With Nottingham’s annual student elections about to open, we are once again being given a say in who we want to represent our views to the Student Union. However, this also means that lectures will soon have an additional introduction in the form of peppy students with banners and there will be no room left in your bag for books once the leaflets start to be handed out (let’s hope for free Haribo again this year!). And I hope you’re not in a rush to get to Hallward – the candidates will set up camp outside the library entrance and it’s like a battleground trying to get past them all!
Of course, annoyances aside, the elections are very important. The Student Union is responsible for representing our views, making important changes and working with the sports and societies – not forgetting the amazing events that are put on for us! So, if we are to choose between the fifty-eight candidates (that is a LOT of leaflets), it’s important to know what we’re actually voting for. So what are the roles up for grabs? Here are the seven main positions and some information about their responsibilities:
The President
This seems pretty obvious, right? They’re the ones in charge. However, what a lot of students don’t realise is that the President, and the other six roles, are paid full-time jobs for which the student takes a year’s sabbatical from their degree – so it is important that we choose the right person for the job. Although it was funny that Oxford Uni’s elections saw LJ Trup, the jokey candidate, being elected (manifesto: turn the library into a night club), the President is a serious role as they represent every aspect of our lives at University.
The President is responsible for representing us to the Union, to the University at large and to local media as well as taking an active role in the Union’s decisions. They are also in charge of all other members of the Student Union team, so it is important that we choose wisely. The President also has input into how the Union spends its money, so take a look at their manifestos to see what aspects of Uni life they want to put money towards. Turning the library into a nightclub is a great idea in theory, but we’d probably quite miss Hallward if it was gone.
The Community Officer
The Community Officer is the leading figure when it comes to issues about housing, campus life and the local community. Working alongside halls’ JCR committees, they must help students with accommodation problems, both on and off campus, and help to integrate students into the local community. (This is assuming that the residents of Lenton want students to integrate with them more, I guess, as if keeping them awake with 4am parties weren’t enough!) This role is important because housing is a significant part of every student’s life – don’t say you’ve never had an issue with your landlord, because you would be lying!
The Sports Officer
The Sports Officer is pretty much what it sounds like. Responsible for promoting the sports available at Nottingham, which is basically every sport you can think of (korfball, anyone?). They are in charge of involving as many students as possible into the 70 sports clubs, a role that is particularly important to think about if you are involved, or want to be involved, with Uni sport.
The Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer
The Equal Opportunities Officer is responsible for looking after us, health and happiness wise. They campaign and work on issues such as mental and sexual health, alcohol and drug consumption and general physical well-being. This role is vital as it keeps us safe and healthy; and the Officer must try to make the Union a more inclusive environment, an important aspect because feeling excluded can be as upsetting as any physical issue.
The Activities Officer
Similar to the Sports Officer, the Activities Officer works to promote the many, many Union societies which are an integral part of Uni life. This officer needs to be involved in and passionate about societies so as to be able to convince others to be a part of them. This role involves the bettering of societies, making them accessible to more students and making sure that there are enough resources and facilities for each society.
The Education Officer
So we’re at Uni to have fun, make friends and take part in as many societies as we can – but, at the end of the day, we’re also here for a degree. The Education Officer is to make sure we come out with a transcript that we can be proud of. Believe it or not, we’re not paying £9000 a year to come out with a stash of Bodega wristbands up our arm! The Education Officer campaigns on issues such as higher education funding, access, quality, libraries, online learning and additional course costs. If we have issues within our courses or schools, it is this Officer who will help to rectify them.
The Postgraduate Officer
It is clear to most students that Postgraduates lead a very different University life to their younger counterparts. It is therefore important that they receive the support that they need. The Postgraduate Officer is responsible for making postgrads feel integrated with the rest of the University and providing support for any of their issues.
Alongside these seven full-time roles are a variety of part-time roles representing specific student networks: LGBT Officer, Women’s Officer, Disabled Students’ Officer, Mature Students’ Officer, International Students’ Officer, Black and Minority Ethnic Officer and Environment and Social Justice Officer.
Elections are not just about the free campaign sweets from candidates, nor the pre-lecture speeches that do tend to become tedious after a while. Although I am intrigued by the Presidential candidate named ‘YOLO’ as well, take your time to read through the roles available and the manifestos of the people running for them. After all, they want to make your Uni life better.
For more info on the upcoming elections, and ways in which you can get involved and vote, check out http://www.studentleaderelections.co.uk/
Edited by Harriet Dunlea