We all learn from our mistakes - that was the theme tune as I grew up. Midway through my academic and working lives, I thought a revision is necessary - we all learn from experience. Mistakes are more definitive and come with judgement, events and outcome in our modern complex lives are not so clear-cut most of the time. Before I even started my role as Postgraduate President, it came with warnings - nothing much can be done, presidents historically have not been able to make much progress despite best efforts, the University is an immovable institution. Looking at my experience over one academic year, part of it is definitely true, rest of it is perhaps not as much.
When I set out my manifesto and subsequent goals after winning the election, there were two distinct themes:
a) Push the University to be an ethical one
b) Increased support in order to improve student experience and welfare. Now nearly at the end of my term, I am trying to assess what I could achieve, or at least made some progress on, and what still needs to be carried forward by the next elected officer team.
Relationship with fossil fuel companies
On the ethical university agenda, we have made significant progress on the University’s financial relationships when it comes to fossil fuel companies. The chief source of funds for fossil fuel expansion and arms proliferation are banks, including the ones the University and the colleges currently bank with. I have contributed heavily in pushing the initiative to select ethical banking service provider which has made its recommendation with plans to move the University’s cash deposits to these ethical banks. I have also participated in selection of an ethical bond index for short term deposits of the University. The impact of this index extends beyond the University in the real economy as well.
I have continuously pushed and demanded for exclusion of fossil fuel companies from Careers Fair and job advertisements of the University Careers Service, a policy which has been voted on in the Student Council in successive years. After much dithering, the Careers Service Committee deferred it to the University Council. In a rather opaque decision making process of the University, it has to go through further committee stages, where Careers Service decided to oppose it, and it is now coming up for a decision by the University General Board in the beginning of July. The battle is very much on.
Campaigns which became urgent
Increased plant-based food provision in the University and colleges saw relatively limited progress not just because it is a complex and requires multi-agency solution, but it also needs wider engagement across the University Community. In the limited time we have, I also had to divert my time, energy and effort to prioritise fighting the University’s attempt to get an injunction against student protest on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and potential threat to the Vet Med School both of which became urgencies I had to respond to.
Student welfare and experience
On the improved provision of student welfare and experience in the University, I have seen more comprehensive provision for mental health and general wellbeing support from the Student Services following campaigning in my term. Working with our Postgraduate Access and Education Officer, we managed to get the cross-year admission deferral for postgraduate students which was an anomaly in this university.
Private rented accommodation
The other significant intervention we are making is related to private rented accommodation for students, which disproportionately affects postgraduates for obvious reasons. We are launching a peer reviewed ‘ranting and feedback’ platform to give students some power in the asymmetric relationship with landlords and property owners which could act both as an advance warming and deterrent against poor quality accommodation and rogue landlords.
I am under no illusion more needs to be done in this wonderful community of students we have which makes this University so special. But I am confident the new officer team will continue to move and carry forward the progressive agenda we always have as SU.