It’s safe to say that Mike Sherratt is keen on sport. “I really want to continue being at Lancaster and supporting the sport,” he says. The squash president has been consistently involved throughout his years at Lancaster and believes that his experience is key.
Sherratt was second team captain almost immediately in first year, so was organising things from the off. He feels that his experience of everything – from sorting out kit to handling money as treasurer in second year – are all invaluable to the role of VP Activities. As president his roles and tasks have greatly increased, and recently he organised a trip to Manchester to use their courts, a problem made more difficult by the frustrations of booking coaches. He says he’s always helping people, something that will continue if he were elected. In addition to this, he’s been a JustPlay activator alongside his squash commitments.
“I’ve been close to the activities team working in Fresher’s Week, going round all the societies involved in JustPlay. I had to talk to them, and I got to know what kind of things the University is already doing,” he explained, “Being a JustPlay activator brings an insight into recreational sport, which I don’t think many of us have.” He’d also like to expand some of the popular JustPlay sports at a collegiate level, as alluded to in his manifesto.
Sherratt believes that welfare issues are one of the biggest challenges facing students these days. But he puts an emphasis on how getting involved with recreational sport can be pretty helpful in becoming unstuck.
Roses is obviously a big part of Lancaster University sporting life, and Sherratt is keen to get more people coming down and spectating. Being close to exam time, he feels that it would be nice for students to take an hour out of the library to come down to the fields. Regarding delivering a home Roses to remember, Sherratt was a little uncertain regarding a plan, believing that it’s too far in the future to think about it now.
The role of VP Activities also encompasses non-sporting societies, something that came to a surprise of some of Sherratt’s friends in societies. “It’s about spreading the word that VP Activities does cover societies,” however he also admits his personal experience is mainly within sporting clubs.
When asked about what he would change about Activities in LUSU, Sherratt claimed that it’s sometimes difficult to access BUCS transport. “I’d like to see that go back onto the website so anyone can look at it and see. It just makes sense for people to be able to check really easily on the website.”
Improved facilities is important in Sherratt’s manifesto, and he would like to push for better tennis courts and also a running track. “Talking with Jack, there’s already talk about trying to push things like this. The University wants these kinds of things because they improve sport. Even if I don’t get it done, pushing it forward is my ambition.”
Trivia: Mike was only familiar with the way sports applied for funding, though said he guessed they asked the activities team in LUSU.
