The worst two weeks of your life – probably

There are few experiences at university more hellish than running to be student president. Relentless door-knocking, lecture announcements, pasting posters to cardboard. Add to this the lack of sleep, character assassination, relentless bitching on online forums and of course the knowledge that losing is very public. Current President, Adam Ramsay experienced it first hand when he lost the race in 2007 to Josh MacAlister: Ramsay optimistically brought his whole family to the result announcement in Teviot and tears ensued when the result didn’t go his way.

This year, Thomas Graham and Liz Rawlings are the clear front-runners: both are organised and ambitious with vital campaign know-how. Graham is by far the most politically experienced and has a great record of driving through change. But experience is by no means everything: his blunt attitude and membership of the Labour Party means he’s a divisive figure. Two of this year’s four sabbaticals—Adam Ramsay (President) and Guy Bromley (VPAA)—have privately set themselves the task of finding "anyone but Thomas" for the top job. However, he has the support of former President, Josh MacAlister and has been planning his campaign for months so shouldn’t be underestimated.

Rawlings is a past editor of the newspaper formerly known as Student and has a good knowledge of issues effecting voters. Her critics argue her politics—which suggest close proximity to the Green Party—has unbalanced her journalism. Yet her experience campaigning with People & Planet, plus private advice from EUSA President Adam Ramsay, suggest she will mount a strong fight. And remember it’s all about the campaign: the most organised candidate invariably wins, not the one with the best ideas or experience.

Coming in a close-third is Oliver Mundell who, since impaling his foot on the railings of George Square Gardens, has made it his mission to add wit to the presidential race. He claims to have made a "very funny video," which consists of him racing round campus in his battle bus—a mobility scooter—set to a kitsch 80s soundtrack: curious behaviour for the person we want councillors and MSPs to take seriously. Nonetheless he is a clever guy and will no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve. A year ago he started a conversation with me: ‘I may be a Tory but…’ but has now wisely turned more independent, realising that right-wing politics is an acquired taste amongst most penniless students.

The final two candidates—James Rodger and Benedict Robbins—are sadly out of their depth and have no hope in hell of victory. Rodger is an experienced debater with a cheery personality, yet his original slogan "Students Not Politics" suggest little knowledge of the job which is unavoidably political. Robbins is a devout Christian and is running because of a God-given talent. He will undoubtedly add interest to the race but religion and politics never mix well and his manifesto concentrates on values rather than substantive policies: never a good move.

In the next week, these five students will go through the purgatory of the presidential race: sleep deprivation, stress and self-doubt. You’ll get to vote on which want you want to represent you. And I bet there’ll be more tears.