By Grant Kuppenheimer
Opinion Editor Grant Kuppenheimer talks to the candidates for the SJCR presidency, with the aim of giving voters a better understanding of who is running before casting their vote. All candidates were asked the same questions. Grant sums up their responses.
Emily Martin
Question 1: How does your previous experience qualify you for the presidency?
Emily’s experience is both plentiful and varied as she has held nine positions within the SJCR, ranging from Vice-President (Undergraduate) to bar team member. She feels this broad range of understanding, allowing her to work with different groups within college, strengthens her overall candidature for president. While working as the VP, Emily worked closely with former SJCR President Thomas Jackson on numerous projects, notably the Bailey Ball and the SJCR’s adoption of incorporated charitable status. She notes how seeing both sides of the SJCR is essential in being an effective yet relatable leader. Hence, she has experienced many faces of the SJCR, especially being involved in supervisory and hands-on practice with the Bailey Ball.
Question 2: What qualities make an excellent SJCR President?
To make a good leader in the SJCR, Emily holds good organisation in great esteem as the job demands are often dynamic and continuous. She feels acting in a mentor capacity with SJCR Exec and members is vital as the President must always put people first. On the personal side, Emily shared with me how, as a natural introvert, her previous experiences in the SJCR aided her in cultivating important interpersonal skills while understanding the qualities of being an active listener and engaging with people individually.
Question 3: How do you plan on making the SJCR Exec more transparent and accessible to students?
What is particular about Emily’s manifesto is her push for a central communications plan encompassing all information relevant to the SJCR and making distribution to the broader student community more straightforward. To garner better engagement, Emily will release a survey to gauge what type of delivery platform, including email and social media, is most appealing to students. All information, including Ball tickets, Exec meeting agendas, SJCR policy documents, and funding grants, will be centrally stored data. Emily also understands the apparent disconnect between the Exec and the student body, so she feels strongly about “demystifying’” SJCR meetings by dismantling jargon and processes implemented. She emphasised that it is even more challenging for students whose first language is not English or who have not experienced college student government before.
Question 4: How do you aim to increase accessibility to events and societies for students of all backgrounds?
Emily stressed that accessibility means different things to different people, so greater dialogue between the SJCR and its members is required to understand student priorities better. Regarding financial barriers, she commented on how the availability of grants ought to be advertised more frequently and on a broader scale. Additionally, giving students further warning on the cost of events such as the Bailey and Summer Ball will allow Johnians time to budget. Greater transparency leads to better accessibility.
Question 5: The college may reduce the number of free events/services to students, including formals and laundry. How would you combat such change?
Being an active voice on behalf of students is a meaningful skill Emily has cultivated from her previous experiences in the SJCR, which allows her to develop good relationships with college staff. Engaging in positive dialogue is necessary to understand why the college would take such action. Emily expressed how we take pride in our close-knit college community, with the availability of free formals being a key aspect in the upkeep of such values. Under her leadership, she would seek to remind college what they stand to lose if such measures are taken, for “the health of our community is more valuable than financial gain”. If dialogue is not fruitful, Emily assures me that the SJCR would consider extending certain grants and subsidising its student members if formals and washing became paid services.
Question 6: What is your favourite memory of John’s / a funny story relating to college?
For Emily, sitting out on the Library Lawn after exams highlights the John’s experience. “When the sun is shining, and you can spend time with friends or meet new students, it allows Johnians to just enjoy being students”.
In addition, Leech Hall stands out to Emily mainly because of the fond memories made, whether it be the Bailey Ball or numerous SJCR meetings, which she greatly enjoys. She is excited to partake in the new ‘regeneration’ plan for college with the renovation of Leech Hall at its centre.
Question 7: What does being a Johnian mean to you?
Emily said that we should take pride in being a member of the college and we should use the opportunity we’ve been given to better ourselves and help the people around us.
At the end of our interview, Emily wanted voters to know that “all three candidates are great options yet vastly different, we all have different aims and strengths, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for voters who can choose from three different visions for the SJCR. It’s your choice what direction to see your student leadership go”.
Ben Dickinson
Question 1: How does your previous experience qualify you for the presidency?
Ben Dickinson’s experience lies in his previous involvement with the SJCR Exec, especially as Treasurer. In this role, he cultivated the skills of managing the accounts and finances of the charity, writing policy, and organising Freshers’ and Open Day events. In this role, he has cultivated close relationships with SJCR President Anna Robinson and former President Thomas Jackson, where he interacted with many facets of the SJCR, including sub-committees and Common Rooms (MCR, CCR). Additionally, Ben’s involvement with the National Organisation for Scouts and Guides also aids in his overall candidature for President, where he works in a leadership capacity as a District Scout Network Commissioner.
Question 2: What qualities make an excellent SJCR President?
For Ben, a dependable SJCR President must be detail-oriented. Much of the job will include reviewing policy, managing numerous financial accounts, and maintaining synergy within the SJCR Exec. Likewise, time management skills are critical as the job can easily exceed a 35-hour work week, so Ben’s solid work-life balance is key. A President should be approachable and relatable to all in the John’s community, for as the president is the point of contact for the charity, they need to prioritise being in touch with the students they represent.
Question 3: How can you make the SJCR Exec more transparent and accessible to students?
Ben articulated that SJCR Exec meetings are not transparent, as talking points and a formal agenda are currently not released to students. He encourages student input and engagement and feels that publicly making the Exec’s business available to Johnians will aid in this delivery. Ben would also like to introduce a Q&A meeting towards the end of Michaelmas where students can speak with the entire SJCR Exec and question if they have stayed true to their manifestos and husts. Ben feels this would lessen the divide between the Exec and “everyone else” in John’s.
Question 4: How can you increase accessibility to events and societies for students of all backgrounds?
Keeping all sports, societies, and social events free is very important to Ben, who emphasised that he would commit “whatever is needed” to maintain this enhancement to the student experience. He feels that the lack of attendance at both the Freshers’ and especially Refreshers’ fair is a sign that the timing and organisation of such events need overhauling to increase student engagement. For example, holding such events mid-week and growing advertisement for practice times for sport societies.
Question 5: The college may reduce the number of free events/services to students, including formals and laundry. How would you combat such change?
Ben was clear that under his presidency, any such measures would be questioned and opposed by the SJCR. He explained the benefits of free formals and washing for students and the implications of reducing accessibility to such services by removing subsidies. He would engage in dialogue with the college to understand the reasoning behind such moves; is it merely financial, or are there environmental concerns regarding washing? If the college was steadfast in its decision, Ben would redirect funds from the SJCR Ball Fund to help return a level of accessibility to such events for SJCR members; he also mentioned the possibility of creating a new fund. Lastly, Ben reiterated how college will be encouraged to fund discount opportunities for students rather than the SJCR. Still, the charity is prepared to support students in any way possible.
Question 6: What is your favourite memory of John’s / a funny story relating to college?
Freshers’ Week 2022 was a lasting highlight for Ben. The Frep team worked well together, and everything went off without a hitch. He remembers this as a positive experience and created lasting bonds with Freps and first-year students.
Question 7: What is your favourite part of/room in college?
For Ben, it’s very much seasonal. In winter, the Bailey room is a wonderful place to socialise and meet people, while Linton Lawn is particularly special during the warmer months.
Question 8: What does being a Johnian mean to you?
Community involvement is key to being an active member of our community. Ben feels that engagement and caring for one another are the most important aspects of being in our community.
Dilly Leak
Question 1: How does your previous experience qualify you for the presidency?
Despite having yet to gain formal experience with the SJCR exec, Dilly by no means lacks prior experience. Her involvement in John’s Music Society, where she served as both president and secretary, in addition to other SJCR positions, including Frep, SEC ents officer, and welfare officer, has given Dilly exposure to many facets of John’s student leadership. Outside of John’s, Dilly served as president of Durham Dynamics acapella choir and publicity officer for the Hatfield Chapel Choir, bringing unique yet necessary skills for the SJCR presidency.
Despite lacking SJCR exec experience, Dilly commented that this is an intended part of her campaign, to be a “fresh face” for the SJCR. Her ability to lead the organisation as an outsider is an integral part of this candidate, who feels the SJCR needs new energy and ideas to flourish.
Question 2: What qualities make an excellent SJCR President?
A good SJCR president needs to be a people person who can relate to all community members in a friendly and approachable manner. Dilly joked how she naturally enjoys a “good laugh and natter” and looks forward to engaging with our diverse community. Additionally, the job requires someone devoted and reliable, skills Dilly holds to be near sacrosanct. Dilly turns to her prior experience serving in leadership and PR roles as evidence of reliability and feels one must be hardworking to give your all for John’s.
Question 3: How can you make the SJCR Exec more transparent and accessible to students?
Transparency for Dilly is about continuation rather than innovation; the SJCR budget and other documents are publicly available on the website, so maintaining this visibility is essential. Creating new free events and opportunities for students makes “accessibility easier for all” while working to bring down costs for paid events. Dilly was quick to stress how only her “fresh face” would allow her to identify areas of improvement and implement change where needed.
Question 4: How can you increase accessibility to events and societies for students of all backgrounds?
Inclusivity is a manifesto promise of Dilly’s campaign; she aims to widen availability and accessibility to SJCR events and societies for all students. Dilly agrees with the SJCR’s current policy of subsidising tickets for lower-income students and continuing the Bailey wardrobe initiative, where students can hire suits or dresses for events.
Dilly aims to introduce new beginner-friendly classes and workshops for those with no experience in sports activities, which will increase student engagement with SJCR life. She is considering contacting John’s alumni to help finance or teach students fundamental skills, including athletic training or musical proficiency. She would additionally like to include alumni to speak with students on how to get involved in extracurriculars as a key source of inspiration.
Question 5: The college may reduce the number of free events/services to students, including formals and laundry. How would you combat such change?
Dilly would undoubtedly try and limit any changes college attempts to make to free events which she feels “keep John’s so great”. She would do her best to sit down with college staff and understand the reasoning behind such changes while reemphasising the negative impact such moves would have on students. Dilly clearly articulated how important free formals are to fostering a close and friendly environment in college. If college persisted, Dilly would investigate subsidising some of the costs within the SJCR budget but admits that she would need to be guided as to which funds can be used first.
Question 6: What is your favourite memory of John’s / a funny story relating to college?
Dilly articulated fond memories of “first-year chaos” where she and a group of friends would commit to clubbing at Bohemia every Wednesday and Friday during Epiphany term. She admits that “it was mental but the best fun I’ve ever had, and I wish to be that chaotic again”! For her, this experience encapsulated the core values of John’s experience, being communal and friendly; “really it was about who I was going with … I met my closest friends that year, which had a lasting impact on my college social experience”. She attributes these lasting friendships to John’s, not Bohemia, the club.
Question 7: What is your favourite part of/room in college?
Dilly is very open about finding any trip to the bar very rewarding and exciting. The ability to meet so many new people and celebrate a shared love for the college is what it means to be a Johnian, and she feels this sensation most acutely when at the bar.
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