EQUALITY AND CAMPAIGNS CANDIDATES
Below are the candidates running for the Equality and Campaigns Officer. Have a read through each manifesto and see who you want representing you next year!
ASRA ALSAIDI
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ASRA'S MANIFESTO:
Hello everyone! My name is Asra Alsaidi. I am a third year Primary Education student; you might have seen me around campus as a student ambassador and the chair of Anime and Manga! I am passionate about this role as I myself fit in all of the categories that an equality and campaigns officer will represent and I hope to make Newman as accessible and inclusive as possible. I hope to be a person anyone feels comfortable to approach and you will allow me to represent you in best way I can. 1. Introduce a buddy system – for both existing students and Erasmus students to use. The focus will be on Erasmus and foundation students to access as they will join the university after Freshers, which might make them feel more isolated. Whilst we offer campus tours to prospective students and during Freshers, anyone could benefit from having a few tours offered and a person to buddy up with on a voluntary basis, such as someone who lives on the same floor, on the same course or just anyone who is willing to volunteer a little of their time! 2. Lobby to open a second multifaith room/expand on existing one to include all faiths – Liaise with staff to designate another space for a second multi-faith room or make plans to expand the current one to ensure all faiths are included. 3. Highlight the services our student support offers – Ensure all students know exactly what Student Support can offer them in terms of guidance, help, advice, assistance etc, but also to have some sort of check-in system where if there has been no reply, students can approach someone (either assigned staff member or a part time officer) to follow this up or show the right person to speak to instead, so no one is left waiting for support without knowing what is going on. |
ELEANOR RALSTON
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ELEANOR'S MANIFESTO:
Promise 1: More student-initiated campaigns I want to encourage students to reach out to me about the issues and causes that they are passionate about and work with them to create campaigns for these and to find solutions to any issues they face. Promise 2: More guest speakers I promise to try and get a guest speaker to come in for the minimum of the four main campaigns of Black History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Disabilities History Month, and International Women’s Day. Promise 3: Increased collaboration with societies during campaigns. I want to work with our societies, such as the LGBTQ+ society and the Afro-Caribbean society, when creating campaigns and raising awareness for causes and issues close to their hearts. |
LAUREN BRAKER
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LAUREN'S MANIFESTO:
My name is Lauren Braker, and I am a Counselling Mental Health and Well-being student. I am interested in the equality and campaigns officer role because I am a disabled and mature student myself, plus I am a member of the LGBTQ community and I have celebrated multiple faiths throughout my work and education life. In addition, I am the chair of Newman Deaf society, which is a disability society and have got members from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and disabilities. For disability History month, Newman Deaf society did a presentation on hidden disabilities, but wasn’t well advertised so not many people attended, but the people who did attend found it interesting to hear how people can struggle with everyday life without knowing. I am very big supporter of international women’s day, a day for women to be recognised for any achievements, which I think should be every day of the year, as being female is not easy especially with hormones. My background is in mental health nursing and complex care. I have done 2 years of a mental health nursing degree before deciding to come to Newman to do Counselling. Before that I have worked in various care settings supporting individuals with complex needs. I can do sign language for students who prefer sign to speech. In 2014 I was on Billboards around Birmingham City Centre for Autism Awareness, showing the public that autism is only a part of me, it doesn’t define me who I am. I am still determined today to show the wider public that disabilities are only a part of yourself, they don’t define who you are as a person. On Autism Awareness day in 2014 I met Queen Elizabeth, she gave me a hug and a kiss and whispered in my ear to ‘never give up’ and I have always taken her words seriously and never gave up. I will do what I can and whatever it takes to help and support people and raise awareness. The promises I give if I was to be elected are: · To spend at least a couple hours a week to raise mental health awareness and signposting for students. · Have more Mental health and hidden disability campaigns and talks. Students to not feel isolated or feel alone when struggling with their mental health. Plus, to be open to suggestions from students. · Make sure campaigns and events for disabilities, faiths, LGBTQ, and BAME are organised and advertised in advance to allow more time for students to decide. Also, when possible, to try and have two events so if students can’t attend the one, hopefully they can make the other event. I look forward to working with you students as a equality and campaigns officer for 2023/2024 if I am elected. |
RON (RE OPEN NOMINATIONS)
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WHY VOTE FOR RON?
If you are not happy with any of the candidates, you can vote to Re-Open Nominations (RON). RON appears on the ballot, and votes for RON are counted in the same way as those for candidates. If RON is declared the winner after all votes have been counted, the election for that role will be held again. The original candidates are allowed to run again in the new ballot, but it gives the opportunity for new candidates to run. Students may choose to vote RON for one of the following reasons:
You do not need to vote for RON in an election; if you think all of the candidates are better than no candidate, you should not rank RON on your ballot. |