With the current NTSU elections ongoing, we caught up with the Vice President Community and Welfare candidates, to find out why you should vote for them.
Alex J Cummins-D’Souza
What made you want to run for this position?
I have been in various positions in the NTU Pride Society for the past two academic years. I highly enjoy working in an advocacy and ‘supportive’ role, that is to say that I enjoy working to make sure others have the best experience possible, whether within my society or at university in general. I very much am a dog with a bone when presented with an issue or problem to solve, I hope to bring this dedication to the SU and to my fellow students. There is also a sense of giving back to the Uni I’ve called home for nearing 5 years (if you include my year aboard), I have a lot of experience to offer, on what has worked well and what I think should be improved.
Can you explain one or two points from your manifesto and why you think they are important.
Mandatory consent training at induction ensuring support for sexual assault victims. This is one of my main manifesto pledges, I feel this is hugely important for the wellbeing, both mental and physical of students and the wider community. According to the to a freedom of information request by the BBC, sexual violence at universities has trebled in the last three years, this is also only the cases that have been reported, another report for Revolt Sexual Assault, in partnership with The Student Room states that only an estimated between 6% and 10% of all cases actually go reported. Furthermore, the Revolt report reveals that up to 62% of all students at UK universities experience some form of sexual violence. This is a wide scale issue that needs direct action to address it.
Gender Neutral Bathrooms + Gender Support: On the face of it, this seems to be a fairly small change, but this can have a massive impact on the lives of students who may not identify as cisgender. It relives the stress of either using a bathroom designated for a gender they don’t identify with, or one where they feel uncomfortable because other users may say or do something to make them feel unwelcome. It also sends a message to all students that all are welcome at NTU and intolerance will not be permitted.
How are they going to be implemented?
Mandatory consent training for all students sounds like a huge undertaking, which would be difficult to achieve. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. I use the example of UCL which has implemented a consent training module via their Moodle, online platform (similar to NOW). The module is completely online, with interactive quizzes and videos to ensure completion. Once the module has been completed, the student receives a digital certificate of completion.
There is a delicate balancing act with gender neutral bathrooms, obviously there are budgetary and physical location restrictions. However, there are other considerations regarding using existing facilities, such as disabled bathrooms, without detriment to others who require the disabled bathrooms. Ideally, existing bathrooms should be converted to gender neutral and when buildings are constructed new GN Bathrooms included in the plans. Only as a last resort, when budgetary or location restrictions mean that existing bathrooms can’t be altered should a disabled bathroom be considered, furthermore, the disabled facilities themselves (supports, lowered sinks etc.) shouldn’t be removed, simply signs changed to notify that this is an ‘Accessible for All’ bathroom.
Chelsea Sowden
What made you run for this position?
I’ve been one of the most active and engaged volunteers at NTSU and NTU through my time at university, holding roles such as a mental health champion, head residence assistant, disability officer, gender officer and more so I hold a great understanding of what it is to be the VP Community and Welfare and also how to listen to our student community and put what they want into action. Ultimately, I want to work in student voice within the higher education sector and this is the perfect way for me to move into that and begin to fulfil my future career goals.
Can you explain one or two points from your manifesto and why you think they are important?
One of my manifesto points is all about improving mental health support at NTU, and I think this is necessary because current waiting times are relatively long considering the amount and depth of support available. Students have to wait weeks to receive a small number of talking sessions that often aren’t particularly helpful. I also want to address the climate crisis and make sure that both the university and NTSU are sector leading organisations, as well as addressing the inequalities faced by minority groups at NTU in every way, including socially and academically.
How are they going to be implemented?
To address mental health I want to review how well current support is actually working and introduce more relationships with local community organisations that specialise in specific areas by facilitating spaces for them to run to support our students. To address the climate crisis, I’d like to introduce a new part time officer role for sustainability who would focus on both environmental sustainability but also the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. This would be an elected full-time student at NTU. To address inequalities I’d like to facilitate a sector wide conference where we can discuss and celebrate the successes of dealing with these issues, research around them, and set goals for the sector to do better so that not only will NTU students benefit but also students across the UK.
Chloe Adams
What made you want to run for this position?
I wanted to run for this position, as there isn’t anything more that is suited for me. I have always been a very caring and understanding person, who is a great listener and will always put everyone first before myself. I want to go into a career of helping people, and I’d love this position to be my first step. I’m very passionate in giving advice and making sure everyone’s ok, so I’d like to put this in by positively changing student’s lives here at Trent, even if I can do the smallest thing. I’d absolutely love to be able to create a stronger support network for students, especially for a university I absolutely love and adore. Having gone through the three years myself, I know how each stage exactly feels, so if I can give students a bit of ease – that would be so rewarding to me.
Can you explain one or two points in your manifesto and why you think they are important? How are they going to be implemented?
So, one of my predominant manifesto points is to introduce a suicide awareness campaign. This is a topic very close to my heart, and is prevalent concern within university students and I feel like something needs to be done to educate people more and to essentially to get people to talk more! Secondly, I want to create a stronger support network for First Years. Going through the whole process of moving into halls, meeting your flat mates for he first time and living in a different city (for the majority of us anyway) is extremely daunting and unsettling, especially for the first few weeks.
How will do this, if elected?
Well, I initially want to reinforce Liv’s work of ‘Help a Mate’ across all campuses. I want to develop this to generalise it to something all students can be a part of, to create a stronger support network together. I also want to develop our relationship with on-going work with charities throughout the academic year, particularly within Wellbeing Week and World Mental Health Day. Additionally, I want to develop an online ‘opt-in’ system which is to essentially expand the support network from teacher to student, when welfare is of a level of concern.
For supporting first years, I’d like to create daily drop-in sessions for freshers within the SU. This will be informal meetings where any First Year students have any queries, questions or issues they’d like to address – myself and the IAS centre would be available! This can be anything from feeling home sick and flat mate issues right up to just wanting to have a little chit-chat! This is for the Fresher Team members also, to come in and talk about any issues they have had/experiencing for their volunteering and I’d like to provide them with fresh fruit and water to keep them healthy through a tough week! I’d like to continue the First Year support weekly, throughout the academic year.
Indigo Johnson
What made you run this position?
I’m a third-year media student a media course rep. Because I really care about making NTU a better place. I have a really good time as a student here. Being a course rep has made me realise it’s not inclusive for everybody and it’s not that diverse in terms of what it caters for.
So, I entered, as I want to make NTU a happy and inclusive place for everybody, especially for minority. Because the minority of NTU are majority.
Can you explain one or two points from your manifesto and why you think they are important. How are they going to be implemented?
A lot of my manifesto points focus on the minorities at NTU and NTU is made up of a very culturally and racially diverse student body. So, by having those aspects, hopefully, they make students feel they are thought about, and I do want to include them in university life. And I do want to do what they feel is necessary in order to help that inclusivity.
As for things like prayer rooms and breastfeeding spaces, I think that’s a matter of finding a couple of free rooms across the three campuses that aren’t used that much or that handy for people to get to.
In terms of numbers of counselling, currently, students who have issues like mental health issues or financial problems can go to have a session with a support advisor. However, I would like to extend the number of sessions offered so it can make students feel they get more of support they need.
All of things about trans right and LGBTQ+…the scope is changing; people may feel like they need more support. And things like turning toilets into gender-neutral ones, it just means people don’t have to choose all the time.
Zoe Mallett
What made you want to run for this position?
I have spent the last 4 years listening to students at NTU through multiple committee roles for sports clubs and societies, so I know how to listen, support and represent a variety of students. Throughout this I have always had a strong positive mental health whilst being supportive of those who struggle and this will put me in a great position to help them, especially in the current situation and those who may be nervous about starting a new academic year. I want to help new and current students to have the best experience at NTU and achieve their dreams.
Could you select one or two points in your manifesto to explain why you think they are important?
Introducing mandatory consent lessons for students at NTU as part of an induction will ensure all students understand the meaning of consent and the consequences that follow if you do not abide by it.
Linking the training of current Mental Health Champions to the role of a social and wellbeing officer within sports clubs and societies will ensure that the committees mental health is not affected by the support they need to give to others.
How are they going to be implemented?
The mandatory consent lesson will be done through the online induction with a video and quiz which all students will need to complete in order to enrol for each year at NTU. I would also like to implement a recyclable clothes fair for students to reduce fast fashion waste and gain some income. I would introduce awareness of safe consensual sex and sexual health by increasing the number of screening days for Sexual Transmitted Infection’s (STI) at the university to encourage students to get tested as well as making it an event that societies can partake in. I hope to implement a walk in STI check clinic across all three campus’ alongside a sexual health campaign highlighting the use of a C-card scheme and a BIG sex quiz.
Voting for the students’ union elections opens at 9am on the 27th April, and will close at 5pm on the 29th April.
By Qing Na