Label met up with Charlie Staunton in order to find out more about why he wants to win your votes and what new ideas he can bring to the role.
Why are you running for this position?
I want to make a change in the way that the union is run.
What makes you more suited to this role than other candidates?
I know the union as a venue inside out, so that fits in with the commercial side of the role as a lot of it is to do with running the venue, so I feel that I am strongly aware of what is going right and what is going wrong.
Can you tell us more about your theme?
I have chosen Charlie and the Chocolate factory, changing it to Charlie and The Union Factory, one because I think it will be loads of fun to have loads of Oompa Loompas chasing me around everywhere, and because Willy Wonka is constantly giving out loads of really good things, and that’s what I want to do.
What is the most important aspect of your manifesto?
The one thing that I feel I can truly change and set in place is that I want to create a venue committee and a venue forum, so if you have any suggestions about how you wish to change the union shops, or the places in Piazza then you can post it onto the forum, and then the most voted for suggestions will get transferred to a venue committee and hopefully steps can be taken to implement the changes that students want to make.
In one sentence why should people vote for you?
Because I am your golden ticket to an even more successful year.
What are you most looking forward to about campaigning?
It’s just going to be fun, it’s going to be mental. Just everyone running around in really silly costumes. I take drama, so I just love having an excuse to run around everywhere in a costume, and then talking to and meeting the students of Loughborough. This place offers us the best three years of our lives, and I want to know and meet others who have chosen to come and spend part of their life here.
What are you least looking forward to?
Being tired. It’s going to be late nights and early mornings, I mean i’m very good at late nights, but not so much early mornings.
What do you think will be the most challenging?
Being in the right place at the right time.
What part of campaigning are you going to focus on most?
Door knocking, social media and nights out all come together to make one all encompassing campaign effort, but I’m trying to separate them all and focus on each one individually. But I do think having a presence on a night out will be a big thing.
What have you spent your budget it on?
Paint, materials, because I’ve made my costume from scratch, such as my costume and top hat…so if all else fails I could always become a costume designer. Pegs, for reasons that will become known. Sweets, because being Charlie and the Chocolate Factory you have to give out sweets. Face paint and I’m trying to figure out how to get my team to have green hair for not very much money, so hopefully by the time this interview goes live I would have figured it out.
What made you want to run for this position?
I wanted to be involved in the union, and as a student I have been involved in most of the sections, so I feel I can make I change. But I think I am best suited to a role that isn’t focused on just one thing, and it’s why this role appealed to me, and I feel like I can contribute a lot to this role and I have a lot to offer.
What do you like about the way the role has been carried out this year?
I know loyalty came in this year, and that’s really good. I’m working at the union weekly, and everyone seems to be happy with what is going down so obviously things are running successfully. But, I’m not sure what’s happening with budget, as obviously I’m not allowed to know that sort of stuff, but it seems that everything is going well, and the building hasn’t fallen down yet.
Can you tell us something that not many people may know about you?
I run a spoken word poetry night run here in the union called Speech Bubble, and it’s actually taking place during campaign week, which will be a nice welcomed break.
What new ideas would you bring to this role?
Venue committee, as it seems that the exec members in the office don’t get a lot of student interaction, so I want to have a team of students helping me do my job, rather than just paid members of staff.
What three characteristics’ do you have that make you well suited to this role?
I am confident, which means I am good at talking to people and will be confident being one of the faces of the union. I am strong willed, so if I want to do something I will make sure it gets done. Lastly, I am a team player, so taking drama has taught me all about being in an ensemble and working with a cast, I know how to look after people and work solidly in a group.
This interview was conducted by Louise Burt, Label Editor.
To find out more about Charlie’s manifesto, click here.
