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Profile: Charity Aria

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Exeter Cornwall chapter.

This week we sat down with Charity, our FXU Widening Participation Officer, to discuss diversity, representation and inclusivity on campus!Ā 

Firstly, tell us about about your role as Widening Participation Officer, what does the job entail?

People are very confused about what I do. Basically I deal mainly with societies, but itā€™s essentially making sure that everything is inclusive. For instance, if someone in the LGBTQ+ community felt they couldnā€™t join the football team because they thoughtĀ theyā€™d be discriminated against, I would have to sort that out and make sure that they donā€™t feel that way. Itā€™s quite an intersectional job, as it covers everything really: race, gender identity, sexuality andĀ religion.

Why did you put yourself forward for the role, and did you have any specific aims you wanted to achieve this year when you were elected?

One of the reasons I wanted the role was because Iā€™d seen in past years that the FXU community has been quite white and straight. I wanted to bring a bit more diversity into itĀ – not that theyā€™re not inclusive and donā€™t make sure that everything is diverse, but obviously some people feel safer if there is someone there who identifies with them, and who they might want to contact through the services. As a queer girl who is mixed race, I felt I could bring more diversity to the role. I also joined because itā€™s one of the few liberation roles that is also a part of the student council, so it means that I have a say in everything that goes on with the FXU, which is awesome. It means a lot more meetings, but theyā€™re quite fun usually!

I just really wanted to bring to the role something that not a lot of people could. One of my main aims was to make it a more racially inclusive environment. Iā€™ve grown up in Cornwall as a very straight, white place, so I wanted to help people who felt a bit isolated within the community. I want this university to be as inclusive as it can, to make sure there is no hierarchy, and definitely no hierarchy between Exeter and Falmouth students – something that is ridiculous.

Iā€™ve been working on what’s basically an ā€˜Inclusivity 101ā€™, getting information about not only how to make the student population more diverse, but also making faculties more diverseĀ because there is a problem there too. Iā€™m gathering research for future people who are going to take this role on, andĀ to deliver presentations informing people about diversity,Ā maybe passing it around to other universities. Iā€™m still working on it, as obviously itā€™s a lot of work, mostly because thereā€™s not that much information out there. Iā€™m having to go to different universities to find this information, even networking with people on Facebook in different groups, and Iā€™m getting there slowly but surely!

With regards to widening participation on Penryn Campus, do you think thereā€™s an adequate degree of representation and diversity, or can improvement be made in certain areas?

There definitely can be. One of the first things that comes to mind is the LGBTQ+ community, which isnā€™t racially diverse at all. I know a lot of LGBTQ+ students – certainly black students ā€“ who feel like they canā€™t be included in the community. There are a lot of intersections within our communities, for example across gender and racial identities. Itā€™s not ā€˜privilegeā€™ as such, but people donā€™t think of this stuff, because if they donā€™t have those problems theyā€™re not going worry about it. But I want to break things down. The LGBTQ+ community is predominantly gay but there are queer and trans identifying people who feel that this community does not work for them as a whole.

On my previous university degree, during International Womenā€™s Week the feminist society wanted to create masks of famous inspiring women, but I pointed out the racial and ethnic appropriation that would be needed to make masks of people such as Frida Kahlo. My role is to point out the problems, so people run things by me and Iā€™ll tell them if its ok and if itā€™s inclusive. I think, ā€œam I leaving anything out?ā€ or ā€œam I leaving anyone out?ā€

With regards to other diversity issues, we have some great mental health facilities on campus, but Cornwall in general isnā€™t great for young people with these problemsĀ as there are no special units.Ā I feel like there is a big problem both here andĀ nationwideĀ with men and mental health. Itā€™s still quite stigmatized, so Iā€™m working on that to try and make it more socially acceptable for men to come forward with their mental health problems without having to hide it.Ā Masculinity is toxic and still perpetrated, and it could only get worse and worse. Alexa feels the same way and Iā€™ve been working with her on this to see what we can do about it. Ā 

What impact do you think youā€™ve made on campus this year as a result of your role?

I think weā€™ve made quite a lot of impact, Alexa is a big inspiration for this and weā€™ve had a great team together this year. Mackinlay has also been great, sheā€™s been so much help and we meet up for coffee to decide on things we want to do. I think all together weā€™ve made quite an impact.

Ā When I was at university the first time round, I wasnā€™t aware certain support services were available to me, and there specifically to help me. But this year weā€™re good at signposting and raising awareness by getting our names out there – Iā€™m always giving my cards out and telling people to email me, so people know that weā€™re here. Itā€™s important for people to know that there are people out there working for them and championing their causes. Every university could be more diverse and inclusive, there is no perfect example of this. But Iā€™ve worked with the best team, itā€™s been so inclusive and diverse this year and itā€™s really taken off. Being on the student council is really helpful because I get to have a say, so if I donā€™t like things I get to say no and stop it from happening.

Are you going to run for the role again next year?

I havenā€™t decided if Iā€™m going to put myself up for the role again next year, Iā€™m in second year but as a third year I donā€™t know if I can actually give the time to the role with my dissertation and everything. It would be nice to give someone else the opportunity to make a difference, because itā€™s such a great experience for someone who will give it their all. It is a lot of time and effort, but itā€™s so worth it as well. I donā€™t think I could give it my all next year, so I want someone to replace me who can do that. I would still be involved with the meetings and such, but I donā€™t think Iā€™ll be the person people will go to, Iā€™ll happily be helping signposting others within the FXU and go and bother them when I want to!

Anything else to add?

If you have any problems at university, if youā€™re struggling with anything, the FXU is the best place to go to. If they canā€™t help you with your specific issue, theyā€™ll be able to point you to someone who can. Theyā€™ve been such a help to me, so I know that itā€™s important to know who to go to. Theyā€™re the greatest, so if youā€™ve got any issues at all they will try and resolve it with you.

Check out the list of FXU support services on offer here.Ā This profile was organised with the help of our Womenā€™s Student Officer,Ā Mackinlay Ingham.Ā 

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Kacey Gaylor

Exeter Cornwall '18

Hello, I'm Kacey and I'm your President for Her Campus Exeter-Cornwall! Also a third year English student at the University of Exeter's Penryn campus, so you'll find me in the back corner of the library behind a tower of books- just follow the scent of coffee...