Your Guide to the SU Elections 2019

YOUR GUIDE TO VOTING IN THIS YEAR’S SU ELECTIONS. WRITTEN BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS. WWW.HUDDERSFIELD.SU/VOTE

25TH - 27TH MARCH 2019

TICKETS NOW ON SALE www.huddersďŹ eld.su/varsity #HUDVARSITY

hudlets

student accommodation made simple

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Students’ Union Elections 2019.

Your Officers lead the Students’ Union, and are here to make your student experience the best it can be! Previously Officers have introduced lecture capture, created a Kids Zone in the SU and lobbied for you to get all your course feedback within 3 weeks.

Voting will be open 8am – 8pm, Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th March. Make sure you take advantage of your opportunity to say who our future leaders are.

“Voting is fun when we do it together.”

Jonathan Stephen SU President

A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR Welcome to the 2019 Elections Guide in collaboration with T’Hud. In here, you’ll find all you need to know about the candidates standing to be your Students’ Union Officers for the 2019-20 academic year.

Voting for your Officers is a massive part of the year, and there are some fantastic candidates running. These are the people who will represent you, so read through the candidate profiles and decide who you think will be the best person to do what’s right for you!

If you’ve still not made up your mind after reading this, there’s loads of campaigning going on across campus and on social media. You can find each candidate’s ‘why vote for me?’ at www.huddersfield.su/elections.

If you’re interested in joining T’Hud magazine get in touch!

Editor@t-hud.co.uk - we’re always looking for article writers, photographers, interviewers, gig reviewers, designers, social media managers and more!

Charlotte Bowles Editor of T’Hud

3

#HUDVOTES

20,000 STUDENTS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO VOTE. SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

VOTE NOW AT WWW.HUDDERSFIELD.SU/VOTE VOTING CLOSES 8PM WEDNESDAY 6TH MARCH

CONTENTS Elections Dashboard

7

Candidate Profiles – SU President Scarlett Black

8

Emmanuel Haruna

9

Hamza Shaikh

10

Desiree Shaw

11

Candidate Profiles – Education Officer Esther Adebisi

12

Chloe Dickinson

13

Demetra Nikolaou

14

Candidate Profiles – Equalities Officer Daniel Angus

15

Chris Deans

16

Adetayo Opakunle

17

Chloe Parkes

18

Sophie Patel

19

Candidate Profiles – Community Officer Tom Gibson

20

Helen Gleaves

21

Bethel Gogo

22

Bright Ovbiovbo

23

Bethany Woodcock

24

Candidate Profiles – Activities Officer Lucy French

25

Enya Morrisroe

26

Nurin Mushahar

27

5

The

Students’ Union Awards Nominations Open

www.huddersfield.su/suawards

WHO WILL BE LEADING YOU IN 2019-20?

Find out where your votes are going with the Elections Dashboard.

See who’s voted and from where, but you’ll have to join us on Results Night at Richard Steinitz Building Atrium Thursday 7th March at 6pm to see who’s won.

WWW.HUDDERSFIELD.SU/WHERESMYVOTEAT

Candidate Profiles

SCARLETT BLACK RUNNING FOR: SU PRESIDENT INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Scarlett: As a Politics student, the Vice President for the Politics Society, and an Academic Rep Assistant, Scarlett is willing to listen to students, and stand up for what she believes in as a strong female leader. She wants to encourage everyone to vote in this year’s Elections.

Key Points: Scarlett believes that the University is lacking a sense of community. She hopes to tackle this by increasing the amount of social space on campus for students to relax and work informally, alongside production of a neutral space for students to voice concerns and address issues with the SU. Alongside these changes, Scarlett hopes to implement parking solutions for commuter students.

Scarlett believes that there should be no lectures on a Wednesday afternoon, so that students can engage with sports fixtures and represent the University, without sacrificing their education. She also wants to reduce the price of both printing on campus and the washing machines in student accommodation, as well as setting up a database so that students can give reviews on their halls.

8

Candidate Profiles

EMMANUEL HARUNA RUNNING FOR: SU PRESIDENT INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Emmanuel: As the current Education Officer, Emmanuel insists that there is much more that he wants to achieve at university and hopes to continue to give back to a system that he has taken value from; not just as a voice for students, but a voice with students. Some of the changes that Emmanuel wishes to implement will be continued from his current role. He wants to make the academic integrity process fairer, by educating students on the minimum standard for breaching offences, such as plagiarism. This will support the reputation of the University and ensure that the value of any degree on campus is not undermined.

Key Points: After highlighting a drop in the engagement between students and the SU, Emmanuel wants to add value to the participatory opportunities at University through certification and recognition of student input. The philosophy behind his campaign is to represent the purpose of University with his vision of a better academic life for students. He wishes to do this through his ‘Take My Hands’ campaign, which ensures everyone is important and relevant. He hopes that his experience in the position and understanding of the democratic structure of the Union will ensure that the changes he wishes to implement are done so with the valuable contacts he has already formed.

9

Candidate Profiles

HAMZA SHAIKH RUNNING FOR: SU PRESIDENT INTERVIEWED BY: CHARLOTTE BOWLES

About Hamza: Hamza is a final year Economics and Politics student, who has worked parttime in the Students’ Union for two years as an Inspiring Future Leader, so he is familiar with the way things work in the SU. He has a passion across all areas of making student life better, from improvements in the lecture room, to fighting for liberation groups. He is the current President of Huddersfield Student Action for Refugees society, a professional fundraiser and a team leader for a women’s and children’s rights charity. He is a BAME Ambassador, has served 3 years as an Academic Rep, is the Treasurer of Huddersfield Labour Students, Islamic Society member and a NUS National Conference Delegate 2018 who passed a motion at national conference calling for refugee scholarships in every university.

Key Points: He is very determined to work to his best ability to serve students. The changes he wants to make are free print credit allowance, more parking, free sports, being able to bring up teaching issues more easily and more support for students facing extenuating circumstances such as financial or moral support.

He also wants to make more accessible opportunities to study abroad, as well as being able to talk openly to as many students as he can to make the changes that students want.

“I care; I believe every student should have an equal chance at success. I just want to represent you all and fight for you every day. Together we can - #makeitSHAIKH”

10

Candidate Profiles

DESIREE SHAW RUNNING FOR: SU PRESIDENT INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Desiree: Desiree is a third year Contemporary Art and Illustration student who has a lot of experience with events and leadership. One particular experience she told us about was the Inspiring Future Leaders project with the Students’ Union, “I’ve been invol ved in two projects, firstly focussing on the professional development of the students and the second will be safety on campus, so I will be working with trans students and a lot of other people just trying to use creative means to make sure people know that there’s ways to be safe on campus and what to do.” She has also completed the Women in Leadership course with the SU, which showed how to use what they have inside of them to keep moving forward rather than letting the system hold them back.

Key Points: She thinks she is the strongest candidate for this role because she always thinks creatively and has experience running several campaigns on her own with no funding. She said: “I know a lot of what the Students’ Union does; a lot of it has been great, but a lot of it is struggling with engagement. I think I could increase that by looking at new creative ways. It’s like you walk through town and you are bombarded with salesmen, and then you come back on here and you’re bombarded with leaflets, all this stuff. I think I have a creative way of making sure that even in small environments with small numbers of people, you’re bound to make a massive ripple effect on campus.”

11

Candidate Profiles

ESTHER ADEBISI RUNNING FOR: EDUCATION OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHARLOTTE BOWLES

About Esther: Currently in her final year of studying Biochemistry, Esther has chosen to run for the role of Education Officer. When she started University she had no idea how much of a voice the students have; but after working at the SU, participating as an Academic Rep, and a BAME Ambassador, Esther hopes to bring some innovative changes to the University to give students a voice.

Key Points: To change the face of every student’s journey through education. Esther aims to set up life skills workshops to educate and place an emphasis on politics, financial management, budgeting, tax paying, mental health awareness and first aid training. She believes that these skills are often overlooked in education, but this information is crucial to students when entering the ‘adult’ world after graduating.

“We’ve all been there: walking into a lecture, going to swipe in, and then realising that we have left our ID card at home, or in the pocket of our other coat.” Esther wants to prevent this common situation by introducing a method of monitoring our attendance on our phones. She also wants students to have more of an input in the planning of careers and placement fairs, to make sure that companies are there that students want.

12

Candidate Profiles

CHLOE DICKINSON RUNNING FOR: EDUCATION OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Chloe: Chloe has already been listening to students, taking the thoughts of everyone on board and implementing changes at the University through her involvement with the Students’ Union as an Academic Rep Programme Assistant.

Key Points: To ensure that she continues to do this, Chloe wants to develop an academic community, with more collaboration between schools and courses across the campus. She also wants to engage students in this collaboration by setting up a similar programme to Varsity, which will focus on skills other than sport, like art. Chloe aims to establish more academic spaces for students to support this.

Another main feature of Chloe’s campaign is to represent under-represented groups such as postgraduates, part-time students, mature students, BAME, LGBTQ+ and student parents, and give these students more of a voice.

She hopes that students make the most of the opportunity to engage with the election and vote for the candidate they believe suits them best.

13

Candidate Profiles

DEMETRA NIKOLAOU RUNNING FOR: EDUCATION OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Demetra: Whilst studying Criminology, Demetra has come across issues at university that she believes she can resolve. As an Academic Rep and representing the Greek Society, Demetra hopes these changes will benefit all at university, including EU students.

Key Points: Demetra hopes to tackle these challenges by advertising the educational support that is available to all students, in addition to generating more library resources. She wants to ensure there are incresed copies of books in the library, and more books available online. Demetra also wishes to reduce the large gaps on timetables that students often have between lectures and seminars in a day.

14

Candidate Profiles

DANIEL ANGUS RUNNING FOR: EQUALITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Daniel: Daniel is currently studying Counselling with Mentoring and is in his final year. He has chosen to run for this role because, being blind, he understands difficulties in accessing aspects of the University. He thinks his 3 years at university have been positive but believes that there are some things that could have been done to make other people’s experiences better, so they can have a fulfilling time embarking on what is a journey that could change their lives.

Key Points: “I think that the University does a lot to ensure that people have the best possible experience to embark on the next journey of their lives, but I think we can make changes to certain things like: more access points for people who have wheelchair requirements, better access to short notice room changes - I am not always able to check my emails in time, and for me, commuting a long distance, it is a long way to travel to be told we don’t have a lesson that week. It’s difficult enough to make it on time to a lesson that has been timetabled. Also another aspect is ensuring Freshers’ week is accessible to all and is covering people with different cultural requirements. All of us need to be accommodated in this experience which is a celebration of a new chapter in peoples lives.”

15

Candidate Profiles

CHRIS DEANS RUNNING FOR: EQUALITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: DAVID HARDING

About Chris: Chris is a third year IT student who is currently a support worker for people with learning difficulties and advanced autism. He has been in the role for eight months and believe his experience would make him a good candidate. He is an approachable person who likes to help out with other people’s problems.

Key Points: “I would like to make it more inclusive. There was a problem early in the year with equalities; I would like to push that away so it’s not at the forefront anymore and help people have more faith in the role. A lot of it is helping people to have a better understanding of issues and the needs of other people. We are not all the same; we are not all this, that or the other; we are all people at the end of the day. So, if people can come together it will help university life.”

16

Candidate Profiles

ADETAYO OPAKUNLE RUNNING FOR: EQUALITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Adetayo: Adetayo is studying International Business Management and understands how to set up a business and run it like an Operating Manager. He has been studying for 6 years and understands that the University is an international University - a community with different groups of people with different values and cultures that should be respected.

Key Points: “What I would do is represent students. One of my missions is to introduce a peer mental health support scheme. The University tries its best to provide support for mental health for students; I feel that, if students are more exposed to support, they will have bigger success at university. A student-based support group will relieve stress on the mental health work group we have at university. Everybody is entitled to respect - whatever their gender, culture or beliefs and values. I will be working with students to champion respect.�

17

Candidate Profiles

CHLOE PARKES RUNNING FOR: EQUALITIES OFFICER MANIFESTO WRITTEN BY CHLOE PARKES

About Chloe: Chloe is a third year Psychology student, and a BAME Ambassador. She attended an NUS conference in Glasgow, talking about the BAME attainment gap, giving a speech about the fact there is a 25% difference between a BAME student and a non-BAME student getting a 2:1 or 1st degree. She also took part in the Union’s Women in Leadership programme, saying that “on average it would take 60 years to alter the gender pay gap. At Huddersfield we can start now and start seeing the differences today. Women are the future.”

Key Points: “I love people; I think we are all equal. No one is superior and we should be all given an equal chance. I’m a proud advocate for human rights; I believe a more accepting and educated society will help to fight oppressive attitudes.

I’m finishing my degree as a proud educated black woman and also as a new Muslim; a personal journey that took a lot of strength and helped me gain peace, empowerment and purpose. Love is the key to an equal society. Silence never won rights, let me help your voice be heard.”

18

Candidate Profiles

SOPHIE PATEL RUNNING FOR: EQUALITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Sophie: Sophie is a Media and Popular Culture student at the University, an Academic Rep, a presenter with Radio Hud and single mother. Her passion for change has been recognised on and off campus. After being trained by the SU in activist skills, Sophie has won awards for her campaigns as a BAME Ambassador.

Sophie has already been taking concerns from students to the SU and hopes to tackle more issues by running for this position. As a previous victim of domestic violence, homelessness and racism, she believes that the changes she will make as an Officer will make help available to all, rather than specific groups. Sophie wishes to inspire, empower and fight for every student, whether male or female.

Key Points: Sophie wants to see more integration in our diverse Students’ Union, by making the campus more accessible for students with disabilities and generating more faith facilities. Sophie also hopes to focus on healthy eating and mental health through more events. Sophie believes that her life experience and ‘can do’ attitude is why she is the strongest candidate for the role.

19

Candidate Profiles

TOM GIBSON RUNNING FOR: COMMUNITY OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Tom: Tom is in the last year of his Politics degree and, since starting his degree, he has been helping out with the community. He has been involved in the Labour party doing community clean-ups, helped with fundraising events, raised money for the ‘Hands off HRI’ campaign and Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield. He believes this role would be best to bridge the University community and the community of the town, to try to bring them closer together.

Key Points: “There are a few things I would like to make changes to at the University. I would like to see the University make an investment within the town for young people, a space sponsored by the University in the town for people to go and build relationships. I’d like to see a big focus on mental health with the University. There are a lot of people I have spoken to who have had issues with that sort of thing and I would like to see more resources in that area. And lastly I would like to see the Students’ Union take more of a stand when it comes to things like increasing tuition fees and students not getting value for money on their course, I would like the SU to be more vocal.

“I’d be there to represent everyone, and my main objective is to make student life better for everyone, bridge the gap to the community, get people involved more and most importantly stand up for student rights better than the SU has been doing up to this point.”

20

Candidate Profiles

BETHEL GOGO RUNNING FOR: COMMUNITY OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Bethel: Bethel Gogo is currently studying an MSc in Engineering Management and said: “I believe I am someone that can bring about a change to the University, especially working with the Students’ Union which helps the University achieve certain goals which have a lot to do with student life and the student experience.”

Key Points: He wants to help students that are commuters as they don’t always have the same experience as students living near campus: “I really want to get as many commuters to still be invol ved in the Huddersfield student life, even though they live away from the University. Also, it can help them subsequently to actually want to move to Huddersfield and be part of the campus community. If they are able to participate more in their first year, commuters will get more out of their uni experience.”

21

Candidate Profiles

HELEN GLEAVES RUNNING FOR: COMMUNITY OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Helen: Helen is on the Politics Masters by Research degree and describes herself as a caring person. She cares about the issues that affect students and wants to make a difference by bringing in initiatives that will help students make friends and make the most out of being a part of the Students’ Union. She has worked at the iPoint for 3 years and has enjoyed making friends with different people of different nationalities that she wouldn’t have met through her course.

Key Points: The big change she wants to make is toward the creation of a postgraduate research school: “As a Masters by Research student, I felt a bit lost and wasn’t quite sure what to do. I want to set in motion an initiative that will result in a dedicated administrative school for all postgraduate researchers. I want it to provide the relevant support and advice such as teacher training and specialist career advice that is specific to both Masters and PhD in order to improve the experience of everyone who plans to go on to study at postgraduate level.”

22

Candidate Profiles

BRIGHT OVBIOVBO RUNNING FOR: COMMUNITY OFFICER MANIFESTO WRITTEN BY BRIGHT OVBIOVBO

About Bright: Bright is in the first year of his MSc in Management, and has been at the University for five years. His decision to run was borne out of the experience he’s gained here, as well as the desire to affect positive and long lasting change in the University and the community. Bright says, “I have had the opportunity to see elections come and gone, people elected and various changes made over the years. Whilst I respect that people have done their best, clearly more needs to be done to make students’ experience and the community much better.”

Key Points: “I am running for Community Officer position at the University of Huddersfield Students’ Union. I am eagerly looking at the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the SU and the community. I believe in team work, and that is why I am reaching out to all and sundry to get on board and join this flight to a rebranding of our community. If am I elected I shall be focusing on creating platforms to encourage more student engagement including: rebranding our faith centre facility, tackling mental health issues, and working towards effective local community representation. I want to engage with student parents, and ensure that student accommodation offers value for money.”

23

Candidate Profiles

BETHANY WOODCOCK RUNNING FOR: COMMUNITY OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Bethany: Bethany is a Graphic Design and Animation student, who currently works in the Students’ Union as an Academic Rep Assistant. She is in contact with many students when she works and thinks the Academic Rep Assistant Programme has been amazing. She believes in the past the SU has employed full-time working people, rather than students who have the ability to connect with other students. She has been involved in community initiatives all her life and said she could write an essay about how passionate she is about community spirit and how important it is when everyone comes together and works together.

Key Points: “My manifesto is in three parts: Accessibility, Sustainability and Health. Health is split into mental health and reproductive health. For accessibility the University is amazing already, but I can see from speaking to students that small changes need to be made to make it even more fantastic. I think that we have a lot of services that can be extended to other areas of the University. I also think there is a lot that needs to be done for students after graduation. There’s already a lot of help for people in the University, however once they graduate a lot of students will be quite flustered and not know where to go. The changes that I want to make in the University may seem small, but they will make a massive impact on student lives.”

24

Candidate Profiles

LUCY FRENCH RUNNING FOR: ACTIVITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Lucy: Lucy is a second year Children’s Nursing student and the President of the Netball Club. As President, she made a few changes in regards to making it more inclusive, for a wider range of abilities and introducing a development team. “It’s inspired me to go for the role, I want to be more involved.” She is also a part of the Children’s Nursing Society, so understands Academic Societies as well. When asked why she thinks she’s the strongest candidate, she said: “I know quite a lot of people and I am good at communicating; a wide range of networks is a good thing, knowing where to go to put people in contact with each other for society collaborations. I have a wide range of knowledge of Clubs and Societies. I think that I could bring a lot to both aspects.”

Key Points: Lucy stated: “One of the main things I want to change, being female in sport, it’s difficult because you can feel pushed to the side. I want to encourage more females to get invol ved in sport, especially after the amazing netball Commonwealth win. I want to get them invol ved through Give It A Go and This Girl Can. I want a lot more well-advertised, enjoyable sports. I also want to help Academic Societies get more funding, through sponsorships by getting in touch with local businesses. I want to make everything more inclusive, The EDI and Mental Health Awareness Project, I want to push that. Especially mental health which is something really close to me. I want to train someone up from each Society and Club in mental health so they can be wellbeing adviser for each club. I’m a really welcoming and friendly person, I want to be a friendly face.

Someone that you can come and speak to. Win or lose come speak to me, I love meeting new people!”

25

Candidate Profiles

ENYA MORRISROE RUNNING FOR: ACTIVITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: CHRIS BLAKE

About Enya: Enya is studying Business Management and has been at the University for 4 years. She said that she might not look sporty but has done a lot of activities in terms of working with students and peer mentoring. She says she is very passionate about making sure people are aware of the opportunities that university can offer: “I’ve been working with students from different schools from the Education, Business and other academic schools, working on a project called ‘Report & Support; which is about helping students understand how to report hate incidents.”

Key Points: When people think about activities they may not believe they ‘fit in’ to these groups. Enya wants to create the opportunity to make a change or commitment to trying things out that students may like. There needs to be more awareness and inclusivity for people to get involved in the societies that are on campus. In terms of international students, she would like to see them having more access and being welcomed. ”Everybody is entitled to respect; whatever their gender, culture or beliefs and values. I will be working with students to champion respect.

So, if people can come together it will help university life.”

26

Candidate Profiles

NURIN MUSHAHAR RUNNING FOR: ACTIVITIES OFFICER INTERVIEWED BY: GEORGIA HELME

About Nurin: Nurin is a second year International Business student who is currently on her placement in the Students’ Union. She is part of the Blogging Society and the President of the Malaysian Society. When asked about running for the role she said: “I’m an international student and I feel like, especially in the SU, their vision is to have an inclusive and diverse community. But I do see that they are trying but are not getting to where they should be; they are not getting to the International Societies. Coming from an International Society, in my first year I felt quite disconnected from the SU and I want to change that, and the best way to do that is through Societies.”

Key Points: “Number one would be definitely head downstairs to the International Office, have a better relationship with them, I feel like we’re quite disconnected. I don’t think the International Office is aware of who the actual Officers are at the moment, I want to make a connection with them and then take a step forward. In the SU we have a scheme called the BAME Ambassador Scheme, it means Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Scheme. We want to be talking to them; they have hobbies, they can create Societies if they want. Talk to the International Office and talk to International Societies, talk to BAME students to make it wider, doing more outreach. A lot of people don’t know what the SU is, they don’t know the things we do and they don’t know the great things we provide. We could do outreach through media, such as videos.

“If you believe in EDI then vote for me #Nurin4thewin”.

27

Head to www.huddersfield.su/vote and click ‘member sign in’ on the top right of the page.

Read the candidate profiles. Find out why each candidate wants your vote.

Students’ Union Election 2019 STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT