Sabbs with Benefits

In a shocking spurt of real journalism, The Lemon Press has uncovered a genuine exclusive. TLP cunningly intercepted an email from the University of York SU HR department, (they accidentally sent the email to the wrong person, we’re not the News of the World), which revealed that Sabbatical officers at the Union are offered a free 12 month membership at York Sport, which would usually cost a student £285, ‘to help spread the word’, and have been for a number of years.

The email was clear that the offer was only available to Sabbatical Officers, who should be ‘sensitive when discussing around other York SU staff’. Is there anything uncomfortable about offering a free gift specifically to elected officials? We wouldn’t dare comment… Is it worrying that companies are specifically targeting decision makers for benefits rather than trying to win over the actual student body? Our lips are sealed… Are we hoping that the rest of the staff let us actually publish the story because they haven’t got any gifts? Yes, yes we are. [If you’re seeing this, the SU has let us run the story and we should all give it a big pat on the back for impartiality - Ed.].

The union does not pay for the membership, so it's tricky to see how it would run as an employment benefit scheme, but we’re perfectly willing to see it that way if someone gives us some form of gift. We’re thinking a citrus tree made from solid gold? Maybe an esports equivalent to the gym pass (none of us actually exercise)? We’d probably settle for someone letting us actually see the inside of Heslington Hall.

With gift giving from businesses to individuals under increased scrutiny throughout the country since new laws were passed in 2010 (we won’t tell you the name of the act because that might seem a bit accusatory of us), we at TLP are proud to see York Institutions sticking it to the woke left and keeping up a fine tradition of no-strings-attached gift giving that can be traced all the way back to friend-of-the-magazine Judas Iscariot graciously accepting 30 pieces of silver from local priests.

In the spirit of comradeship and friendliness (or having to follow strict media laws because we’re doing actual journalism), we reached out to offer ‘right of reply' to the Union and the University. Here’s what they had to say:

A University of York spokesperson said: "These benefits were implemented following discussions between York Sport and York SU on how to best encourage students to lead active and healthy lives.

"The first-hand experiences of Sabbatical officers gives them the opportunity to lead by example when influencing others on the benefits of exercise for health and wellbeing.

"Sport England identified one of the barriers to sporting activities is having someone to participate with, and if encouragement comes from a trusted Sabbatical Officer, then students may feel more confident and encouraged to be active."

Lewis Parrey, Union Affairs Officer at York SU, said ‘One of my main manifesto points when I ran for this role was to improve transparency between the union and students, so I’m very happy that The Lemon Press has helped me in achieving this; I know they are big supporters of mine.

My understanding is that York Sport were so worried about our lack of exercise from sitting in long meetings with university staff that they generously extended this offer to us.

I dispute the claims that this is some sort of secret quid pro quo, as basically all other staff, our friends, housemates, and even the guy on the bus know about it (what's the point of going to the gym if you don’t tell everyone).

Obviously York SU works closely with York Sport but students are free to use whatever facilities they choose.’

Eddie Atkinson