Your president-elect Darren Clarke has already been in the limelight for a year, making great changes and securing wins for you as students. However, he felt that he had another year in him and this time he is coming back more determined as president to make the changes that you want happen at Staffordshire University.
In a message to all the people who voted, both for him and for others, Darren said:
“I want to say thank you to all my voters, and to everyone that voted, expressing your democratic right to vote is so important and I’m glad to see the increase in student engagement with the leadership race this year."
"Also, a massive thank you to all the candidates who have made the Leadership Race such a fun and exciting event, even though they didn’t win, they all did themselves and the Students’ Union Proud."
"I’d also like to say thank you to everyone that supported me through the campaign and to the few who were there behind the scenes (my girlfriend and housemates)”
Darren wants to engage Staffs much more in the National movement, while working on things that were started this year such as facility access, employability and value for money.
“I suppose next year is a massive question mark until I sit down with my fantastic new team, and we see where each other’s strengths sit, everybody’s priorities and we are able to delegate responsibilities appropriately.”
Darren doesn’t believe that he can compare to the current president Jaime-Lee Cunningham, who he thinks has been a fantastic president.
“I don’t think I can compare to Jaime-Lee. She’s been a fantastic president and made the role her own. Having been one of her vice-presidents and sharing a desk with her all year, I feel a lot of her good traits and leadership will have influenced me."
"I feel I can just go into my President year with my head high, taking what I’ve learnt this year and using it in my turn to lead with Swetha, Tash and Sam.”