Contribution to Equality & Liberation: Award Description
Awarded to a student or group who has worked to improve the experience of marginalised groups within the University and has been a key advocate for equality. This may have been achieved by being involved in a project, campaign, or event which has been designed to support students from marginalised groups or educate others on their experiences. As well as this, the student or group advocates for equality in the university environment.
The winner of this award could be an individual or group whose work may create spaces for marginalised students, educate others on their experiences, or lobby for change.
your 2023 award winner
Winner: Ashna Biju
Ashna is an incredibly empathetic and hardworking person. Beyond their personal journey, they persistently advocated for minority groups, deafness, and accessibility in their field and college.
As their college Disabilities and Mental Health Officer, they helped individual peers and successfully implemented a centralised system to distribute student support documents, easing some of the burden of disability advocacy for students.
They were invited to speak on ITV news, challenging a recent poll where 47% of the public thought deaf people could not be doctors. They spoke about the impact of disability on mental health, barriers to education, and their support systems, hoping to inspire more deaf people to apply.