USU Candidate Profile: Ben Hines
Pulp interviewed all 10 candidates in the running to become USU Board Directors. Over the next week we’ll be posting a profile on each of them in the randomised order drawn by the Returning Officer. Here’s Ben.
Name: Ben Hines
Studies: Law/Commerce (III)
Faction: Independent
Colour, slogan, manager: Teal, I’m Backing Ben, Alex de Araujo
Ben Hines is running as an independent and currently holds the position of Vice-President of Sydney University’s Liberal Club (SULC). He has a strong knowledge of the USU’s history and functioning, scoring 80% on the Pulp quiz. He was able to list key USU position holders, accurately listed the process of setting up a club and knew the meaning of voluntary student unionism. He was unable to recall the SSAF fee amount and when asked to list five USU outlets, only recalled three.
Ben cited the USU’s role in cultivating student culture as a key reason he is running for Board. He said that the USU was currently in a “critical time” and needed a “strong team in place to make sure that the USU can continue to function”. He also said that he wanted to run “a really strong independent campaign” to show other students without factional backing that running for Board was a viable option.
Ben’s three favourite policies centre around backing COVID-19 support, the provision of more communal facilities on campus and implementing language mentoring programs for international students. Ben noted the potential impact of COVID-19 on students and said that the USU needs to help students cope. He said that he wants the USU to take a stronger stance on issues that affect students, including ProctorU.
He talked at length about ProctorU, discussing his concerns around student privacy and the lack of consultation by the University. He said that he was unhappy with the University’s response to student concerns and that the USU can and should take a stance on this issue.
“I think the voice of the USU has the capacity to sort of enact change in line with the SRC, but also in a unique fashion”.
Ben also wants to see USU members have access to more communal areas including sporting, gym and arts facilities. Ben provided little detail about how he would implement this potentially costly policy.
He noted the existing USU language programs but said that he specifically wanted to introduce language programmes for international students. Ben wants the USU to have a “mentoring relationship” with international students to assist them in transitioning to university.
When asked how he would economise USU operations he focused on cutting funds across the board to increase efficiency. He also said that roles performed by the USU advertising and marketing teams could be supplemented by Board Directors to save money.
Ben said that the USU could make improvements in terms of consultation. Whilst he did not go as far as to say that he would stand against decisions being made in camera, he took issue with the lack of communication with clubs and societies regarding funding reforms. He said that “addressing a wider range of people...and providing more clear avenues for that consultation to happen” was important.
In terms of how political he believes the Board should be, Ben said that the USU has a responsibility to comment on issues that affect students, directly citing the Ramsay Centre as an example. But he said that he didn’t “think it should be a political body in terms of what you'd probably traditionally consider to be political issues.”
Ben said it was necessary to act pragmatically when evaluating whether to approve controversial clubs such as LifeChoice. He said that whilst freedom of speech and freedom of association are “incredibly important”, if a club had been formed with the sole intention of harming students, he would not allow the club to be approved.
Ben has a strong knowledge of the USU and places emphasis on COVID-19 recovery. Continuing the tradition of Liberal candidates running as independents, he is committed to seeing the USU take stances on issues affecting students. His campaign specifically aims to tap into the needs of international, Conservatorium and college students. Only time will tell if he has a genuine interest in serving the needs of these groups beyond the polling booth.
View Ben’s full interview here.
Note: Pulp editor Ellie Stephenson is a former member of Grassroots.