In a difficult week of campaigns with low turnout, Grace Frain has been elected to be Guild President next year, winning the position over George Gordon, Tom Allars, Soma Pirityi and Wallace Wang.
Rosie McDonagh will be taking over the post of VP Activities in the summer while Warren Bingham-Roberts will be VP Education, Rose Ahier will be VP Welfare & Diversity, and Amy Clegg will be AU President.
This week, UCU strikes have meant fewer students were on campus the first three days and stormy weather meant campus has been closed for the latter two.
Turnout has gone down to only 4559 voters – compared to 8607 last year, which was considered one of the best turnouts in the sector. This equates to a turnout of about 23.5% – the lowest turnout since 2006-2007.
According to a voter breakdown released on Facebook, Ahier won in the first round – this means that over half of voters put her down as their first preference. The VP Activities race was close, with McDonagh only 29 votes ahead in first round.
The weather conditions provoked the Guild to cancel the traditional Friday night Results Party, which was to be held in the Lemon Grove, instead announcing all results on Twitter and by phoning candidates.
Still, a handful of candidates and their campaign teams who had been on Forum Hill Thursday and Friday were in DH1 when results were announced.
Owain Evans, Student Elections Officer, said: “Despite all of the barriers, from strike action to snow, it’s fantastic to see that over 4,500 students made their voices.
“I wish all the best to those who’ve been elected, and am sure they will maintain the Guild’s position as one of the leading Students’ Unions in the country.”
A Students’ Guild spokesperson said: “the Students’ Guild would like to congratulate the new Sabb Elects following Friday evening’s results. Without a doubt it was a tough week and each and every candidate campaigned valiantly each day despite the difficult conditions they faced; for this they must be extremely proud of themselves. We look forward to their leadership the next academic year and working with them to represent our student body.”
Volunteer part-time positions – Student Trustees, Guild Council, Societies Council, Academic Executive, and subject reps – were also elected this week. All results are available at https://www.exeterguild.org/vote/results/.
