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Candidate for the position of Student Trustees

Image for Kush B. Vaidya

Kush B. Vaidya

I’m running for Student Trustee alongside Lucy and Nick to help build a transparent, accountable, and inclusive Oxford SU. As JCR President of the University’s largest common room and the only JCR President on the SU Transformation Committee, I bring governance experience and deep knowledge of the new structures. I’ve worked on University-wide inclusion efforts and understand how to reflect diverse student voices in policy. Together, we’re committed to delivering reform that serves all students.

Student Trustee Candidate Statement Form
As JCR President of St Catherine’s College, the largest undergraduate common room in Oxford, I lead a 35-member committee and represent over 500 students. This experience has equipped me with the leadership, diplomacy, and governance skills needed to manage complex student interests.

As a voting member of the Conference of Common Rooms (CCR), I will also bring direct insight into how this new body can collaborate with the Student Union effectively.

I served on the Oxford SU Transformation Committee as the only JCR President involved. In this role, I helped draft the SU’s new articles and bye-laws, giving me in-depth knowledge of the SU’s structure and governance. This experience directly prepares me to contribute meaningfully as a trustee during this period of institutional change.

As a member of the University’s Racial and Religious Inclusion Task and Finish Group, I worked with the committee as it drew on consultations with staff and students to develop meaningful, actionable recommendations to improve inclusion across the University. This work has strengthened my understanding of systemic inclusion and how to integrate diverse student voices into high-level decision-making.

My role as Vice President (Finance) of Raise & Give (RAG), has shown me how SU-affiliated initiatives operate on the ground, and how trustees can better support them through funding and institutional backing.

These roles have collectively prepared me to serve as a responsible, informed, and proactive trustee, capable of balancing governance duties with student-facing realities.
As JCR President and a member of the SU’s Transformation Committee, I’ve seen how essential it is to have student trustees who are engaged, informed, and committed to institutional change. This role is a direct way to ensure that reforms deliver on their promise and that the new CCR-SU model works in practice.

I want to use this role to represent the voices of those often underrepresented, including ethnic minority and international students. Becoming a student trustee is the most effective way for me to channel my experience and networks into structural change that benefits students across the University.
Stability:
Frequent resignations have undermined student trust in the SU. As a trustee, I will work to ensure that sabbatical officers are supported and equipped to serve their full terms, fostering greater continuity and effectiveness.

Structure:
The SU is undergoing foundational change. I will help the board define clear, sustainable relationships between the SU and CCR, while supporting the development of transparent and inclusive procedures that allow CCR to flourish as a genuine representation forum.

Service:
The SU manages a budget of over £1 million and employs around 18 staff. This funding comes from our fees, so the SU must work in the interests of students. I will advocate for increased support for community representatives and better funding for useful student initiatives, while maintaining editorial independence for the Oxford Student.

Finally, I am running alongside Nick and Lucy. We are committed to working together and holding each other accountable to deliver the reform and representation Oxford students deserve.