Wednesday 25-06-2025 - 15:35

Looking back on the year as SU Community Officer
After struggling to find the words to describe the past year, Moi chatted with the SU's Marketing Team to reflect on a year as Community Officer. Here's what he had to say! 

How would you sum up your year as an Officer in a sentence or two?

Challenging, but very fulfilling. Some challenges in the higher education environment in the country may often make things seem hopeless, but the solidarity among our incredible student communities and the achievements this can lead to can be the most fulfilling thing in the world, and having a role to play in this atmosphere is an incredible honour.

What has the experience really been like - moments of chaos, joy, or unexpected surprises?

Definitely a bit of everything. Like every other Sabbatical Officer will tell you, there are very few jobs in the world where you're having meetings with the Vice Chancellor of a university at the age of 21 or 22, right out of university, where you are responsible for the policies of the university that affect your friends' experiences. That experience can feel like a lot sometimes. But at the same time, there are also very few jobs in the world that a 21 or 22-year-old can hold where people from your college come up to you when you're slightly (😉 ) inebriated in Wetherspoons and thank you for extending the library's opening hours.

What are you most proud of achieving this year?

The thing I'm proudest of is working alongside our amazing groups to push for changes that have a positive impact on the student experience in Durham and supporting the work they do in spaces. I'm glad that, after years of campaigning by Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Durham finally has a Drug Harm Reduction Policy (although I don't think it's perfect yet). I'm so proud of the work of Active Minds and the space they've tried to build on campus to support men's mental health. I'm so inspired by the resilience of groups like our Trans Association to lobby for change in an environment that is so increasingly hostile and malicious.

It is absolutely vital for the SU's success for you to have a direct voice in the projects we work on and push the organisation to represent students on the issues that matter to you. There's no better example of an area where your voice has helped me make change than pushing for the library's opening hours to be extended during an already stressful exam period. Other places where student voice has been vital have been pushing for microwaves in the science site, where we have been successful in getting one in the Calman Centre, organising Pizza Socials where students who don't drink or don't prefer to socialise in an atmosphere around alcohol have been able to come forward and make friends. Your voice and being able to do the things you want me to do has been the most fulfilling part of this role; it's why I wanted to do "Moi on the Move", and I am certain future Officers will come up with even more innovative and successful ways to listen to you more

Were there any ideas or projects you didn't get the chance to complete?

When you begin your role as an Officer, people tell you that one year is not a lot of time, even though it feels like it is. I did not believe this at first, but it is, unfortunately, very true. We know students who work part-time face a lot of additional difficulties having to balance their responsibilities of a degree along with needing to work part-time, with very little support from the university, and something I really wanted to do was come up with a list of expectations for employers that would support students who need a job to be able to afford to be here, in consultation with students but unfortunately, we didn't have time before the end of the academic year - so if this is an area you are interested in please get in touch with the SU. I also think there's a much bigger role that the SU can play in addressing loneliness at the university, especially in collaboration with our societies (surveys conducted by the university indicate that students report the highest rate of belonging in our societies amongst every student community). I think we should talk more with societies to discuss how we can further support them.

Any shoutouts you'd like to give to student groups or campaigns that stood out this year?

Active Minds, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Trans Association, and Safe Education.

How do you feel as you wrap up your time as an SU Officer?

This past year in my role has taught me a lot about myself, and I am quite glad I did it, despite all the challenges. The things I have learnt about myself, about my convictions and beliefs, and the faith I have been able to build in myself over the year will help as I move to Sweden for my Master's (it feels so insane and surreal to think that I will be in Sweden in less than two months). I have made amazing friends through this role, and I cannot be more grateful to them for all of their support.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for being there along the way?

Countless people. Everyone in the SU staff team who keeps the organisation running behind the scenes and enables our student groups to do the work they do, the campaigns, I don't think the university community could thank you enough. Our student groups and our student community as a whole have kept me going more times than I could count. My fellow officers, both full-time and part-time, for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to standing up for the causes they believe in. My friends, who I simply would not be here without (not just at the SU but in the university as a whole), and there are way too many to mention.

Any words of advice or encouragement for Fran (Community Officer for 2025/26) as they step into the role?

I think everyone's different, and I'm sure Fran will find their own challenges and their own way to work through them as they move into the role. But if I could go back in time and tell myself something in June 2024, it would be to trust myself more and to be more confident to take more chances wherever I could.

Outside of SU life, do you have any fun stats or personal highlights to share?

Between June 2024 and June 2025, I have been to 45 concerts across the UK, with (at least) an additional 20 more already booked across the EU between now and June 2026 after I move to Sweden for my Masters. Screaming slightly sad lyrics with thousands of other people who feel just as passionately about them is the greatest joy on the planet.