Following months of heated debate, it was decided at the recent YUSU Constitutional Convention that upcoming YUSU elections will now be held using via the Electoral Colleges. Delegates proposed two opposing plans — the Wentworth Plan, otherwise known as the ‘small colleges plan’ — and the Derwent Plan, otherwise known as the ‘large colleges plan’.

A compromise was found, however, with the Alcuin Compromise, which has firmly established the principle of bicameralism. The upper house, known colloquially as ‘Hes West’, will have proportional representation and is thought to represent the interests of bigger colleges. The lower house, however, otherwise known as ‘Hes East’, will represent all colleges equally.

Under this Electoral Colleges system, it is thought that the upcoming YUSU election will be decided by colleges like Derwent (56 seats) and Halifax (43 seats), while colleges like Wentworth (3 seats) will have less of a say. A key college to watch this election is Vanbrugh, a key bellwether college whose 26 seats could potentially swing the election. All eyes, of course, will be on candidates as they launch their campaigns in the V/N/045 caucus.

— Ashvini Rae