Candidate Profile

Tell students about yourself

Hi, I’m Alexander a third-year archaeology undergraduate from Devon! Durham is a fantastic city and university, and I have tried to get involved in the wide range of opportunities that are on offer, with societies being a key part of this. I regularly attend swing dance lessons (I would enthusiastically encourage anyone to take part, it’s a lot of fun), play badminton, and have served on the execs of multiple groups.

If elected, what sort of Officer can students expect you be?

Involvement in societies forms an important part of many people’s university experience, and as such it is vital that there is someone to represent their interests to the SU and university who has experience working within them. I served as treasurer of the Archaeology Society last year, and was a founding member and first president of the Mythology & Folklore Society, delivering a programme of talks, fieldtrips, and social events. This gives me an insight into the hard work that society execs put in, so I would want to make the process as easy and faff-free as possible.

Why is this role important to you?

Societies form the building blocks of the SU and are foundational to the university experience at Durham, and yet, through my experience with the Mythology & Folklore Society, I have first-hand experience of the difficulties that working with the SU can bring. I would push for a more active role in encouraging student groups, making support easier to find, and directly assisting individual societies where its most needed. Additionally, providing a platform for society execs to have an input into the SU will be essential.

What is your pitch to students?

Founding the Mythology & Folklore Society has given me first-hand experience of the difficulties facing student groups, as such I would push for start-up support for new societies, direct assistance for individual groups where it’s most needed, and the encouragement of greater collaboration across different parts of the university.