I am standing for President of Undergraduates in order to deliver meaningful change through representation. I strongly believe that representation is more than just voting systems and committees, at its core it must involve listening to individuals, their current barriers, and aims for the future. Following this belief, I would strive to be a point of contact between every student and the university, taking action to uplift student voices across the undergraduate body and make an impact at a university wide level.
MY EXPERIENCE:
I was JCR President for Hertford College, a role which involved confidently advocating for student’s interests across both college and university wide committees. This experience showed me how critical student representation is, and revealed the various existing challenges that make it more difficult for individuals to be heard. This role developed my skills in communication and negotiation, as well as how to deliver tangible results that genuinely benefit the student body.
As JCR President I worked in collaboration with the SU, attending the Conference of Common Rooms and seeing how student policy can be shaped by clear contributions. If elected, I would hope to continue the SU’s work on democracy as I believe that this model provides the SU more legitimacy to work towards change. Student involvement is critical for fair representation, and as JCR President I promoted engagement with the SU.
I was elected as a voting representative on the SU’s College Disparities Monitor, a role which taught me about the operations and functionality of the SU. This position revealed inconsistent disclosure of variation in funding and expenditure across colleges as a significant barrier to undergraduate students. If elected, I would continue to deliver this project improving transparency and clarity.
As someone who has been actively involved in the JCR and SU, I would approach this role with focus, commitment, and dedication to ensure strong representation and effective delivery of student aspirations at a university wide level. I believe I have the necessary experience and competence to deliver tangible change rather than grand promises.
The SU has the unique capacity to enact change across the university, however this capacity is dependent upon effective delivery through clear student mandate and cannot be achieved through unrealistic promises. As such, I aim to achieve tangible goals within the workability of the role, taking student insights and applying them to academic and university policy.
MY AIMS:
ENGAGEMENT – Improve student engagement with both the SU and Conference of Common Rooms through outreach and communication, making the SU’s goals clear and translatable to all students. This engagement is essential to ensuring that the SU has a clear mandate and legitimacy to enact change.
STANDARDISATION – Advocate on Academic Committees for standardising guidelines surrounding exam provisions, access and AI across all colleges and courses, ensuring each undergraduate is afforded the same opportunities.
COLLABORATION – Work in collaboration and compromise with other Sabbatical Officers, Common Rooms, societies, and DivReps. The SU should facilitate and cooperate with the work of others to provide the greatest benefit to all.
DELIVERY – Ensure that current SU strategies and transformation are delivered, so the SU is a place of practice not just policy.
Through continuing the work of the SU’s transformation and promoting engagement, the SU’s clear mandate can better support actioning meaningful change. Vote Digby for delivery, not just promises.