Sophie Kendrick for DoSDA

[sophers]

Hey all,

My name is Sophie Kendrick and I am running for Director of Student Development and Activities this Friday. My time at St Andrews has been an amazing rollercoaster ride of incredible people, experiences, successes and challenges and I hope that every one of you is able to truly recognise the magic of the St Andrews' student experience.

I am passionate about promoting a fulfilling, enjoyable and constructive student experience for each and every student here in St Andrews. I believe that we have incredible untapped potential for creativity, self-expression and achievement and will do my utmost to promote and encourage YOUR interests and aspirations.

I have extensive experience throughout student life: in societies, my hall, subcommittees, theatre and University fundraising, giving me unique insight into what students want from the University experience and enabling me to come to the Union with fresh and dynamic ideas.

The Students’ Association is an incredible resource, which I feel is rather underutilised, and I will make sure everyone knows that the Union is so much more than just the last stop on a night out.

I am creative, forward-thinking and reliable. Committed to creating a positive and enjoyable atmosphere amongst the student population, I will:
- Be a friendly, approachable & available DoSDA
- Hold individual advice sessions to help you develop and achieve
- Think strategically about the best way for the Union to function in order for students to maximise the potential of their time here - making the Redevelopment so much more than just a makeover
- Make your extracurriculars matter through the integration of the St Andrews Award
- Increase publicity to generate enthusiasm
- Encourage university support for student activity.

Please feel free to get in touch and ask any questions.

Vote for Sophie Kendrick – sharing the experience.

facebook group: http://www.sophiefordosdafacebook.tk
website: http://www.sophiefordosda.tk

[David Bean]

Hi Sophie, good on you for coming over here and reaching out to people. I don't think I've had the opportunity of meeting you yet, but I'm taking a close interest in this election because I was the first DoSDA back in 2005-'06, and I'm also making a (dramatic?!) return to St Andrews in September to read an M.Litt in Ancient History. I've read some of your materials, and a quick, unscientific Facebook poll would seem to indicate you've a pretty good chance in this election. I wonder, therefore, whether you might answer a couple of questions I had.

First of all, I notice that you've said you'd like to work more closely with the university around promoting student activities. This is a laudable aim, and one I also tried to push for, particularly with regard to the Careers Centre. I was wondering, did you have any particular ideas about which areas you would like to see more work in, and what specifically you'd like to see the university do more of? In particular, could you share your thoughts on the University's (relatively) new Student Experience department, and how you see its relationship with the Students' Association developing?

Secondly, as you will be aware, St Andrews is not, and has not for many years been, affiliated to the National Union of Students, and recent events at Durham University, culminating in its own disaffiliation, would tend to reiterate the reasons why we have taken this position. Could you share with us your views on the NUS, and in particular could you offer an assurance that if elected you will neither propose nor support any move to affiliate St Andrews to the NUS?

Aside from that, if you - or any other candidate, for that matter - feel you would benefit from talking to someone who has been through the DoSDA experience before, please don't hesitate to contact me, either here or on Facebook.

Best of luck with the campaign.

[DACrowe]

....I'm also making a (dramatic?!) return to St Andrews in September to read an M.Litt in Ancient History.

Duh-duh-duhhhh. Mothers lock up your daughters.

In particular could you offer an assurance that if elected you will neither propose nor support any move to affiliate St Andrews to the NUS?

One thing you can guarantee is that anyone who would propose re-affiliating with the NUS has very little experience of the NUS in 'action' and is possibly, just possibly, absolutely mental. I believe I'm right in saying that only one candidate seems has mentioned anything to do with the NUS - Sam Fowles wants to set up CHESS cards as the equivalent of their NUS alternatives - and that though that seems fine in theory (everyone likes a discount), as I'm sure you know the massive sinkhole which is the NUS card scheme is amongst the many reasons not to have anything to do with it (and why CHESS wouldn't touch the idea with a bargepole) - but he's not suggested he'd have any interest in re-affiliating.

I'm sure St Andrews' disaffiliate status is safe for the time being.