On this page...

• Video: my one minute speech
• My manifesto
• Favourite quote
• Candidate questions and answers
• Word associations
• Most-admired person

My one-minute candidate video

My manifesto

I'm Andrea, known to most as Andrex, and the one dressed as a MIME this week. I'm hoping to be your Student Support Officer next year.

I attempt to play hockey but am useless, so have utilised my skills as Social Secretary, doing this has brought me into greater contact with the SABB office and increased my practical understanding on how financial affairs and paperwork is dealt with.

Campaign Promises that Speak For Themselves

When 2008's young, eager (and basically confused) Freshers arrive I want them to be able to see the RAG organisation, get involved in their first week and then carry on from there.

RAG should be an integral part of university life and there is no reason why it shouldn't be combined with every event that the union does, as well as having its own separate status.

It should not operate independently but make use of the array of talent that the Societies and Sports Clubs are an agent for, from big events, like the Carnivals to a simple raffle at Christmas dinners.

Breaking out of the Box

It's too easy at University to live in a bubble, we should branch out and be inspired by our inter-city campus, helping the people we share our city with and integrating our events with them.

Giving a Voice to the Silent

To many The Union is just a bar not a representation of the student body as it should be. If higher attendance at union meetings is to be expected then more groups need to be represented from all our different members and I would like to continue the work of previous Student Support Officers by having official representatives from these groups so as to diversify our active membership.

As a SABB officer I would not be staying in my office, I know from my course (English and Creative Writing) that the written word is important but Facebook groups are not enough to promote and are impersonal, SABB officer's shouldn't just be a face but a conversation, campaigns need to be promoted to and with people, not at them on posters and Students should know there is a person ready and available, and who really bloody cares, and wants to make their time at Portsmouth as amazing as possible so they are happy as their time ends and are ready to carry on.

Stay Safe, wear sunscreen

Vote Andrex

Favourite quote

“...Just pass the kindness on”, the words of an old woman who gave me a garibaldi biscuit once on a train.

Candidate questions and answers

1. What do you envisage the role of Student Support Officer to be?

They should be there and actually in the consciousness of the people they are meant to be helping, a real person as apposed to a defaced photo in the student planner and able to help in day-to-day life and making sure students some how get involved with their union.

2. Why should students vote for you as their student officer?

I have bounded through university; befriended people from completely different extremes (not offended that many I hope) and have worked within a Uni club, for the university and amongst the Portsmouth community. I would love others to have the same varied experience. And I really like people, they’re so interesting.

3. What is the most important thing to remember when supporting students?

That everyone is different; many students won’t feel confident to verbally ask for help but would prefer anonymous advice. Also there are trained people within the university who could be of more use and it’s the officer’s job to be humble enough to guide the student to this person.

4. What do you think are the most important issues that you would have to fight for as the Student Support Officer?

Well the students (bit of an obvious one) but all they represent and interests them, making sure the students are given a louder voice and respected by their own university (and the blooming landlords), before conquering the outside world and making the local community appreciate us also.

5. As the Students Support Officer it’s your responsibility to run the Union campaigns, What would your top three campaigns be and why?

• Diversity – Amalgamating representatives of all the student union at one event.
• An ongoing project throughout the year (within RAG), culminating in a trip and practically assisting those it raises money for.
• Meet the Portsmouth People – integrating within the community for both sides benefit.

6. Part of your role is to organise Union Council. How do you intend to improve and enhance this so that more students attend?

TALKING TO PEOPLE, if I get asked by one more ‘facebook’ application “what horse I am” then I may stab myself with a biro. However, people are much harder to ignore than applications, Students will come on the spur of the moment and promotion just before would be very useful.

7. What would be your main agenda item at the Union’s AGM?

Does everyone have longer than 15 minutes to sit here and talk about things properly? What have people who don’t have to be here got to say? Has anyone actually spoken personally to a student they didn’t already know today or within the last week?

8. A major part of your portfolio is Raising and Giving (RAG) What ideas do you have for building upon the RAG foundations?

Making RAG part of everyday life, from awareness in halls through regular meetings with Reps and Residents, with things as simple as raffles to making sure RAG’s a part of every union event (whether run by a sport or a society) and start a year long focused project.

9. As a Sabbatical Officer, networking is essential and important, what is your best networking line?

I was just wondering what that was too.

Word associations

• Support: friends
• Welfare: respect
  
• Campaigns: intelligence       
  
• Elections: ANDREX
  
• RAG: revival
  

Most-admired person

The man who runs the old fashioned sweet shop on Albert Road, just next to the Kings Theatre and isn’t open until after 11 at night, obviously there are other people I admire, but just thought this would be of more interest to anyone reading, go visit, he sells the best, jazzies, humbugs and lemon bon bons. An interesting chap.