As part of our election series this year, we have created a rundown of all the key things you need to know about your candidates and potential SU officers for next year
For the next chapter of Bath Time’s election series, we will be jumping into our Sports Officer manifestos. This year, the choice is a bit simple, with just the two candidates to choose from, and if I were slightly wittier, this is the point where I would make a pun about both candidates being called Emily. Alas, I am not, so instead let's just jump into the manifestos and see what separates our two candidates. My final caveat before you read further: this article is a summary, and you absolutely should read each manifesto in full before making your choice.
Emily Dunn
A second-year astrophysics student, a Rower, recreational Netball, Tennis and Hockey player and Sports Performance Officer on the sports executive committee. Even outside of these experiences, Emily D has completed an internal audit to try and understand what benefits could be brought to the non-performance sports at Bath. It is clear that sport has been a significant part of Emily D’s time at Bath, so what policies would she implement?
Largely, there is focus on three main policies: streamlining the finance system for “quicker approvals”, the organisation of low-level fixtures and the introduction of more social exercise clubs. Emily D says that these changes would allow more people to get involved in sports and without having to commit to a specific job. These policies are therefore consistent with her main campaign aim of making sure everyone can get as much as possible out of sport. Emily D also claims that all her manifesto points have been brought and raised to her by fellow students, guiding how she formed her policies.
The short manifesto offers deliverable points but is slightly lacking in detail. While Emily D herself is clearly passionate about sports and well-equipped with the skills to be Sports Officer through previous experiences, it would be interesting to know her plans to tackle other issues. Furthermore, providing more social sports and exercise is something many people can get behind, particularly because of the hyper-competitive nature of sports in Bath. However, the feasibility of this will be difficult with existing issues around where and when sport can be played, and whether there will be enough equipment. All of these are issues sports societies have already faced on Campus. Despite this, Emily D has set out a clear goal in this manifesto and it's one I think everybody could get behind.
Emily McManus
Emily M begins by recognising that sport plays a huge role in student life in Bath, but also that just because we are the Sports University of the Year, does not mean the system is perfect. With 2 years on the Sports Executive Committee, Emily M has developed her manifesto and states that she found inspiration for her manifesto and policies whilst on the committee.
Starting with “Sport is more than just sport”, there are pledges to better promote the health benefits of sport, further integrate the Bath Active Daily Mile and stream more major events such as the big BUCS Wednesday. Then moving into the contested ground of recreational engagement, Emily M would expand the Bath Active offer and improve the social media coverage for recreational sports. Emily M has also placed quite a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion in sport with the introduction of sensory hours in the STV and exploring the reintroduction of female-only swim fit lanes in the pool. Two other points are centred around, firstly, revamping the buddy scheme and consulting students to understand how it can best support them and then promoting that revamped scheme. Finally, this manifesto discusses the redevelopment of Sulis to expand the recreational offering while still maintaining the performance aspect. Under Emily M, this would include student consultation and aligning booking slots at Sulis with the U4 bus timetable.
Emily M’s manifesto is certainly detailed, concern lies with a consistent reliance on “consultations”. While consultations do aid in representing students and ensuring that a range of views can be heard, they come with the downside of being time-consuming. The effect of this could easily be delays to other pledges as consultations take up more time. Despite this, it is good to see student voices being listened to, something Emily M ends her manifesto with by stating that student engagement has been and will be key if she is elected.
Students are really faced with a tough choice with the Emilys here. With similar credentials and the same passion for sport that so many students at Bath hold. While Emily D has a defined statement and a narrow but clear manifesto, Emily M has a broader offering but could face issues in delivering all her points next year and keeping student voices heard.