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

Who are you?

Hi, my name is Peter "Hug" Henry, a final year Genome Science student and I'm running for the position of Student Support Officer.

I was the founder and first President of the Hug Society, and I'm currently the treasurer of the Metal Industrial and Gothic music Society.

Why should I vote for you?

I left home for university originally. I soon found I was longing for the comforts of home, feeling isolated and lonely. That was when I needed someone to comfort me, no one did, and I ended up moving home to Portsmouth.

I realised that there must be other people away from home who feel the same way that I did, and I couldn't bear the thought of anyone else going through that and missing out on the fun of Uni life. That was why I set up Hug Soc, as a socialising support network run for students, by students.

I aim to support and encourage diversity within the student body. I will do this by educating the university as a whole on issues concerning different lifestyles and beliefs that are currently misunderstood or unheard of.

Above all else I will be someone that students can trust, and be there for them as a shoulder to cry on as well as someone in a position to take their campaigns, ideas and points of view to the union, university, and even the nation and the government.

If elected as Student Support Officer I intend to:

• Be open and approachable to anyone who needs help, for whatever reason
• Make sure that RAG gets the publicity that it deserves and needs
• Encourage more of the student body to get involved with both RAG and VIP
• See a greater collaboration between the different elements that make up the student community. This could be achieved with more events like the Societies Take-over.
• With the rest of the sabbatical team promote, defend and extend the rights of all students.

So What Now?

If you would like to know more about my policies there will be a question and answer session W/C Mon 3 March, where you can listen to every candidate and decide who would be best for the job.

Between Wednesday 12 March – Friday 14 March go to one of the polling stations and cast your vote.

Vote for Pete because everyone needs a "Hug".

Favourite quote

"Would you like a hug with that sandwich?" Juan Mann – Founder of the ‘Free Hugs’ Campaign

Candidate questions and answers

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

I envisage the role of the Student Support Officer to be a friendly, open, huggable person. To deal with all social and personal problems and refer students to official bodies in and around the university. A major role is to promote diversity and equality for all.

2 Why should students vote for you as their Student Support officer?

I will help and represent the whole student community. I believe that there is a need to combat bullying and abuse that occurs due to ignorance about alternative lifestyles and faiths. Students should vote for me if they agree that integration, equality and acceptance is the key.

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

Individuality is the most important thing to remember when supporting students. The Support Officer must exercise both sensitivity and compassion on issues that affect the everyday life of all students.

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

The most important issues that I will have to face as the Support Officer are;

• Top-Up Fees,
• Diversity and integration,
• Personal safety,
• Housing and finance.

Together with the rest of the Sabbatical team I will endeavour to tackle these issues for the good of students.

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

My top three campaigns;

• Raising awareness of alternative lifestyles and faiths, because hate crimes against those that are different must come to an end.
• Alcoholism amongst students. More must be done to promote safe drinking practices.
• Raising awareness of abuse of both genders, everyone needs to know that help exists.

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

I intend to make all students aware that they do have a voice within the power structure of the union by informing them about the Council and what it could do for them. Also to make food available, as with the societies council.

7 What would be your main agenda item at the Unions AGM?

My main agenda item at the AGM will be the reuniting of the Athletic Union and the societies as they have become not only separated but rivals within the union. I believe that this reuniting will not only make for better working relationships but make the Union stronger!

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

To build upon RAG I will make RAG week a major University event, liaise with societies and clubs promote them through related RAG events, and have more events over the year.

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

I have no method for networking I just meet and chat to people, and pick up contacts, building my network through my everyday life.

Word associations

• Support: Reinforcement
• Welfare: Happiness
  
• Campaigns: Crusades
  
• Elections: Choice
  
• RAG: Compassion 

Most-admired person

Rosa Parks - became famous for refusing to obey bus drivers order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. This action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the greatest movements against racial segregation in history.