Interview: Daniel Stevens, President

**How do you feel?**

I feel actually absolutely baffled, it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had, I’m surprised I haven’t cried, this is great, this is amazing!

**How did the campaign go?**

It went well, I had so much support at the beginning, my campaign team was small and we entered this race without any support from societies, I just had some close friends and I feel this sends a really strong message that Warwick is about rationality, picking the best president, not so much a popularity contest.

**What were your campaign tactics?**

My tactics were to be as visible as possible, try to reach out to as many people as possible. Obviously I’m thinking of the 72 hour thing, I thought about it the week before and my body at the end was aching, it was terrible, I don’t know how I managed to do it, I have no idea, what it reflects on me is that I am very much a problem-solver.

**What was the highlight of your campaign?**

Meeting so many people, it has rekindled my passion for Warwick. Going to the kitchens, people are so passionate, so nice, I was holding the door open at the Arts Centre, 95% of people said thank you, people at this university are so great and so friendly, I think Warwick is amazing.

**What motivated you to want to stand for president?**

It was out of passion, it wasn’t a natural progression, I’ve never been president of a society, I’ve never done anything remotely linked to it, it was very much that I was annoyed with the university and the costs, I felt a lot of frustration from students. I talked to Andrew Bradley, to every single sab, and then I started talking to students, to rep students and I realized this is what I love, I loved talking to students, I loved trying to solve problems.

**How do you think Andrew Bradley has done as president?**

I think it’s very difficult to say. It’s unfair that he came in with the rebuild. I think the rebuild was terrible, personally. I believe it’s too expensive for what we got back. I can’t judge Andrew because he came in and he had to solve the problems of the rebuild and I think he’s done a good job. I think he hasn’t been strong enough though, I’ll definitely take a stronger stance. I think that people are too harsh on him.

**What will be your priorities?**

I’ll try to get more quality teaching, many more policies solved with regards to the sabbatical team, more funding for sports, get societies to have additional funding. I know that costs will be something I’ll have to fight tooth and nail for but it’s something I’m prepared to do.

**Do you think costs will be your biggest challenge?**

Without a doubt. I don’t take costs lightly.

**What do you have to say about the candidates who lost and those who voted for you?**

I’m very disappointed because a lot of the candidates were very good and supported me, a lot of those who supported me lost and I feel bad because a lot of the races were cut throat, sports and education especially. There were so many good candidates. I look forward to working with the next sabbatical team.

**What will you be doing in between now and when you start?**

I need to focus on my degree, I’ll put everything aside for my degree, but during the summer I’ll do the same as I did before I started running, finding solutions to the problems students had. I will devote my entire time during the summer to planning the next year. I don’t take this lightly, I love what I’m doing right now, I love that I’m in this position where I can actually change things, and I’m very hopeful for the year to come.

**What are your plans regarding Battered?**

I think you have to be very very bad not to make money out of a chippy. We want to reintroduce it and keep it simple, just serve burgers and chips.

**What about the Media Centre?**

The Grad Club is abandoned and Warwick deserves a media station, I think the media centre I’m proposing isn’t unfeasible, considering that Raw will be kicked out of university house.

**What will you do about accommodation and transport?**

I can’t promise to lower costs, but I love fighting for students, I promise to be very vocal on these issues.