Interesting developments up here at the University of York this week, as the Student Union welfare rep was forced to resign her post amidst a vote of no confidence which went against her. The outgoing officer – Grace Fletcher-Hackwood – is reported to have punched (or slapped, depending on which report you read) a second year history and politics student – Dan Taylor – following a drunken and heated debate on ethically-sourced merchandise. It is said that he took an extemely right-wing view towards the matter and irritated the officer, who then gave in to a moment of frustration and dealt him an old-fashioned clout round the ear. He then persisted with a campaign to pass a vote of no confidence, which he pressed on Facebook and through verbal assaults, and ultimately succeeded.

Perhaps fortunately for me, I have never met the two individuals responsible for the controversy. What I do know is that a great deal of people regularly complain about the annoying nature of both of them. Dan Taylor, the second year politics and history student, was already a person whose name I had frequently heard bad things about. In fact, the general consensus that he is a detestable pillock is the sole reason I had heard of him at all. He is described, at best, as a deliberately confrontational and provocative moron, and at worst, as a staunchly racist bigot. Grace Fletcher-Hackwood on the other hand, is described with frightening regularity as a cliche of an individual – your typical radical bisexual feminist – whose opinions are so blindingly strong that she fails to see the truth in anyone else’s. These are not my opinions of them. As I say, I’ve never met them, but it does seem to be what nearly everyone else thinks. At a small university like this one, a reputation can really spread. Personally, I don’t want to judge them, but judgement has definitely been cast – if not by me, then by others.

Dan Taylor may have come off worse than he thinks. If he is foolish enough to believe that he will be viewed solely as an innocent victim of a welfare rep’s uncontrollable temper, then he is sorely mistaken. Most people seem to be viewing the vendetta with which he persued Fletcher-Hackwood’s resignation as an egotistical act of great maliciousness, but one which is nonetheless characteristic of the turd-like qualities of Taylor himself. As for Grace herself, her reputation lies, not unwholly undeservedly, in tatters. The punishment of losing her only source of income, and possibly her house (and what else she pays for with this income), as well as being publicly shamed on the front page of the York Press is arguably too severe. However, it is remarkably stupid for a student officer for welfare, of all positions, to get horrendously drunk in the first place, let alone to hit someone in so doing. I would argue that it is an offence which definitely compromises the integrity of a welfare rep. [I am undecided, not that I haven't considered it, whether or not it means she should leave her post, hence I didn't vote]. Now, she is perhaps to be viewed as an opinionated and cliched buffoon who reacted too strongly when she made a political dispute become personal.

In my opinion, and for what little it is worth, the matter deserves to be taken rather more seriously than it has been. The whole incident reflects incredibly poorly on the state of student politics at the University of York, and not much better on the student journalism of the institution. That said, I wouldn’t want to overestimate the importance of student politics on the outside world. Nobody really cares that much, not even the students themselves. This incident is an exception. Despite this, the wellbeing and prospects of the individuals concerned could, and probably will, be affected because of these developments and the publicity they have attracted. If not at the university, then possibly elsewhere.

The most significant point is that nobody will come out of this debacle looking good. YUSU (the Student Union of the University of York) has been tainted by another scandal which once again proves its incompetence in successfully representing a body of intelligent and sensitive students. Not only this, but more people took part in this vote of no confidence than in the last Union presidential election. What does this say about either the Union or its students? The student newspapers have essentially villified Fletcher-Hackwood, leaving her character, and possibly her life, in ruins, without considering the full implications of such a portrayal. Meanwhile, the dislike towards Dan Taylor has increased, and the eyeball-rolling about Fletcher-Hackwood will have reached unprecedented levels.

For interesting reading, look at the report and debate on the Nouse website. A radio show on University Radio York features a post-dismissal Fletcher-Hackwood reflecting on it, a mere two hours after the vote.

None of this needed to happen; if people could just be more considerate to each other and get a little perspective, then the problem may have been avoided. But, it’s happened now, and it is all thoroughly lamentable. But anyway, there are far more important things in life than the perpetual popularity contest of student society. I hope, a couple of years down the line, that I find non-student life to be a little less frustating in its pettiness, and I hope that a more unjudgemental humanity will shine through from somewhere.

Finally, on a note of ‘delusions of grandeur’, I offer a final point. Maybe people could judge both Dan Taylor and Grace Fletcher-Hackwood a little less? Simultaneously, and particularly relevant to those two, people could maybe think more about their actions both before they do them, and in reflecting afterwards?