Current DoES Leon O’Rourke has done a truly wonderful job in his role overseeing events in the Union (no, he did not pay us to say that). The 2014 Fresher’s Week was probably one of the best that St Andrews has ever seen with Scouting For Girls and Hot Dub Time Machine providing one of most memorable weeks this Union has seen. He has also started the incredible Coffee House Sessions and looked to provide a platform for more comedy too. O’Rourke will be a tough act to follow but both candidates will give it a good attempt.

Chris Macrae, the man behind #NELFUN has placed real emphasis on his passion for music. He wants a Pink Floyd sized act for Freshers Week which is slightly optimistic but we like his desire and determination to get someone that big. Macrae has worked at the Union so knows the building and the workings of it well, it does not however mean he has all the necessary experience when it comes to organising larger scale events within the Union. Macrae, a hugely popular component in the student community, also wants to have specific drink deals introduced into the Union, another tough policy but if he did manage to get it done, would be massively successful.

The other candidate in the race for DoES is Emily Rogers, the current producer for Blind Mirth and Director of On The Rocks. Rogers places a lot of emphasis on utilising new spaces in the union with the potential implementation of a temporary stage in the new Venue 1. While she has not been involved with SRC or SSC, her experience of Union events is unquestionable. Working with Blind Mirth and OTR means she knows the ins and outs of the Union’s requirements for putting on events, Rogers will surely aim to focus on her experience of putting on huge events during the upcoming debates.

The battle for DoES this year will be tightly contested. Early indications suggest that Macrae, a friendly and determined man, appears to be slightly in the lead but Rogers will attempt to use the upcoming events such as the debate and the Union hustings as an opportunity to demonstrate her prior experience in putting on events within the Union.