Wednesday 04-07-2018 - 11:56

As someone who doesn’t like to brag, it can be hard being an Officer, because the job largely involves explaining why something should be done and then taking the credit for it once someone else has done all of the hard work. So, having been asked to write about ‘my’ achievements in the previous 11 months, I have to start by thanking the staff who’ve supported me this year, and helped to make my thoughts clearer, words more articulate, and actions more effective.

Part of what the Union has done this year is in precisely that area: reconfiguring our team to better support student officers and volunteers to be effective and celebrate their achievements. Clearly, there’s plenty to celebrate: we’ve won best campaign (It’s Not OK), best event (DUCFS), best newspaper (Palatinate), best radio station (Purple Radio), and best Jewish Society (JSoc, obviously) in the country this year, and I could go on. That’s due to the hard work of student volunteers, but we’re here to support (and applaud) them all the way. So I am pleased that this year we set up our first ever Opportunities Team to do just that. Jamie, Jon, and Jemma—the three Js—refuse to rest on this year’s successes, though. They have an ambitious plan over the next few years to support the most successful student groups in the country, share the beautiful North East with Durham students, and put the talents of Durham students to work on issues in the North East.

It has also been a strong year for our commercial team, selling Starbucks by day and gin by night (at least to me) and generating profits to pour back into our core work in other areas. I am proud to represent a successful social enterprise, run by and for students, providing services in the heart of Durham City that simply would not exist without the hard work of our commercial team, led by manager Tim and staffed largely by students.

Working with the University, I have witnessed student engagement at its best and its worst, sometimes within the space of ten minutes. Durham has a progressive agenda on student development and working in that area has been a delight. In coming years, students will benefit from the space to reflect on what they’ve gained from the student experience here, and be able to make more considered choices as to what to do with the rest of their lives as a result. This is due to the deep and meaningful involvement of students in this work from the beginning, represented in sufficient number to be heard, and respected enough to be listened to.

It is no surprise to anyone that the worst area is accommodation fees. The cost of living in college presents no achievements to celebrate, thanks to a University that has its head in the sand about its prohibitive prices. I have to mention it anyway; the problem is not going away. We don’t even know where the money really goes, despite repeated requests for a breakdown, which is a fundamental barrier to students engaging more constructively on this topic. In the meantime, we simply have to carry on the fight, while the fees continue to represent poor value for money, exclude poorer students from Durham’s student experience, and act as a barrier to addressing the toxic elements of our university’s culture.

 

Some of my work has been quieter, but lays the foundation for future years’ work: building links with local groups like Tyne & Wear Citizens and County Durham Community Foundation, so Durham students can become part of a powerful, impactful alliance of civil society groups; a governance review of DUCK so we can give them the support they need to raise £500k a year and be the best student fundraisers in the country; and research into the cost of extracurricular activity, which leads towards a campaign on the cost of Durham.

At our Annual Awards evening three weeks ago, our Chief Executive, Gary, spoke about the people working quietly behind the scenes to make everything run, who are never thanked enough. One of those people is my officer support, Kirsty. She’s given me confidence that I’m on the right track, calmed me down when I’ve been stressed out, and given me a boost of energy when I lacked motivation. Thank you Kirsty.