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President: Activities May Update

Friday 14-06-2024 - 13:33

President: Activities May Update

By President: Activities - Prince Ikechi

Hello, everyone!

In my latest blog, I’m excited to share some highlights and updates on what I’ve been working on recently. May was another busy month, but also very rewarding. Here’s a recap of what I’ve been up to:

President: Activities Prince Ikechi

President: Activities Prince Ikechi

Student Campaign for North East Mayoral Election

During May, we launched a significant campaign encouraging students to register and vote in the now concluded North East Mayoral Election. We believe that student voices are crucial in shaping the future of our region. Through various initiatives, including social media outreach, and collaboration with organisations – North East Students’ Unions and Tyne & Wear Citizens, we’ve been actively working to ensure that students are informed and motivated to participate in this critical democratic process. It’s been inspiring to see so many students engage and take an active role in their community.

And remember to register to vote in the General Election before the deadline of 11:59pm on Tuesday 18th June. You can find out more about what you need to do in order to vote here.

Your Awards

One of last month’s highlights was attending Your Awards. The SU’s annual awards celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of our students and student groups. It was a night filled with inspiration, joy, and recognition of the hard work that goes into making our university community vibrant and inclusive. Once again, congratulations to all the nominees and winners – your dedication and passion are what makes our university truly special.

Campaign for More Microwaves at Murray Science Social Space

In response to student feedback, I initiated a campaign for more microwaves at the Murray Science Social Space. Many students have expressed the need for better facilities to heat their food, especially as microwaves in the library are insufficient to meet the growing demand of students during peak hours. Students often face long waits to heat their meals, which not only causes inconvenience but also impacts their valuable study time increasing cost of living.

We’ve had productive discussions with university management, who have facilitated the implementation of additional microwaves at level 1 social space at Murray Health. We are grateful and appreciate the ongoing efforts to enhance student facilities and ensure a comfortable and supportive environment on campus.

Campaign on the University’s recent increase in parking charges

The recent announcement by the University to increase the parking charges from £1.30 to £6 per day and from £0.35 to £1.60 per hour with effect from 1 August 2024, has raised significant concerns among students, many of whom rely on their cars for commuting to campus. Understanding the financial burden this places on our student community, we have supported a student-led campaign for the university to reconsider their decision and advocate for more affordable parking solutions.

Students have voiced their concerns, shared their experiences and voted on a petition that was made available on our ‘Change It!’ platform. Check out ‘Change It!’ to submit your ideas to improve your university experience and vote on those of your peers. Following the petition, we are currently meeting with the University, students, staff trade unions and others affected by this change in order to try and get a resolution that is better for students. While the petition has now closed, please do not hesitate to contact us with your views on this matter.

Cost of Living Conference at Lancaster University

I had the privilege of attending the Cost of Living Conference at Lancaster University. This event brought together students and academics to discuss the pressing issue of the cost of living crisis. It was an eye-opening experience, and I gathered valuable insights into how we can better support our students during these challenging times. The conference included breakout sessions on initiatives like Green Lancaster: Don’t Ditch It, aimed at creating a circular economy at universities, as well as clothing swaps, repair cafés, and eco-eats. These innovative ideas can significantly impact our sustainability efforts and support students facing financial challenges.

Reflecting further on Green Lancaster: Don’t Ditch It, the initiative aims to encourage students to reuse and recycle items instead of discarding them, fostering a more environmentally conscious community on campus. The clothing swap segment emphasised the environmental and economic benefits of swapping clothes. Students were encouraged to participate in clothing swap events, which provide a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to buying new clothes. The concept of a repair café was introduced, where students can bring items in need of repair instead of throwing them away. This initiative, ‘Don’t Ditch it, Stitch it, supports skill-sharing from Sewing Café Lancaster to students and reduces waste by extending the life of clothing items. The Eco Eats project focused on sustainable eating practices, encouraging students to reduce food waste and make eco-friendly food choices. The session covered tips for sustainable eating, such as buying local produce, minimising single-use plastics, and participating in campus initiatives like community cooking session and use of gleaned food.

Election Lobby: What Students Can Influence!

With no current parliament to lobby, the discussion shifted to how students can still influence the upcoming general election. The session highlighted the power of student voices in shaping policies, particularly those related to sustainability and cost of living. Strategies for effective advocacy, such as social media campaigns, petitions, and community engagement, were explored. The session concluded with an interactive session, where attendees participated in identifying critical issues affecting students’ lives as asks in the general election campaign.

As a representative voice for over half a million voters in the forthcoming election, we collectively ask for the following from our prospective and future Parliamentary Representatives:

  1. Student Accommodation Renter Reform and Fair Rent Controls – To give students more tenancy rights and better standards for accommodation.
  2. Reform Higher Education and Student Funding Models - Increased maintenance loans in line with real living standards, meeting the HEPI student minimum standard set for thriving in education. We aspire to transition to a model of maintenance grants, but for now we ask for increased maintenance loans.
  3. Uplift the funding for a truly public-owned NHS - Funding and support for universities to deal with gaps in the NHS’s current provision. This should include free legal aid, subsidised on-campus food, wellbeing, and mental health support.
  4. A National Transport card for all students – To enable student accessibility to university regardless of age or location.

Looking Ahead!

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Your feedback and involvement are crucial and much appreciated, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any suggestions or concerns.

Let’s keep working together to make our university the best it can be.

Categories:

Campaigns, Featured, Officers

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