PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HUSTINGS:

Candidate: Becca Davies

Proposer: Ashley Greenwood

Proposer's introduction:

Ashley spoke:

Last year, when people began talking about the presidential elections a lot of the freshers naturally began debating about who should stand for president in their year and one name was mentioned far more than any other. Rebecca Davies. I’m telling you this because it is a simple way of showing you how long Becca has given her time and commitment to the JJCR.

The decision to stand for president is never an easy one but what is most important is that when you do decide to stand you know why your are. When Becca sat down to talk to me about what she wanted to achieve; whether it be ways of making the college less apethetic, improving communication so that everyone remained informed or simply getting more people involved, it was always you, the members of the JCR that were central in her ideas.

Becca’s long involvement with the JCR, from being vice chair to a member of the Sabbatical President Working Group, not only shows how important the JCR is to her, but also has provided her with an essential knowledge of the internal workings which no other candidate could have. She knows what she letting herself in for.

I also want to add a personal note. Becca has been my friend for just over a year now and there are many things that I admire about her that I know will make her an excellent president. She’s strong but compassionate…like the next Margaret Thatcher but with a heart. She’s energetic and enthusiastic about what she sets her mind to…unlike myself who tends to get rather highly strung when we’re down at the boathouse at 6.30 in the morning in the freezing rain, with no boathouse key, one crew member short and no lights to go on the boat, Becca sorts the problem out calmly and effectively. Finally she’s loyal and dependable making her someone who not only I can turn to, but to whom you can too.

Devoted. Knowledgeable. Dependable.

Vote Becca Davies for JCR President

Candidate's hust.

Thanks Ashley. Thank you all for coming. For those of you I haven’t met before, my name is Becca and I’m a second year social scientist. Although my degree does have the title of a scientist I vary rarely venture up to the science site and certainly don’t have the lecture timetable of a scientist. Since arriving at John’s I soon discovered that my tutor was completely right when he said that “a degree is only a very small part of your time at university”. I’m here now to tell you that I would really like to dedicate the rest of my time to being your President.

I realise that it may feel like a waste of time coming to this hust, or even voting in this election, seeing as I’m up here all by myself. And although this RON chap has an impressive, unflagging dedication to the JCR, I fear he may not be entirely entertaining this evening. Nevertheless, we still have an important decision to make, and it’s one I’m certainly taking seriously.

I’m not sure that you will all of had a chance to look at my manifesto, and those of you who did I’m not sure that you will have been able to read it, what with the font being so bloody small, sorry about that. One of the concerns that I raised is that very few of us seem to know what the President and the Exec, and even the JCR, is for. What they’re meant to do, and how they fill their time being quite so busy. I know a large number of first years have never been to a JCR meeting, that a lot of the college doesn’t know who college council are, or who these Pres Comm people Josh goes out drinking with are. As Vice-chair, I’ve realised that it can all be a little complicated, the different motions and constitutional niggles, perhaps unnecessarily so. I’m not proposing that if I become elected I will hold communal constitution reading sessions, or compulsory lessons on John’s democracy. I realise that going to meetings and reading long dull documents is not how everyone wants to spend their time at university. What I want is for us to recognise that the JCR is us. When you here someone down the bar say “but the JCR is boring, it’s a waste of time”, they are talking about us, as individuals and as a community. I want us to realise that we’re not boring, that investing in our social life, our welfare, our sports teams is not a waste of time.

I was in the Bar with Stephen Hampton on Tuesday night and he answered my question ‘What does the President actually do?’. His answer was that the President was there to amuse him. And although I’m sure we could have some lovely chats about rowing and the like, I’m feeling a little more ambitious about the role of President than simply being an amusement to Dr Hampton. Fundamentally, I believe that the position is one of representation; representing the students to college officers, and representing the college on a university wide level. I am excited about the opportunities to represent the JCR and college. I’m proud of our community. Despite knowing very little about rugby, I think it’s brilliant that our college team has done so well against much bigger colleges. I’m proud that John’s has one of the most successful production companies in the university, that we have the best college choir and that the women’s football team never stops trying. I have held a number of representative roles before, which I’ve listed on my manifesto, so I won’t bore you with them. Suffice to say I’m confident that I have the skills required to take on the Presidency at John’s.

I want to make sure that, if elected, I am aware of the diverse opinions in college, so that I can make balanced decisions and represent us fairly. It’s clear that JCR meetings aren’t working as the only arena in which the President can gather/gage the JCRs opinion. I would like to look into why they’re not working, why attendance has fallen. I’d like to explore the possibility of making the meetings more convenient and fun for everyone. However, along side that, I think it has become essential that the President actively seeks the input of JCR members. If I’m asked to help college make an important decision which will affect our time here, then I want to have listened to those people who are extensively involved in college politics, but also to those who have ventured out of John’s, those who have braved DSU politics, or have dedicated their time to a university sport, or society. To do this I would ensure that I was approachable and easily accessible, that I generally took to time to engage with my fellow Johnians, and that I was a familiar face around Johns’s, in the dinner queue and down the bar.

I would particularly work hard to keep in touch with our second years. It’s just unrealistic to expect a hard-working, busy 2nd year to always want to trek down to college to sit through a long meeting and vote in our elections, or to be able to have a quick word in passing with the President about something they’re concerned about. I would look into holding more elections online and into posting Presidential and Exec manifestos to livers-out. But I would also encourage them to come back to college. I’m particularly keen to set up livers-out formals that perhaps run at the same time as normal formals, but they’re down the bar with a few pizzas for those many, many 2nd years who never make the formal list. Living out can be quite isolating, and a President at John’s needs to make sure that they’re not just representing those they happen to see regularly.

Recently I think it has become clear that the role of President has a lot to do with handling the unexpected situations that arise. I believe that I am capable of acting responsibly and sensitively. I am aware that if I become President, I will learn much more about the job, about the JCR and the things I could achieve as President. Situations are bound to arise that will take up my time and attention. So, considering this I want you to vote for me not because livers-out formals are a great idea, or because I would start planning an amazing party for our 100th birthday, but because of the way I would approach the whole Presidency. Because I will always seek to represent you fairly, I will consult you as much as possible, I will take on my tasks responsibly and enthusiastically, I will support and lead and your exec, and I will try my hardest to be fun and to listen. Thank you.

Questions

Martin Hodgetts: John's is an independent college and walks a fine line between independence and the University. How would you keep the balance?
Becca Davies: Josh let me shadow him. I hope to learn more about how the President can be involved. It's interesting to hear how the different JCRs are run. I'm interested in the University, but I recognise the benefits of independence. I realise from what people have said that it's something worth trying to save and protect.

Katie Wray: Obviously it's commendable that you're wanting to make the JCR more accessible; you have to have projects - what are they?
Becca Davies: Well I think I did identify projects; my major priority will be trying to be in touch. I will have to chat to everyone about it. I think that because there are so few people here, that has to be my first concern.

Ed McCarter: Is it possible to be a boatie and a President at the same time?
Becca Davies: I'd like to continue rowing; I wouldn't run for a Boat Club exec position.

Tim Marshall: How would you help the Exec work as a team?
Becca Davies: Well, I don't know who will succeed me yet.

Josh Heald: We're a very diverse community, but the differences between Cranmer and John's Hall are significant. How would you address what I think is currently a problem in terms of our integrations with our other half.
Becca Davies: I realise that Josh has been working hard on bringing the MCR and Cranmer and John's together. I wondered why they don't come to the Bailey Ball and our formals. I would want them to be invited and welcome. Some inter-John's and Cranmer marriages... we keep ourselves to ourselves at the moment. I don't think we should rule them out just because they're older.

Martin Hodgetts: Delegation is important; could you give me an example of a situation where you had to delegate something although you didn't really want to?
Becca Davies: Well, last year, in the Boat Club, I didn't delegate as well as I could; this term I have and I now find I have much more time to row and to be in touch. I think that if I do become President, delegation will be essential.

Dan Baxter: OK... I see one of the main issues at the moment is apathy. Certain candidates have highlighted this in their husts. How would you let ideas flow?
Becca Davies: I think the first years were let down in Freshers' Week. Something I would do would be to, right on top of Freshers' Week, have a JCR meeting. I don't think we should lose hope at the moment. Maybe our new exec might have some fun, fancy dress, that sort of show. I like the idea of having a Loo News type feature in a JCR meeting. We need to come together as a community and take time to laugh at each other and celebrate things together.

Enoch Cheng: What's your position on increasing college fees?
Becca Davies: I'm not very impressed, though I don't know the full details. It's not in line with the student loan, and the student loan has increased, which creates more debt.

Jeanna Shalkowski: Delegation happens most often to the VPs; how would you use this Spearhead configuration most effectively?
Becca: I'd try first of all to ensure that I had a relationship with the VPs. I think if we sat down and analysed all of their roles and the duties that they have... it depends who's elected and particular skills.

(not possible to see who asked question): More of a question about the sabbatical presidency: how would it affect your Presidency whether it swung one way or the other? How would it affect students in John's.
Becca Davies: I joined the Working Group as I was interested in this. I was willing to listen to both sides. I still haven't made my mind up. If we do have one, then that will be a big job for me as I'd have to look at the constitution. If that doesn't happen I would still like to continue researching how the JCR Exec can function most effectively. I think that the Working Group is very useful. Even if we don't have a Sabbatical President... it's something we should continue to look at. I would want to consult the JCR about it.

Richard Kelly: Obviously Durham is very different in that colleges are very important. What role do you see the DSU having for students in John's?
Becca Davies: We had the best DSU involvement in Durham a few years ago. I'd like to encourage people to branch out of John's. I think we can enjoy being involved in the University community. It's something that we can encourage. I went to the meeting last night and I did actually enjoy it. I feel a bit geeky and nerdy standing here and saying this. It's not for everyone. It might just be me and Richard that enjoys them. Even if it's not just an individual thing, I think that the DSU make some important decisions that affect the college and the community. Things that we should consider.

Dan Baxter: I want an honest answer here. What is your biggest weakness as a Presidential candidate?
Becca Davies: My biggest weakness would be... perhaps I have too much faith in diplomacy and being reasonable and chatting about it. I should try and be a little more assertive; I should work on that.

Ashley Greenwood: The main role is making everything behind the scenes work. There's a certain level of socialising, which decreases as work accumulates. Do you think you can balance the social aspect, the bureaucratic aspect, and your degree?
Becca Davies: My degree seems to require very little work. I will have all the rest of my time to commit to the presidency. It will be difficult to get used to it. I think it's something I would be able to do.

Dan Baxter: The role of President encompasses a lot of supporting and moulding John's. How do you see the role fits between supporting John's and representing it to the University, and how would you approach it?
Becca Davies: Getting involved in the University level might not be something that John's students really normally see. They're things I'm really interested in getting involved in. I'd approach it depending on what was happening at the time. If there was a university issue that John's students were really passionate about I'd take that and focus on it.

Ed McCarter: When they outlawed hanging it was unpopular. If you felt you were right would you feel confident doing something unpopular?
Becca Davies: I'd have to have lots of discussions. I would have to see what college said, as I'm representing them. I'm there in a position they elected me to, so I would hope they had some faith in me.

Josh Heald: In the process of being President through your year, you'll be presented with lots of times when you won't have time to consult the JCR on issues. How comfortable are you at reaching the decision, and how comfortable are you with defending that once you've made the decision?
Becca Davies: If college wanted me to make a snap decision then I'd try and fight for more time to bring it back to students. If I've made a decision I will of course have to defend it. You will have voted me in to do that for you.

Jeanna Shalkowski: JCR Meetings: Sunday or Thursday?
Becca Davies: I'm leaning towards Sunday.

David Lorimer: What is your position on Margaret's?
Becca: I don't live in Margaret's. I don't know as much as the Exec do. I don't agree with college not renting it out to others.