Issue 152
AU Election 2007 - Candidates
AU Election Candidates
12th February 2007
To give students an insight into this years AU presidential candidates, the Waterfront has invited each of them to tell us their aims.
The AU Election Candidates:
Laura Fairbank
Getting to know Laura:
She was women's football captain in her 2nd year. Her favourite Swansea memory is when she was captain and they beat Aberystwyth 1st's 3-0. She sums herself up as friendly, approachable and honest.
Some of Laura's aims:
Treat each club as an individual and look at its merits
To increase the popularity of varisty outside the AU.
Maximise the websites potential.
Lectures by top class speakers, open to all.
Make the most of our excellent facilities.
Aim to increase the AU's funds via increased sponsorship where possible, more events or possibly a grant from the University, to help us maximise our potential.
Maintain free first aid and minibus courses.
Have a consultation with each club at the beginning of the year to discuss their needs.
Increasing advertisement of sports that are going on.
Try to get as many people involved as possible.
Simon Griffin
Getting to know Simon:
He has a diverse portfolio of representation across many sporting fields in his time at Swansea from rugby to being a member of the snowriders. He sums himself up as dedicated, smiley and overly excited.
Some of Simon's aims:
To be contactable 24/7.
To increase access to university facilities.
Expand the sponsorship potential of the Athletic Union.
Spread AU funds through a fair tiered system.
Annual alumni matches to be encouraged as heritage is important.
To create a less congested and less time consuming registration process for AU.
Funds to be set aside for coaching courses. Sport, facility and gender specific training advice from professionals.
Tailored training sessions available.
Abolishing Wednesday lectures in a bid to allow sports players the time they need to prepare, so they can give their full performance.
Higher organisation and guarantees of travel to and from fixtures - without the bus fares.
Henry Hilsdon
Getting to know Henry:
He has been an active member of many sport teams in his three years at Swansea, principally rowing which he is presently club captain of. His favourite Swansea memory is that of kayaking in Scotland with the canoe club in his fresher year. He sums himself up as dynamic, friendly and dedicated.
Some of Henry's aims:
Ensure the survival and growth of minority sports.
Enhance the focus sports programme.
Actively encourage club members to attain coaching qualifications.
Raise the profile of sport within the university and increase the self-promotion of sports.
Make the AU website more user friendly.
Introduce two minibus tests per year.
Involve alumni a lot more becuase it is an untapped marketing resource.
Greater recognition of intra-mural sport in the university.
Aim to help clubs that help themselves.
Promote fundraising within clubs.
Grant Robinson
Getting to know Grant:
His main sporting passion at university is rugby, however he has also been involved with football and golf and surfing is another passion of his. His favourite Swansea memories are captaining the 2nd rugby team to victory in Birmingham last year and catching his first barrel at Oxwich. He sums himself up as big, loud and confident
Some of Grant's aims:
Realise Swansea University's sporting potential.
Become recognised as a centre of sporting excellence on a national level.
Install a sense of pride and unity within the AU
Part subsidise the reintroduction of post match dinners for all home teams.
Introduce an AU sports day where clubs play each other.
Ensure that all clubs have adequate equipment and training facilities.
Encourage involvement in the AU as he believes that this has enhanced his university experience and therefore everyone should have the chance to experience that.
Leesha Traynor
Getting to know Leesha:
She was women's football captain in her first year but has been involved in a variety of sports. Her favourite Swansea memory was the women's football tour to Spain. She sums herself up as sporty, dedicated and approachable.
Some of Leesha's aims:
Ensure equality throughout through out the AU.
Encourage and support minority sports and continue to build on the success of established clubs & focus sports.
Raise more finance in the AU by: applying for a larger block grant from the University; sell advertising space (such as hoardings around playing areas).
Improve AU camaraderie.
Utilise the University's excellent Sports Science department by encouraging involvement with sports clubs.
Greatly increase communication by revamping all notice boards.
Appeal to the University to take sport into consideration when timetabling Wednesday afternoons.
Push water-based sports to have fairer access to facilities.
Stuart Phillips
Stuart PhillipsSports Editor