I think today was one of those days where I wasn't sure what to think - getting my head around the fact that my performance was being reviewed by one newspaper, and another was trying to check out my facebook (I thought it was just law firms that did that!) - that was one thing. Then the phonecall came from the editor of one of the newspapers - 'We'd like to do a photo of the Access candidates for the front page.' - Well that's not something you hear every day! I think that whomever wins this tightly contested election next Wednesday, there is actually one true winner, and that is Access itself - the fact that this election is one of the most heavily contested positions again this year shows that Access does matter and that there are lots of people within the University, who are doing some amazing work in Access and that the fact that Access is making the front page of newspapers is amazing because it is raising the profile of some of the key issues that every candidate is referring to - the effect of low aspirations, the role teachers play, the issue of positive discrimination - all important issues that need to be discussed.
So, off to the photoshoot we went - and fair enough, they wanted a different photo to the usual one where everyone stands nicely and smiles individually, but I didn't expect what happened next - standing over another candidate with a stool raised ferociously above my head, whilst he is threatening to knee the other - sounds like something out of some cheap drama, with a bar room brawl!
I'll let you see for yourself what photo they go for in the end by checking the papers in the morning.
Hustings were on my home turf tonight, and bearing in mind we're a small college, we had a decent turn-out. Questions covered areas such as: raising awareness of access issues to increase student involvement, the Cambridge Ambassadors Programme, and even what we would do if something went wrong on a scheme you were responsible for, and it was late at night, and you were tired - nothing too specific then!
Then it was off up the hill to Churchill (well up the back way but that's beside the point!) The venue was on the large side but it was not too bad - questions were posed on the issues of positive discrimination, how to ensure fees are not a psychological barrier to access and even how much we see Access as a political role - that's another great thing about this campaign - really gives the chance to consider issues relating to Access in a way that we may never have thought about before.
For those of you who are interested - I have a blog up on the varsity website if you fancy a look? http://blog.varsity.co.uk/2009/02/26/choices-choices-choices/#more-35
Anyways - am off to bed - maybe one day during this campaign I may actually get to bed before 2am! One can only hope!
Until tomorrow...
Friday, 27 February 2009
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Wednesday 25th February
Well today was a day of firsts - the first round of hustings and my first ever demonstration.
I know which one I found less intimidating (and in case you were wondering - it was the demo!)
I thought I'd go along to the demo bearing in mind I helped organise the HE Funding debate we had last term and also that the Access and Funding Team were organisng it, and I'll be honest, the last thing I want to see happen is to see the infamous cap being lifted! And I enjoyed it (admittedly, when everyone sat down in the road, I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do then! Fortunately I had some more experienced people to keep me under their wing!)
Arriving back earlier than expected is always a bonus... unless you are already worrying about the first round of hustings for a CUSU election - not even the good ol' Trinity Hall food could tempt me this evening!
By the way - if anyone knows of a remedy for nerves (non-alcoholic!) then do let me know - I'm really keen to know!
I suppose the first round of hustings wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - I'm never going to be a public speaker, but hopefully my passion comes through every time - Do I think the Access Officer needs to be a brilliant public speaker? Feel free to disagree with me but I don't - I have found that students tend to relate to me, a lot of the time for the simple reason that they can relate to me - I know what it's like to think that university 'isn't for people like me' or 'I don't want to move away'.
Questions covered issues ranging from the cost of studying in Cambridge, to how we can better inform teachers, to the relative budgets of Access and Education - plenty to keep any candidate on their guard!
What I have quickly discovered is that the winner from this campaign has got to be Access as a whole- Varsity has it down as the 'really exciting' race (I now know how odd it feels seeing your performance being reviewed - as if I wasn't nervous enough!)- and surely, the main thing to come out of this week will be a much higher profile for the issues that Access exists to deal with, and no matter who wins in 7 days time, that is huge positive that every candidate can take out of this process.
Anyway - suppose I'd better get to bed at some point! Home turf tomorrow followed by Churchill (apparantly Sidney still has the norovirus within its walls!) - Night :o)
I know which one I found less intimidating (and in case you were wondering - it was the demo!)
I thought I'd go along to the demo bearing in mind I helped organise the HE Funding debate we had last term and also that the Access and Funding Team were organisng it, and I'll be honest, the last thing I want to see happen is to see the infamous cap being lifted! And I enjoyed it (admittedly, when everyone sat down in the road, I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do then! Fortunately I had some more experienced people to keep me under their wing!)
Arriving back earlier than expected is always a bonus... unless you are already worrying about the first round of hustings for a CUSU election - not even the good ol' Trinity Hall food could tempt me this evening!
By the way - if anyone knows of a remedy for nerves (non-alcoholic!) then do let me know - I'm really keen to know!
I suppose the first round of hustings wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - I'm never going to be a public speaker, but hopefully my passion comes through every time - Do I think the Access Officer needs to be a brilliant public speaker? Feel free to disagree with me but I don't - I have found that students tend to relate to me, a lot of the time for the simple reason that they can relate to me - I know what it's like to think that university 'isn't for people like me' or 'I don't want to move away'.
Questions covered issues ranging from the cost of studying in Cambridge, to how we can better inform teachers, to the relative budgets of Access and Education - plenty to keep any candidate on their guard!
What I have quickly discovered is that the winner from this campaign has got to be Access as a whole- Varsity has it down as the 'really exciting' race (I now know how odd it feels seeing your performance being reviewed - as if I wasn't nervous enough!)- and surely, the main thing to come out of this week will be a much higher profile for the issues that Access exists to deal with, and no matter who wins in 7 days time, that is huge positive that every candidate can take out of this process.
Anyway - suppose I'd better get to bed at some point! Home turf tomorrow followed by Churchill (apparantly Sidney still has the norovirus within its walls!) - Night :o)
Why am I standing?
This was a question that I had to ask myself long and hard before taking the plunge and submitting my nomination...
Was it because I fancy a year out? No. Was it because I like the idea of 16 hustings? Well seeing as I'm not the best public speaker in the world - I guess the answer would have to be no.
I think the main reason that I came up with was that thinking about it - Access is what I love doing, and is what I feel passionate about.
I'll be honest, there is something that I spend more time doing than access work, but there's not a huge amount of difference in it, it's a slight distraction called a law degree. But that aside, access projects are what I love doing! Whether it's visiting 20 schools on my own to give talks over the summer, or hosting a group of Year 10 students for their first visit to Cambridge - there's just that feeling I guess about knowing that you are really making a difference. I'd probably say I'm a bit of an access addict (if there is such thing!) - whether it's creating new college access projects, applying to be a Cambridge Ambassador, doing access work for CUSU or even for the Law Faculty of Archaeology Dept, I just love being involved.
I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that I know how beneficial these access programmes are. I remember my senior tutor mentioning the idea of Oxbridge to me about when I was nearing the end of Year 12, and I could have fallen off my chair (it took them long enough to make me think about University!) - My parents never went to uni, neither did my friends, or anyone in that street for that matter - so surely that wasn't the kind of thing that people like me did was it? Funny how things turn out - 3 years later and I'm standing for CUSU Access Officer as I approach the end of my 2nd year in law. Didn't see that one coming!
So... how am I feeling now? Nervous? No. Slightly terrified? That's probably more like it.
Oh well, I guess that's part and parcel of the game (and nothing can be more scary than the video hustings right?) - Guess I'll have to wait and see!
Was it because I fancy a year out? No. Was it because I like the idea of 16 hustings? Well seeing as I'm not the best public speaker in the world - I guess the answer would have to be no.
I think the main reason that I came up with was that thinking about it - Access is what I love doing, and is what I feel passionate about.
I'll be honest, there is something that I spend more time doing than access work, but there's not a huge amount of difference in it, it's a slight distraction called a law degree. But that aside, access projects are what I love doing! Whether it's visiting 20 schools on my own to give talks over the summer, or hosting a group of Year 10 students for their first visit to Cambridge - there's just that feeling I guess about knowing that you are really making a difference. I'd probably say I'm a bit of an access addict (if there is such thing!) - whether it's creating new college access projects, applying to be a Cambridge Ambassador, doing access work for CUSU or even for the Law Faculty of Archaeology Dept, I just love being involved.
I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that I know how beneficial these access programmes are. I remember my senior tutor mentioning the idea of Oxbridge to me about when I was nearing the end of Year 12, and I could have fallen off my chair (it took them long enough to make me think about University!) - My parents never went to uni, neither did my friends, or anyone in that street for that matter - so surely that wasn't the kind of thing that people like me did was it? Funny how things turn out - 3 years later and I'm standing for CUSU Access Officer as I approach the end of my 2nd year in law. Didn't see that one coming!
So... how am I feeling now? Nervous? No. Slightly terrified? That's probably more like it.
Oh well, I guess that's part and parcel of the game (and nothing can be more scary than the video hustings right?) - Guess I'll have to wait and see!
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