6 January Issue
Elections
By Mark Sweeney, Ellie Freeman
ELECTIONS Back with a brand new look It’s hard to believe that we’re at this stage of the year already but Elections Time is Coming and nominations for the 2020/21 elections are now open! There’s so many different student leadership positions on offer so this could be your chance to get involved and make a real change. Do you look like a leader? Think you’ve got what it takes to lead the Students’ Union? Then why not stand for one of our three sabbatical officer roles - President, Vice President Education and Welfare and Vice President Student Involvement. All of these roles offer an individual the opportunity to direct the work of the Students’ Union during their time in office meaning you can make the changes you want to see. It’s set to be a hotly contested election this year so make sure you get your nominations in early in order not to miss out. Whilst our Sabbatical Officer roles are probably the most high profile during the election period there are some other very important positions within the Students’ Union that are also up for election. We have eight Executive Officer positions up for election. These roles are filled by students who represent those ‘harder to reach’ groups and make sure that they benefit equally from the services of the Students’ Union. Four of the roles are self-defining. Only you can say if you should be running or voting in those elections on the basis that you are selfdefining as a woman, a student with a disability, as BAME or LGBT+. The other four roles, International (paying international student fees), Mature (starting your course at the age of 21 or above), Part-time and Postgraduate Executive Officers, are all based on your point of entry to the University. The Executive Officer roles are all voluntary positions and are performed alongside your studies. There are four Student Trustee positions available, one of which is reserved for a student studying at our Uxbridge campus as part of reforms you voted for in our Constitutional Referendum earlier this year. The position of Student Trustee is a unique opportunity to be part of the team driving the strategic direction of the Union. The Student Trustee roles are part time volunteers who fulfil the roles alongside their studies.
Each year, the National Union of Students hold their annual conference and three representatives from Bucks are sent to be your voice. The delegation leader is the Union’s current President but the other two NUS Delegates are elected. One of the three roles is reserved for a woman and as our delegation leader defines a woman, the two elected positions will be open to all of our members to stand.
Finally, we also have our student rep positions up for election. Student reps are the Union’s eyes and ears at a course level. They act as the figurehead for their class or group and help us to get an understanding of the student experience as well as identifying if any changes need to be made or good practice needs to be highlighted. Want to help make the changes you and your peers want to see on your course? Nominate yourself to be a student rep now!
KEY ELECTION DATES NOMINATIONS OPEN 10am Monday 13 January
ELECTIONS 'GIVE IT A GO' WEEK Monday 3 – Friday 7 February
NOMINATIONS CLOSE Noon Friday 14 February
BALLOTS OPEN
10am Monday 2 March
BALLOTS CLOSE Noon Friday 6 March
ELECTIONS NIGHT
From 9pm Friday 6 March For more information about any of the above or to simply ask a question, please email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk