At the tail end of his psychology degree, Patrick Chung is running for Sports President in the upcoming Students’ Union elections. Patrick plays rugby on the university’s 2s team. He’s also a member of the snow sports club and he recently revived the darts club.
Q: Why are you running for this position?
A: “I’d like to give back to the Union. I think it’s done a lot for me over the last few years, and I’d like to make it as accessible, enjoyable, and improve wellbeing to those within the Union as much as I possibly can.”
Q: If elected, what would be the first thing you would do in the Union?
A: “Starting up a new club, although Laura’s been fantastic—very very helpful, I noticed there’s almost a gap in my knowledge—I wasn’t quite sure where I could get resources, how I could get things done effectively. I’d definitely like to create a template. Although you get handovers from clubs at the beginning of each year, [I’d like to] make it [so] your handover talk to your ex-president is a little more [about] what the club needs.
“I’d like to make it as easy [as possible] for clubs to find out how to get financial support, because I understand that small clubs – they’ll have trouble surviving if they don’t necessarily retain members and they don’t get enough money for either coaching, equipment, whatnot.”
Q: What are your long and short-term goals for the position?
A: “Being a member ambassador this year, it was quite fun working with both unions, both student and sport alike. I’d like to build on the StirScale, where clubs have two mandatory charity fundraisers put on a year.
“I’d like to allow clubs and its individuals within it to grow and develop the skills necessary [for] these fund balls [and] learn a lot about the people that are surrounding them.
“Obviously, mental health is quite a big topic right now; you’re getting quite a lot of emails about Odd Balls which is another great charity, as well as, I believe recently, they’re trying to raise awareness for eating disorders. It’s stuff that, it’s in and around us, but shed a little more light and have students actively make a role and have fun while raising funds for good causes.”
Q: What did the current Sports President do that you would like to emulate in your own work?
A: “I think Laura [Shaw]’s done a great job. She’s created forums, which have made herself almost like a more public figure, compared to Sports Presidents in the past, where she’s very open and approachable.
“I think a Sports President should be very visible in that respect and should be accessible, and you should be able to see them, you should be able to bring up a problem you’re having in your club, ease of accessibility or whatnot. I think that’s what I’d like to emulate: just be present.”
Q: What about the uni inspired you to run for sports presidency?
A: “The people. Definitely the people.
“I think when it came to rugby, just trying to be a part of committee, and make a difference in that regard was the biggest thing. And then starting up darts, starting up something from scratch—and we’ve got a lot traction so far, a lot of people interested, it’s just getting the right environment to get it all sorted and done with is a big thing. But definitely giving back to people, being a part of the process and having fun while doing it is a big thing for me.
“I’ve enjoyed working with students and staff alike, whether that’s being ambassador this year or being on the rugby committee, creating events, raising funds for charities and clubs. Going forward I would like to continue working with these people, but in a position where it really counts.”
Patrick Chung’s manifesto can be found here.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Students’ Union/ Patrick Chung
