50 Students who shaped the year: 30-21
The Yorker introduces our fifty students who shaped the academic year 2011-2012. The students on this list have made it for a variety of reasons: some have been the focus of the news over the last twelve months (both positive and negative!), some have done extraordinary things and others have just done something small but had a big impact on someone else’s life.
Regardless of their reasons for being on this list, The Yorker feels it represents the breadth and depth of the interests and passions of our student body and highlights those who shaped the year.
Disagree with who we've picked? Think we've missed someone important? Then don't hesitate to leave a comment below to get involved with the debate.
30 - Alex Harrison
Alex Harrison is officially the best university darts player in the country after winning the UK University Darts Singles Championships held in York this year.
The Alcuin sportsman beat Edge Hill's defending champion Matt Howard in a scintillating final, during which Harrison followed up a 15-dart leg with a 14-dart leg. A fantastic feat for any darts player, let alone a student.
What's more, he's been described by former World Masters Champion Rod Harrington as the most exciting young darts prospect in England.
He's had an exceptional year, and we could hear an awful lot more about Alex in the future.
29 – Jacob Campbell
Jacob Campbell is the university's StandWithUs representative and has certainly made his mark during the year.
Not afraid to criticise the university, soceities or YUSU, Campbell has been effective at highlighting the issues which he feels passionately about.
He also proposed the referendum on twinning the university with the University of Jerusalem, a story that was covered on Iranian State Television.
Campbell has not been afraid to speak his mind on campus, and whilst it may not have been the message many student wanted to hear, his commitment should be recognised.
28 – Aimee Howarth
The Yorker's editor-in-chief has been exceptional this year and she has really turned the organisation around. Howarth took charge of the organisation in October, and since then has worked tirelessly to improve it.
The third-year English student has doubled membership, quadrupled income and has delivered a wide array of interesting an varied content.
Howarth's hard-work and dedication has stood out and has defined a talented young student journalist, committed to continually delivering excellence.
One nominator said: “Aimee has been incredible this year, the time and effort she has put into The Yorker has really paid dividends.”
27 - Charlotte Winter
Winter would have no doubt made this list owing solely to her outstanding contribution to college sport. Whether it be inter-college lacrosse tournaments, athletics days or swimming galas, the Alcuin third year has led from the front.
Yet she consolidated her position as one of the top students this year with a victory in the York Sport Presidential race. Voters flocked in their thousands to reward her hard work, and chose her as the person to fill Sam Asfahani's very big shoes.
With Roses 2013 set to be hosted in York, we can expect a lot of focus on the new sabbatical officer.
26 - Leon Morris
One charge that could not be laid at Morris' door is that he is too quiet. Often controversial, York's LGBT officer has without a doubt been the most notable of the new part-time officers.
Be it controversy surrounding an endorsement from the York Tories, criticism of Derwent College's Fresher Awards or criticism of Liberation and Welfare Assembly, there is no doubt that the second year has been a vocal member of the student community.
With two more terms left of his time in office, there is no doubt that Morris will be one to watch next year.
25 – James Carney
It's fair to say that opinion on the third year mathematician is at best mixed, but there is no denying that Carney has made an impact this year.
Seemingly taking inspiration from the cliché that it is better to be talked about negatively than not to be talked about, Carney has courted controversy this year.
From being the focus of ire from leading campus feminists, to receiving strict campaigning bans from the YUSU Returning Officer, Carney certainly hasn't shied away from the spotlight this year.
Love him or hate him, he's certainly been one of the key talking points.
24 – Pheobe Cullingworth
Cullingworth's edible campus scheme is slowly but surely beginning to transform the outline of campus from pure 1960s breeze-blocks to a more green environment.
Now in every college, the edible campus project, brings herbs and fruits which are open for students grow and pick themselves.
The scheme which aims to bring free organically grown food to students has thus far been a success, and much of that lies with Pheobe, who has pioneered the project.
23 – Zahra Latif
Although she lost the YUSU Presidential election to Kallum Taylor, there is no denying that Latif had an incredible impact this year.
Going into the hustings, the third year English student was a rank outsider in a race which was meant to be between the two college chairs, Hernando and Taylor.
And whilst they disappointed at the event, Latif shone and placed herself as one of the front-runners for the position.
Her no-nonsense style and her determination to get YUSU to focus on the needs of students struck a chord with the electorate, and garnered the former English Society chair over 1,700 votes.
22 – Karin Diaconu
Diaconu achieved the impressive task of being elected as President of the Graduate Student Association whilst still an undergraduate.
She took office in September 2011 and has been successful in raising the profile of the Postgradute community both within and outside the university.
Focusing on student employability, Diaconu has delivered more academic and professional networking events for postgraduate students.
One nominator told The Yorker: “ Karin has been able to build a strong relationship among the postgraduate community at York and also between the postgraduate community and the University management thereby paving way for her to be re-elected president for 2012/2013 academic year”.
21 – Lawrence Bintie
Whilst Bintie made this list for shaping the year, it will certainly not be for the reasons he would have liked at the beginning of the year.
The former Racial Equalities Officer was caught up in a whirlwind after comments made to Labour councillor David Levene in a private message on Facebook.
Levene complained to YUSU, and called upon Bintie to resign with others labelling Bintie's comments “anti-semetic”.
It certainly created a fire-storm at the beginning of the year, and initiated a YUSU-wide review of how officers use Facebook.
