We interviewed the SU Presidential candidates so you can meet them before you vote

The SU elections are upon us and today is the last day you have to cast your vote. But who are you voting for and what’s the person like behind the banner? They are some pretty good questions, so we interviewed the candidates to help you get to know them better.

Orla Tarn

Who are you?

I’m Orla, I’m 24, I am currently the VP Societies and Volunteering at the Students’ Union and I have finished my Maths degree this year!

Why do you want to run for SU president?

“I wanted to run for Students’ Union President because I believe in a Union that is inclusive to all students, supportive of all students, and campaigns on behalf of all students; all whilst maintaining values of integrity, respect and accountability. I have had a smashing year as VP Societies – I’ve implemented Wellbeing Officers, trained hundreds of students in Suicide Prevention, and launched the Try January Refreshers’ Fair that was really successful.”

What are your key manifesto points?

Student safety, improve sexual health and mental health on campus, more toilets in Y Plas, expand on Refreshers’ Fair and every student to have access to free GP evidence for Extenuating Circumstances.

Fave VK flavour?

I like a good blue VK purely because the orange ones make me throw up so I try to avoid them.

Fave Cardiff night out?

My favourite night out in Cardiff is definitely Pulse.

If you had to have one Cardiff takeaway for the rest of your life… Khan’s or Fattoush?

I’d probably go to Fattoush although I’m Fam Fish for life.

Tomos Evans

Who are you?

Tomos Evans, a 3rd year biomed student, 21, and am the current VP Education.

Why did you want to run for SU president?

“I’m running to be SU president because I want, in short, to do more. I’ve had a fantastic 8 months, as VP Ed, representing students at every level of the university ranging from assessment quantity to strike mitigation to the consolidation of libraries and through all of it, no matter how stressful, I’ve utterly adored it… I want to make sure that an international student who comes to do a master’s in Cardiff with English as a second language feels welcomed and supported from day 1 till the day they graduate and are given all the tools that they need to succeed in a completely different environment…”

What are your key manifesto points?

Fave VK flavour?

I know it gets quite a bad rep but I kinda love the candy cane VK? I don’t think it tastes anything like candy cane though.

Fave Cardiff night out?

My fave night out would be in Pulse! I absolutely love it there and it’s a place that I can just dance and boogie and be myself without people judging.

If you could have one Cardiff takeaway for the rest of your life… Khan’s or Fattoush?

I’m gonna have to pick Fattoush! In first year I was in Aberconway halls but the majority of my friends happened to be in Taly so we would often go just before walking into town.

Jacob Turnbull

Who are you?

Jacob Turnbull, 20, from Cardiff/Port Talbot.

Why did you want to run for SU president?

“I’m from a very low-income background, plus a divorced home life and struggles with mental health and I always saw the role as a very prestigious position, very off-putting to people from the backgrounds I’m from. However, I’m the type to push my luck as I felt if there was any way to make for people in the same boat as me, from within seems the best for it.”

What are your key manifesto points?

Safety on campus at all hours, physical and mental health, disability support, for the union to be open to everyone, all the time regardless of a students’ backgrounds and financial circumstances.

Fave VK flavour?

Orange.

Fave Cardiff night out?

Favourite night out would be the Taf/Bootlegger followed mainly by a takeaway as the important part.

If you could have one Cardiff takeaway for the rest of your life… Khan’s or Fattoush?

Gonna have to go with Khan’s.

So now you can put a real face to the campaigns and manifestos, and you got to find out the all-important question when it comes to choosing your SU President, what their favourite VK is.

You can cast your votes here for President, but also for Sabbatical Officers.