Abi Taylor: Reflecting on a year as SU President

Those who know me will know I did not in a million years imagine I would be SU president after my degree. Thank you to my predecessor Dan for seeing something special in me and encouraging me to run, and thank you to all my wonderful friends who campaigned during dissertation season to get me elected- it's been an amazing year. 

I am so proud of what we as a team have delivered for Durham students. I really hope that as you come back to study in Michaelmas, you really feel the effects of our work and campaigning. 

Here are some of the things I am delighted we delivered for you: 

- Over 150K investment in Dunelm House - my personal favourite being a complete refresh of Kingsgate and Balcony, we have bought so many comfy sofas, Elvet students won't know what's hit them. 

- The first ever free student supermarket at Durham in Dunelm House. Fran and my lobbying led to the Vice Chancellor pledging funding to ensure no student goes without. As a student, I remember period products in particular always pushing me over the edge of my weekly budget, and not having to think about that would have been a Godsend. 

- A year-long Renters' Rights campaign, with approximately 2000 students confidently serving notice to their landlords on May 1st. I have never bought ad space on a bus stop before, and I loved seeing Renters' Rights content as I picked up my Big Tesco food shop every week. My lobbying of landlords ensured that a good proportion of student landlords served section 21 eviction notices with a full explainer of what it meant to reassure students. 

- After years of no movement on the Durham Dump Barclays campaign, this year myself and student campaigners worked hard to move the dial. We have now secured a paper to the finance committee, written by the CFO, recommending that Durham join Cambridge University's ethical quasi-money market fund, which would put the University one step closer to moving money out of Barclays. 

- I secured 400K divestment from fossil fuels and arms and a review of their current account through pressuring Durham SU's trustee board to move out of HSBC and Lloyds Bank. 

- After lobbying the COO, I ensured that disabled and grant students would not be forced to pay more for ensuite rooms in the wake of accommodation pricing changes. 

- I planned and hosted the first Durham International Women's Day conference for women in leadership, with mentorship relationships being set up across students and staff networks.

- My team refreshed and relaunched the student consultation framework, ensuring student opinion is centred in significant university decisions. 

It's been an absolute honour to be your President, and I wish Callum all the best for his year in the job. Durham University is a truly special place, and I'm so happy I got to spend another year working to make it even better. 

I cannot explain the opportunities this role has opened up for me to grow and develop as a campaigner and person. I had no involvement in the Students' Union before running for election, and so if there are any students wondering whether they would like to run for my job next year, please go for it! There are no magical qualifications for the role, just enthusiasm, passion, a bit of audacity and a want to make Durham a better place for students! 

Just go for it!