In the role of President I will work hard to ensure that all students are represented effectively. I will support other officers, particularly non-sabbatical officers, and representative/liberation associations in completing their projects and representing their constituents.
I will work to provide value for money in all areas, from lectures to on campus spending. I will encourage the University to properly support both teaching staff and support staff, and hold the University to account. I will push for a living wage for all student staff, lower ticket prices for events such as Grad Ball and Guild Awards, and a cheaper alternative to Spar in the Guild.
After the recent comments from students regarding the relocation and restructuring of support services, I hope to expand the accessibility, effectiveness and range of support available. A key function of the Guild is to provide genuine and constructive help and support for all students, but despite the active campaign against sexual harassment, the careful relocation of counselling services, etc. many students still do not know where to turn when they need help. All services should be properly signposted so that every student know what is available to them. A key part of this will be the introduction of affordable, flexible childcare on campus, open to both students and staff. As a student parent I have received little support from the University, and without my family and friends I would not have been able to continue studying. Childcare on campus is something that has been campaigned for extensively in the past and I hope to continue the work that has been done towards a more inclusive campus.
I believe that I can lead the Guild in 2016/17 to becoming an effective Students’ Union, representative of all 30,000 of its members. In my role as Chair of the Women’s Association I have organised campaigns, worked closely with the Guild and University staff and learned the value of an open mind, and will always have an open Twitter feed and email account, so that anyone can contact me directly about what would help them feel more supported and represented by the Guild of Students. As President I will be active in holding the University to account, working to build a Guild with teeth.