President of the Union - Candidate Joe Eldridge
Manifesto
Students deserve a union that is completely focused on representing their best interests.
I'll endeavour to establish an international student committee to guide national societies towards integrating themselves better. Entry to the union bars (to which I'll introduce more live music, promotions, cocktail nights and low prices on all drinks) will be free for Imperial students until proven as a superb night out.
As president, I will work alongside environmental groups to completely overhaul the inadequate recycling initiative at Imperial. I know that ICU president is a demanding job, but I'm confident I can assume the role with enthusiasm. I have fresh ideas that aren't spoilt by bureaucratic prejudice.
You can be sure that I will work hard to improve your university experience, such as turning the airport lounge into a JCR to be proud of.
Vote Joe Eldridge for ICU president and remember no vote is a wasted vote
Aren't you just another hack or career politician?
A lot of people who apply like the CV fodder. I have no intention of doing anything like that, as students need a union they can rely on. Past presidents haven't done a good enough job, and I feel it's something I can improve on.
What do you think of the problem of bureaucracy in ICU?
At all levels, everything gets slowed down in bureaucracy. Meetings need to be streamlined. It's difficult to do though, as the more people you get in a meeting, the more likely it is to create difficulties.
So how will you fix it?
There need to be harsher restrictions on what can be brought up; if someone constantly brings up niggling points, it'll slow down the whole meeting.
What do you think of the Beit Quad redevelopment so far?
One of my policies is to perform a massive overhaul of the union. Tarting it up isn't going to change it that much; it's the events that go on that are important. However, it's good that they're making it more fashionable, and a good redevelopment plan.
You want to make the union `free entry' on main nights?
You think we'll lose money, but I think it can work. At the moment you can't justify a fiver entry. KCL ask for a fiver, but you're guaranteed a good night Imperial students go there all the time. Until the union bar can be promoted to a standard, making the place user-friendly will attract more Imperial students and make more money on drinks; I think it'll balance itself out in the end.
You don't have much ICU experience: do you see that as a disadvantage?
Although I'm completely unknown in terms of union experience, I feel I can make a difference. It's slightly unfair when someone who's at the end of his university career feels that they can do something useful but is immediately disadvantaged just because he hasn't been sitting on a committee for a year. I feel it's that useful anyway.
You plan to set up an International Students Committee, but what about the existing one (OSC)?
It's not doing a good enough job in terms of the societies themselves. There isn't any real integration between them. Many are very segregated and don't mix as much as they could do. Setting up a community which is chaired by students of every nationality, I think, could work.
You want to set up a course book swap service can you elaborate?
That's already set up; it'll be a super-cheap course book trading service, which will benefit all the students here. It's a good faith gesture, and any money that I do make from it will be put directly back into the union.
