Candidate question time highlights
Monday 28-02-2022 - 14:54
Laura Sadler, Student Media Observer, reports from Candidate Question Time.
On Wednesday 23 February, Durham Students’ Union marked the opening day of the electoral ballot for your new Student Officers with a candidate hustings event. This event, nicknamed Candidate Question Time, gives all of your candidates a platform to voice why they would suit a Student Officer role and their ambitions if elected, as well as allowing students to pose their own questions to the candidates and delve into their views on the issues that matter to you.
Don't forget, voting for next year's student officers is open. You can vote here. Voting closes at midday on Wednesday 2 March.
Here are some of the highlights:
First up to the mic were your candidates for the roles of Academic Officers, Joshua Freestone for Undergraduate and Cynthia Lawson for Postgraduate.
The event began with an open floor for candidates to introduce themselves and their vision for Durham.
Josh: I’m a second year and undergraduate, the people I’ll be representing will be my friends and neighbours. So much can be learnt from those around us and no-one knows student life like students. I’m passionate about student issues, from climate strikes to the South College protest I’ve been there, and I’ve been proud to be there. I want to challenge class and racial barriers and create a communicative and collaborative Durham.
Cynthia: I’ve noticed a few things that can be improved as a postgrad. There’s segregation between postgrad and undergrads, PGRs and PGTs. Postgraduates shouldn’t have to be isolated and are still part of the Durham experience. I want more social events for postgrads, more college integration and widening access to PG courses for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I’m dedicated to helping those who aren’t heard to be heard.
The SU has done a lot of work on decolonisation this year, how would you support the decol interns to deliver the work that they are doing?
Josh: I need to acknowledge that I’m a cis white man so first and foremost it comes from listening to Associations. Decolonisation is fundamental and systemic, but I want to put BAME voices at the front.
Cynthia: I’m already part of the decolonising Durham student/staff group. I think some of the ideas within the Culture Commission will be relevant for decolonisation, and I’d meet with PG reps to implement the support needed accordingly.
Describe Durham in three words.
Josh: A real treat.
Cynthia: Interesting, different, new.
Next up, your candidates for Opportunities Officer, Jack Ballingham and Blake Liu and your candidate for Welfare and Liberation Officer Laura Curran.
Jack: I’m the incumbent Officer standing for re-election. I’ve been really proud of the year we’ve had at the SU. We’ve become one for the most radical and outspoken SUs and I want to continue delivering for students. I want to continue fighting against the HE Freedom of Speech bill and expand the SU’s housing campaign to intervene directly in the housing market. I want to fight for worker’s rights across campus.
Blake: I’m really passionate about providing people with a diverse range of opportunities. I come from a state school in Brighton and I realised how privileged people can be. I want to make sure opportunities are available to all students including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those facing racism, sexism or LGBT groups.
Laura: My time at Durham has been defined by my involvement in the SU and within Collingwood as a rep. Everything I’ve done has been working with students and for students. I have six main priorities in my vision for Durham; they are creating a Positive Consent Culture, tackling the student housing crisis, challenging imposter syndrome, implementing EDI training, a Good Night Out policy so every student can safely enjoy Durham nightlife, and a Beyond Covid policy to learn from the pandemic.
Opportunities: What are some of the challenges that you want to support student groups to tackle?
Jack: One of the big issues is the bureaucracy that’s involved, and people sometimes feel the SU is a barrier to activity. There’s lot to be done in centralising the way that societies are run and making it easier for execs. The student group agreement reform will help that.
Blake: To tackle these issues, I want to educate the students who have been brought up and socialised in a certain way which could be threatening to particular minority groups, and make people realise how inappropriate things could be and that their actions could harm people.
Welfare and Liberation: Do you believe enough is being down to support students with less talked about mental health problems/symptoms? How do you suppose the University goes forward in ensuring these students are supported?
Laura: There are many different mental health issues that aren’t talked about as much and can be an uncomfortable topic. It would be good to have students to feel empowered to make change around mental health. I also want the University to offer more than six counselling sessions if students need longer-term care.
Describe Durham in three words.
Jack: Good, requires improvement.
Blake: A fairy town.
Laura: Different, challenging, community.
And finally, your five candidates for President (Dan Lonsdale, Sophie Corcoran, Declan Merrington, Aditya Lathar and Joe McGarry) are called to the table!
Aditya: I’m a final year law student, President of the Indian Society and NUS delegate. I’m re-running for President, on real issues. I’ll make sure there’s a no detriment policy, e-library access for everyone, an annual Culture Fest, free printing facilities, 24/7 JCRs. My policies may seem ambitious, but Stephenson already has a 24/7 JCR. There should be a University Press, as we are the third oldest university, and we don’t have one.
Sophie: Most of you know me as a bird off the telly or the ginger one off Twitter. My biggest plan is to strip back power from the SU and give it to the JCRs and to reform the democracy of the SU. I want to make affordable housing and to demand money back from the strikes. One of the biggest things is to make college sports and formals more affordable. I had a difficult start here and will be there to put my arm around the new freshers that walk in the door.
Joe: I want to raise representative voices. We’re fighting for a more affordable Durham because we pay too much rent. We’re fighting to reform the drugs policy. I’ve seen campaigns falter because they failed to mobilise students. To engage true campus-wide campaigning, we need to engage students across colleges. We need to be stronger together because there are still many things about Durham that students want to change.
Dan: Others will cite their experience in this field, above all else, I ask you to put your ideas about experience to one side and put ideas at the forefront in themselves. What I have to offer is putting the working class at the forefront with a 93% Club network. Addressing the problem of getting rid of Tim Luckhurst, which will happen and must happen. We will build on the shoulders of those before us to move forward.
Declan: Working as your Postgraduate Academic Officer has been so enjoyable that I decided to run for Pres. Part of the reason I’m running is experience. I’ve already built up relations with the University so I can get straight to the task at hand, getting what students want. I have three priorities, to implement the Culture Commission, kickstarting reform of the SU strategy with co-operative relations with common rooms, and involvement in the local housing sector.
How will you ensure that everyone feels welcome at Durham? Recognising that students come from all walks of life, why are you the right person to represent us?
Aditya: Everyone comes to Durham to have a great life and I will make sure that Durham University is welcoming to every student, regardless of their cast or colour, everything.
Sophie: I will try and run a really inclusive DSU, but that does include not trying to blame people for the way they were born and not trying to victimise the others. There is one thing that unites us all and that is the Durham badge that we wear on our chests every single day.
Joe: We need student communities to be welcoming and support the students. We do well facilitating that in training for welfare officers, but we need better EDI training for student leaders like college sport captains. Students won’t truly feel welcome in Durham until the University address their failings; you can’t have trust without transparency.
Dan: I’ve got a dual perspective, in that I’m from here, and the middle-class perspective of Durham University means I can see both. I want to have the equality and diversity available through that dual perspective which facilitates it. I want to include everybody in an equality of opportunity through my Northern New Deal.
Declan: I’m also a local student and I’ve been here for five years. I’ve noticed a change in Durham; it’s definitely way more welcoming than it was. How I would make it even more welcoming, I would be an approachable president that people can reach out to, and I will listen and platform students, especially the Associations and societies.
Describe Durham in three words.
Aditya: Exciting, amazing, entertaining.
Sophie: Absolute bloody chaos.
Joe: Very big hill.
Dan: Diverse, legacy, home.
Declan: Been here forever.
You can watch a full recording of the Question Time event here:
