.

Guardian: You talk of a setting up an agreement with university management. How do you envisage it working?

Lucky: Currently, there is no clarity surrounding management’s plans for Glasgow University. Students are left in the dark until cruical announcements are made. Last year the student body refused to accept cuts and management had to retreat on a large section of proposals. However, management has not given the assurance that these cuts, or more of the same will not be implemented in the future. The agreement would put pressure on senior management members to make their position clear on the future of Glasgow University, and assure them that the SRC has a clear position against any future cuts or implementation/rise of fees.

Guardian: Do you support the concept of the unions getting seats on court?

Dhillon: Yes. Currently there are only two student representative on court which is ridiculous, considering court is where key financial decisions are made. I think the unions need to be given seats on court but also all SRC execs. Our ability to shape the decisions at university court level will be dependent on the strength of our ability to represent all students.

Insider Odds

3/1
Being well-known and having a strong manifesto work in Lucky’s favour in this election. However a strong field and the electoral uncertainty of being part of a slate could work against her.

Q&A

Guardian: You talk about the Class Reps a lot in your manifesto and they feature prominently in your plan to increase the representation on the SRC but the election process for them is far from transparent and competitive can you increase the burden on them or expect to see different results from the top down?

Walker: Class Reps are largely undervalued and underused by both staff and students. My main aim is to have a collaborative effort between the SRC and as many staff as possible,principally by utilising the School Reps and College Convenors, to emphasise how important Class Reps are. I want to see staff highlighting more strongly how the input of Class Reps is fundamental to the improvement of their courses and, more widely, Glasgow University as a whole. Students do not always see the immediate benefit of representation, so I also want to see a bigger push coming from the SRC to promote this aspect of their academic experience. Additionally, I want to support them by providing the best training that we can, so that they are confident enough to take on the role and to do it well. I am under no illusions that this would be an overnight change but, in terms of seeing change “from the top down”, I hope that an enormous push for improving the Class Rep system will see students recognising how valued their input is for the University and taking a more active role in their learning.

Guardian: You mention the university recognizing extra curricular activities. Do you see this being used as contributing to student degree credit ie 20 credits in involvement in the Glasgow Guardian or in the form of additional recognition on top of the degree like university blues in sport at Oxford or Cambridge?

Walker: The main point I tried to touch on by mentioning that was, again, increasing awareness of what you can do at this University to stand out and develop aspects of your character – it is perhaps unclear from my manifesto but my grand vision, if you like, is for more people to recognise these opportunities. The activities to which I was referring were things like being on the Board of Management at the Unions, decision-making roles within Clubs & Societies and so on. Inevitably, most people will improve their transferable skills by taking part in these areas and, although they can be mentioned on a C.V. I feel that having participation acknowledged by the University in some shape or form stresses the benefits of having taken part.

Insider Odds

3/1
An early lead for Walker bodes well for the rest of his campaign but in a race with a candidate who narrowly lost out last year, things are all to play for.

Q&A

Guardian: Having been unsuccessful before what made you consider running again?

Razvan Balaban: Firstly I want to mention that the only elections that I have lost was last years VP learning and development by 13 votes in favour of James Harrison. Secondly I decided to run again as VP learning and development because I have a keen interest in education, in learning and teaching methods, also because I am eager to represent the views of my fellow students and to ensure that they received the best education. I consider running again because I think I am the best candidate for this position not only having the necessary experience but also the energy to bring actual change by following a plan and listening to students opinions.

Guardian: When you look at learning and teaching policy across the university what is the one area where you feel that the most work needs to be done to improve the student experience?

Razvan Balaban: The teaching staff at Glasgow University have to undergo a training course according to internal regulations in order to teach. One of the areas that I want to look at is improving the training offered to the academic staff in order to deliver the best quality of teaching.

Guardian: You talk about the SRC Sabbs putting money together to form a sabbatical fund, is the SRC an appropriate barometer of academic achievement and how would you make the selection for who would receive the money?

Razvan Balaban: SRC used to offer scholarships in the past to students coming from modest backgrounds. My proposal if accepted by the other sabbs will be to offer a scholarship to a student coming from a similar background. The decision and the analysis of the cases of students in need will be put forward to the entire SRC council to be debated and voted on.

Guardian: You have a strong focus on volunteering and the importance extracurricular stuff in your manifesto, do you think this is currently undervalued by the university? Would you like to see if valued in the form of credit towards degrees like a number of universities have?

Razvan Balaban: I think at this point it is undervalued by the leadership of the university and plays a crucial role in the employment market. Nowadays employers worldwide demand not only academic results but a strong extracurricular involvement; they ask for all-rounded students with the capability of finding a balance between their studies and extra activities. In order to encourage student participation this may be offer as university credits. The role of the university is not only to educate academically but to give rise to civic responsible graduates which can be achieved through extracurricular activities.

Insider Odds

4/1
Having placed highly in last years poll Balaban has a fair chance of doing well again this year.

Q&A

Guardian: It seems pretty clear from your manifesto that your big concern is about democratic accountability & transparency in the SRC, is the lack of transparency deliberate or the result of an apathetic student body?

Cowie: My big concern is democratic accountability & transparency in the SRC and the university at large. In the larger decision-making process of our institution, I believe there has been a deliberate attempt to push not just students but academic staff out of discussions. We saw that clearly when management attempted to push through cuts and course closures last year.
With regards to the SRC itself student apathy is obviously a problem. For many students the only engagement they’ll have with Council members will be attempting to dodge out of their way on library hill for two days of the year. This problem has been raised during every election I’ve witnessed here, and no one seems to have found a solution yet. I would argue that a radical change to the structure of the SRC, as well as the activity it engages in, will engage with students on new levels, at the same time as offering them something worth engaging in. The problem of student apathy isn’t what makes the SRC undemocratic, but a symptom of a lack of democracy and transparency.

Guardian: You’re running as part of the “Our Glasgow” slate. Do you think the factionalization of an organization which has the representation of all students at its heart is really a good idea?

Cowie: I don’t see it necessarily as a factionalization of the SRC, at least no more so than already takes place. Alliances obviously already exist on Council. We would rather be open about ours from the outset. We’re openly running as a slate because as a group of people we share an understanding of the problems with the SRC; a lack of democracy, accountability, and transparency of process. With this being said, there are many more candidates that have highlighted these as key issues. Where the OurGlasgow campaign goes further than other candidates is the conclusion we draw from this understanding. We have pooled our brainpower in order to come up with the concrete policies we are now offering in our manifestos. I think it is the strength of these policies that are forcing others to resort to an anti-slate argument. Furthermore, I do not believe that any member of the slate would have difficulty working with others upon their would-be election.

Guardian: Freshers’ Week commercialisation is another theme in your manifesto but the SRC has long claimed that it is this sponsorship which allow them to fund other SRC services like the Advice Centre. Is that not a price worth paying?

Cowie: The SRC Advice Centre is indeed a very worthy service, and one I know has greatly helped myself and friends. However, commercialisation is something students are having to fight at every level of their education. With privatisation posing such a threat, we have a duty to defend the services and societies on offer at Glasgow and I don’t believe we can do this without promoting these opportunities as hard as we can, and as often as we can. Freshers’ Week will be the first thing I have to organise should I be elected. Not only will it be my first shot at the job, it will be the first experience a whole new group of students has of our institution. To have a focus on external promoters is to do a disservice to that institution.

Insider Odds

With a limited profile, this would be a tough race for Cowie to win. But with a field without a clear leader there is everything to play for.

Q&A

Guardian: You don’t have much experience in the four SRC supported media bodies. If elected what will you do to bridge this gap in your knowledge and ensure the highest degree of support for Glasgow’s Media Bodies?

Pete Samson: My first step will be to ask questions, and I feel this should be the first step for anyone undertaking this role. Even if I were to have experience in the Guardian, for example, this would not give me any greater insight into the other media bodies. The Guardian is not the same as GUST, and Subcity is not the same as GUM. Each body is distinct in its identity and methods, and so it’ll be essential to make use of the information and experience that is available. My experience to date is limited to qmunicate magazine, but I have a critical eye and there may be a benefit in coming to this role from an outside perspective. It allows me to assess the student media bodies equally and without any kind of prejudgement.

Guardian: You have a background in design, do you think that this gives you an edge over the other candidates and do you think this is a key skill for VP-Comms?

Pete Samson: I have a background in design but I also have a background in language, and in communication in general. This should give me an edge because I am comfortable in using different media to convey ideas, and able to choose the right way to say something. Experience in design is not a prerequisite for the role but it does make a far better candidate. Most design work can be freelanced out, and I have nothing against using freelancers, but sometimes it is not the best option. If a fast turnaround is needed then it’s a benefit to have someone in-house who can complete the project; it’s quicker and often more effective as the work is being carried out by someone with direct understanding of the task.

Insider Odds

6/1
A candidate with a background in a lot of the relevant areas of the job but in a field with such a strong front runner the odds are against him.

Q&A

Guardian: Do you think the SRC is effective in communicating with over 20,000 students and if not what needs to be done?

Campbell: I think that there are many channels of communication open to the SRC; whether they are all used effectively is another matter. What I would like to do is target the communication more, the student body should not be treated as homogenous and so different methods of communication may appeal to different sectors. I don’t have any magical answer to solve this issue, I will ask students for their opinions on the matter, to see if together we can find an answer.

Guardian: The SRC is beginning to discuss separating itself from the student media bodies and setting them up as clubs & societies, This will ensure editorial freedom but place them in a less secure position in terms of finances and resources. Do you think this is the best course of action?

Campbell: I think there is an issue with that question: editorial independence is something you either have, or don’t have, it doesn’t increase by degrees. I think this was demonstrated by the Glasgow University Guardian this year, as it was highly critical of the SRC in the wake of Stuart Ritchie, something that wouldn’t have been possible if student media at the SRC was anything less that editorial independent.
I can see the benefits to the SRC as an organisation of putting student media in the same bracket as clubs and socs, but I am against it. The SRC’s student media is some of the finest in any university, and I feel this should not be hampered by imposing tighter financial constraints on them.
I am aware that the student media will face budget cuts in the coming year, but I believe that this awareness will enable the incoming media heads to prepare for this. The media groups are unlike any other Club or Society in the traditional sense, as they can attract extra income through advertising and events. Ultimately I feel that the guidelines for Clubs and Societies would not fit any of the media groups.

Insider Odds

6/1
With a background in media and a unique experience from amongst the candidates on how the SRC actually works you can’t rule Adam out, but strong competition make a victory unlikely.