Counting down...

As we approach the last 12 hours of voting I want to thank all of you for your support and hard work over the last 2, 3, or 4 weeks. I couldn't have done it without you.

I hope by now you have all voted, but if you haven't then there is still time (just) if you click here, and vote for me for Democracy and Services officer.

Whatever happens in the results tomorrow night, I know that I have tried to be honest and open throughout this campaign, and have tried to promote the message that I truly believe: that we have been let down by broken promises and deserve better from our Union.

If that message strikes a chord with you and you haven't yet voted, then cast your ballot for me now.

To everyone else, many thanks. It's been a pleasure.

I'll see you at the Results Night Party, tomorrow night from nine in the Courtyard.

Chris

Interviews

Over the weekend there have been a ream of interviews with various media outlets covering the election. Last night I was on URY, the radio station, which you can hear again here.

Also over the weekend I answered some questions that the nice people at the Yorker had for me, and you can read that here (along with the other candidates' answers).

Finally, Vision is out tomorrow, and I have an interview there along with a full election coverage supplement. Be sure to pick up your copy around campus.

And of course, while you're reading this, click here and vote for me. Thanks!

Voting open!

It's bright and cold on Monday morning, and voting for the elections has officially opened. Click on the link here and cast your ballot for me, Chris Etheridge, for Democracy and Services to ensure that no more promises are broken next year!

Thanks to everyone, spread the word!

Best,

Chris

Friday

We have all been really fortunate with the weather this week, it has been a gorgeous week for being out and about, talking to people and campaigning. I particularly enjoyed meeting all of you in the Fusion queue and hearing what you though about some of my policies.

Well, it#s been a busy first week, voting opens on Monday, so don't forget to vote. If you join the facebook group (and obviously invite ll your friends from York) then we'll send out details of how to vote on Monday. Again, any questions, please drop me a line on the email address.

Thanks for the week so far, it's been great!

Chris

Thursday

Well, it's almost the end of the first week of campaigning. What a fantastic time it has been, meeting all of you and talking about the issues that matter to you. A lot of people are very keen on the drop-box issue, even if they don't live in Halifax or on Hes East! It's really encouraging to see such a strong cross-campus spirit of community.

I'm also very excited about Fusion tomorrow night. I watched their dance practice out on Vanbrugh Paradise at lunchtime, it's really very impressive. I hear it's going to be busy during the two nights that it's showing, I'll see some of you there I imagine!

No matter who I talk to, everyone is angered by the broken promises of YUSU. This has been the basis for my whole campaign, because it's the single most important issue to most students. The want to be able to feel that they can trust those who are responsible for running their union. If you haven't already seen it, please check out my campaign video:

Wednesday

What a busy day! Today we were outside the library and again on Vanbrugh paradise. The cash machine closures are a disgrace, and I know that a lot of you are annoyed about that. It would be easy to write here that I will fix these, but sadly it just isn't that simple. We did some extensive research into this before the campaign, and it's an issue that is dealt with by the University, and the external banks on campus. All that I could do in the role is to lobby the University on this. Be assured that I would do this!

In other news, hustings was great fun. Here is my speech, it's difficult to fit so many ideas into two minutes!

Democracy and Services Officer: Chris Etheridge produced by York Student Television, released under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license

Finally, late night we talked to lots of Goodricke students over at Hes East. They really wanted the library drop boxes, and I think appreciated us going over.

Any questions, drop me a line or join the facebook group.

Chris.

Hustings

Hustings are tonight. Come along to P/L002 or watch live blogging on nouse. Event starts 18.30.

Policies

The manifesto is already up, but for ease of use, here are my policies:

- Bring the 'Big 3' back to Central Hall - headlining bands, top comedy acts and theatre productions

- 24-hour library drop boxes in Halifax and Goodricke (Hes East)

- Start construction on a swimming pool within 18 months

- Themed food nights in the Coutyard (curry nights, sumer BBQs)

- Overhaul campus bike hire service, with outlets on Hes East and Hes West

- Free water dispensers in the library

- Traffic light system to monitor policy progress, so that you can see what is happening to the policy that affects you

- Make better use of the plasma TV screens around campus to communicate with students

- Revamp the YUSU email system


Any questions about them, please get in touch!

Tuesday

A great first day of campaigning, spent mainly out on sunny Vanbrugh paradise. It was great to meet lots of you tonight in James and Halifax at the toasties events, and to hear your concerns. It seems that the broken promises message is really ringing true for many of you, and a lot of people were excited about the swimming pool and library drop box policies.

If you haven't seen us yet, please look out for us, there are signs all over campus and tomorrow (Wednesday) we'll be on campus early until late again.

Any questions, please get in touch using the email address. Oh yes, and please join the facebook group and invite your friends!

See on the campaign trail!

Best,

Chris

Tuesday March 2nd, 1pm, Vanbrugh Paradise

Be there.

No More Broken Promises

Manifesto

I’m Chris Etheridge, and like you, I’m tired of candidates making promises that they can’t fulfil. In my experience, this damages politics and turns people off. We deserve a better type of candidate.

I have organised four society balls, and the charity walks for Gaza and recently Haiti, which raised over £5,000 for desperate people. Using this experience, I promise to work with dedication to bring the big three back to central hall – headlining bands, travelling theatre productions, and top comedy acts.

I am a candidate for all the colleges, not just one, and that’s why I promise to put 24-hour library drop-boxes on Heslington East, where Goodricke are (and soon Langwith), and in Halifax. I will also overhaul the campus bike hire service, to help students from those further colleges to reach campus easier.

Using my experience as YUSU Campaigns officer, and as treasurer of two large societies, I promise to make sure that construction begins on a swimming pool on Heslington East within the next 18 months. Students often feel ill-informed about YUSU. That’s why I promise to revamp the YUSU newsletter, and to make better use of the plasma screens around campus. I will also introduce a traffic light system to show how we are progressing with our policy promises, because I’m tired, and you’re tired, of broken promises by those in charge.

I understand what makes a good event, and that’s why I promise to sell Viking Raid routes separately, so that friends can guarantee being together. I also promise to introduce food-themed nights at the Courtyard, such as curry nights and a summer BBQ.
And I promise to put water dispensers in the library.

But more than anything, I make this promise to you: No more broken or empty promises. Not from me, at least.