How Soon is Now?

We are now two days away from voting opening and six days away from knowing who will be your Guild President for next year.  Campaigning kicked off this week and here is a quick recap.

This week I have carried out 32 lecture shout outs.  From Accounting and Finance to Zoology I have been out telling students why they should vote for me their number one choice next week. The lack of booing provides steady reassurance that I am saying something right.

I know these are a bit time consuming at the start of a lecture but thank you for listening and sticking with me whilst I have been doing them.

On top of this I have been constructing my campaign banners. The first one was taken after one day but has now been returned (thank you!) and you can find it up by the Riley Building.



I have been interviewed by The Tab on topics such as, who is my favourite celebrity? What sets me apart from other candidates? And my best joke.  In the mean time you can find 30 seconds on what I want to do if I am elected President this year:



Finally, I have been taking to social media to try and keep you updated with what I have been up to and why I want to be elected your President

Voting opens two days from now.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.  Everyday I get to try to make conditions better for students and I can't think of a better job.

If you want a President with a track record of running successful campaigns.  If you want a President who will make the Guild's priorities, improved graduate employability, better housing conditions and the continuation of campaigns on mental health, teaching and learning and widening participation.  If you want a President who has experience of getting wins for students then vote James Coe #1 from Monday to Friday.

Do You Remember the First time?

So here we go again.  Almost one year later is time to start getting excited about the election season opening up.

This time last year I had very little idea of what the election was like, I had never done any public speaking, and I was downright nervous.  Other than still being nervous a lot has changed since that time.  This year as Deputy President of the Guild has been great.  From working on Mental Health, to widening participation, to trying to improve housing conditions no two days have been the same.  More than anything I have learnt so much and I am eager to continue working for students.

So that is why I have decided to run again.  In my manifesto I have promised to finish the stuff I have started, as one year is not long enough for any Guild Officer to achieve everything they want.  If re-elected I want to see through the work I have begun on mental health by ensuring that the our events on mental health are better than ever and staff training is of the highest quality possible.  I want to continue the work on widening participation to ensure that as many students from disadvantaged backgrounds as possible can get to University.  Moreover, I want to continue the work I have started on looking at the non-financial barriers you face at University to lobby for things such as; greater and more accessible University health support, ensuring the library investment includes more study space, and to continue to work with the gym in looking at cost and payment options.  As much as anything I want to use my experience to get the £14.25m building redevelopment finished so it is ready from the word go for students.

Voting opens on the 17th March.  I hope you vote James Coe #1.

Manifesto in Brief

My Manifesto in Brief:

Why do I want to stand?

To be the President who makes Liverpool Guild of Students the best Student’s Union in the country. With the £14.25m building redevelopment we are only limited by our ambition in what we can achieve. I want to be President for a Guild that is pioneering; this will be achieved through implementing democracy structures seen nowhere else in the country. I want to be the President that makes you more employable through real practical changes. I want to be the President who ensures housing across Liverpool is of much better standard for students.

At a time of transition for the Guild I genuinely believe experience in the role is key to next year being successful. Through our collective endeavour we have made great changes across the University. I want to continue to fight for the rights of students and continue to improve student’s time and education at the University of Liverpool

I will finish the job you elected me to do:

As Deputy President this year I have led on a number of areas that I want to continue with if elected President. I will ensure the final stages of the building are finished to the best possible standard. I will continue the work we have started on representation to make every single student voice heard. I will continue to work with the gym for greater access to students. I will continue to raise awareness on mental health issues. Finally, I will continue the fight for a University that puts the quality of teaching, and your learning experience first.

I will make students more employable:

Following on from my manifesto commitments last year I will ensure that we are the leading student’s union in the country in implementing the Higher Education Achievement Record. This is a certificate that records the work students do outside of the lecture theatre. From society work to volunteering and beyond. This award will be given alongside your degree and will demonstrate all the extracurricular stuff you do. Finally, I will be the President who brings a part-time job shop back to the Guild. This means that every student will have the chance to look for meaningful employment in Liverpool.

I will put steps in place to make LGoS the best student's union in the country:

I will introduce democracy structures that are unlike anywhere else in the country, that are more ambitious and more wide reaching than any other student’s union. I will ensure our new building is a thriving night time venue and has an amazing gig function. I will continue to lobby on the things you care about; the cost of the gym, access to the library, access to support service, learning and teaching quality, I.T provision and poor housing. LGoS can become the most representative, fun and politically engaged Students’ Union in the country. I am the candidate to deliver that.