Greener Guild? A Guild that gives back? And support for student campaigns? These are all possible and would make a great change in how the Guild operates for students. I’d like to think I’ve had the chance to get involved in all the Guild has to offer since arriving at the University of Birmingham. This started with being a member of the Residents’ Association in my first year and now being able to represent the Guild of Students at the NUS National Conference and representing all students as a Student Trustee on the Guild of Student’s Trustee Board.
If elected, I believe the Guild of Student’s should be where all students have the chance to get involved and feel good about their time at university. I am focussed in three major policies:
- A Greener Guild – We deserve a greener Guild and campus. I will achieve this by ensuring that food served at the Guild is sustainably sourced and meets all dietary needs, starting a Student Ethical and Environmental committee led by the Ethical and Environmental Officer and myself, achieving an NUS Green Impact rating of ‘Excellence’ and pressuring the University to become more environmentally conscious.
- A Guild that keeps on Giving – Student Groups and the wider student population do so much for charity however, the support for more ambitious targets is not available. I intend to set up a Part-Time Officer position of “Charity and Volunteering Officer”. This would allow groups to work together and use the Guild’s common resources to raise more and ultimately strengthen student’s ability to fundraise.
- Empower Student-Led Campaigns – every student should be able to get involved in the Guild’s campaigning and support for campaigns (such as, the Not On campaign or Students Not Suspects) should be available at the highest levels of the guild. I want to ensure that campaigns are led by students with students and associations steering the direction of campaigning. Guild Officers should be available for support and assistance but should not interfere with the power of the student voice.
My experience within the Guild has given me a real insight into how the Guild operates. I believe this makes me a well-rounded character with the ability to achieve my ambitions and to ensure that student’s voices are heard.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama.
If you want to make change, vote “Yes We Dan” Longhorn and we can make a Guild to be proud of together.