Candidate Profile
Tell us about yourself
I’m a 3rd year Earth Sciences student. In my first year, I served as the Academic Rep. on the SU’s Student Group Committee and have been the Chair for the last 2 years. In this time I have become familiar with how the SU operates and understood how to best use its structure for the benefit of all students. Alongside this, I have managed 24s bar for the past 18 months.
Why is the role important to you?
I arrived in Durham in 2021, with lectures online and the broader ‘Durham experience’ decimated by Covid. Throughout the last three years, I have seen Durham’s vibrant student community recover and rebuild. However, I believe that there is still a lot of progress to be made to ensure that Durham students get the educational experience that they deserve (and are paying an arm and a leg for!).
The SU has the potential to be at the heart of finding and campaigning for, student-focussed solutions to improving our educational experience. I would be honoured to have the opportunity to play a role in creating a better, more enjoyable educational experience for the generations of Durham students that come after us. Whether it be more study spaces, reduced cost of participation, an extensions system that works for students, or even gritting Kingsgate Bridge!
Why should people vote for you?
I want to empower students and give them the tools to make the changes necessary to improve their own educational experience. Throughout my time in Durham, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of how the SU works by sitting on the SU Assembly and leading the Student Group Committee under two different SU Officer teams. For the past 18 months, I have run 24s bar, leading a dedicated team to rebuild it from the Covid-era into a vibrant social hub for students. These skills and experiences make me well-equipped to take on the challenges of being your first Education Officer!
If elected, what sort of officer would you be?
I will be approachable and inclusive. My experiences as Academic Rep., as well serving on the Assembly, have led me to recognise the importance and value of ensuring that all students are heard by their SU representatives. It has also taught me how crucial Colleges, JCRs and Departments are to students’ experience and identities. As Education Officer, I will work with other student representatives, such as JCR Officers, Course Reps and Faculty Officers, to ensure that the SU’s priorities reflect those of students.
Above all else, I will be pragmatic to facilitate progress on the real issues.
In one sentence, tell us what you imagine Durham could become
I have loved my time in Durham and want yours to be the most enjoyable and enriching few years of your life – a time in which you are free to push your boundaries, develop new interests and make lifelong friends, in a responsive and student-centred learning environment.
