Live Coverage by Caitlyn Taft (will be edited shortly)
Click here to read all the LCO Candidate manifestos.
Womens+
Millie (they/she)
Why do you think you the only person running for this role?
“I feel like a lot of women feel unwelcome in leadership positions. Things like she should run helps break that stigma down. Pushing women to get into these positions.”
Do you have a plan to address sexual assault against men?
“I want to unite everyone regardless of gender. I truly believe it’s everyone against sexual harassment than men and women against each other”
Why are there so few people running for LCOs roles?
“I don’t feel like we have the opportunity to run in positions in power to develop skills and leadership powers.”
Students with Disabilities
- Em (they/she) and Charley (they/them)
- Pavan Bhamidipati (they/them)
Question underlined about neurodivergent
Pavan: it should be acknowledge a campaign for staff to get trained around supporting neurodivergent students. However,
What leadership in the disabilities board can you bring if you’re elected
I don’t have experience but in secondary school I mentored with children. Wi worked closely with deaf children.
How will you manage your workload, wellbeing, and role?
With two of us running, we can share the workload and look out of each other whilst looking out for ourselves.
I’m a JCR opportunity person and this ties very well together as lots of things are similar. I like to be a very busy person so I believe given that I’ve been working my degree and JCR equalities.
What plan do you have to tackle abuse of students with disabilities
Supporting students who are affected by providing a safe space. It would be something we work with an exec member on to lead the campaign.
I believe that the best way to tackle ableism is by awareness. So I believe that programs open to students and staff about this to tackle this massive problem in society right now.
I have dyslexia and my lecturer has rejected my request to record lectures. How do you plan to make this more accessible? -> Em and charley
It tends to be from a misunderstanding and lack of understanding. I think a lot of it is educating and talking to students as the students voice is very powerful. In addition to this, I have a similar thing that happened to me. If we can provide a safe space for student voice to thrive.
International Student Officer
Sara Raidah
Talk about international buddy scheme?
“We don’t know who to go to when we have problems. The scheme would be older students who can help those students forgive stuff out.
Knanak Mavani
Ifaz Younus
What plans do you have to help students out directly?
Ifaz: ever since covid, banking sectors have been hit. International students don’t get money in time. Making sure they get direct help and being able to prove to us that they’re in need of funding, we’ll be able to help them.
Khanak: we can’t afford a lot of things because we pay in a different currency. if we could create a community wardrobe and holding rallies to push forward for scholarships for international students
Sara: looking for funds outside so maybe we can get proper funding.
How if elected as officer how you’re going to tackle loneliness and mental health issues with international students?
Sara: make sure that they’re part of a society and feel like they’re here.
Khanak: I want to bring in an international counselling. A lot of our mental health is dependent on our background and a lot of counsellors don’t focus on.
Ifaz: mental health depends on culture. Some countries and cultures don’t recognise it. Should be a international orientation where students would come in and we give them guidance. Some students don’t know they have to enrol in GP. The international counsellor is a great idea also.
Cost of activity -> what plans do you have to tackle that?
Ifaz: if eventually we can build the IS fund. If this carries on, we can come to a point where we’re able to fund other things like if a student wants to come to a social they’re able to
Khanak: many we can ask all international societies to collab in order to get the cost will be cut down and be more affordable for students to attend. More free events like bring your own food.
Sara: since last year it’s been even more difficult. Being part of the students union, I want to provide more funds for them like food at events. Free food pantry and making these accessible and available to students as much as possible.
What proof do you have pf the lack of support?
Sara: I am an academic rep for my department. I’ve seen so many times, reaching out to LCOs and FTOs for advice about issues we face, our timetabling.
Click here to read all FTOs Candidate manifestos.
Wellbeing
Will Oliver (he/him)
Ella Smith (she/her)
Joe Innes (he/him)
Joe (to Ella): how would you improve society welfare resources?
Ella: focus on the training to boost the signposting. In that way if we had a better welfare training program they’ll know what to do
Will: Improving the accessibility of training (in different languages, for students with disabilities) is important but also knowing when to pass it onto other services and help direct students on where to go
Ella: What about PG students?
Joe: from my experience, there have been many few students in those societies and I want them to feel welcomed in societies and the student union.
Will: first time seeing a stigma for PG students joining societies. Old mature students may have children who need looking after when they are attending societies. A lot tat could be done there to facilitate them joining societies.
Will: Discriminate is a source of stress and mental health problems. Why is it a main point on your manifesto for you to not focus on that in your manifesto?
Ella: For students who are encountering it, the reason why I focus ed on the wellbeing system is because there’s a barrier. Too many different outlets and avenues and it can be really confusing.
Joe: discrimination has become a bigger issue on campus lately. I want to get to the bottom on why these students feel like this so we can prevent hate crime instances.
Question: what will the candidates do about addiction and drug dependency?
Will: it’s mostly about catching the main sides of addictions. Signposting is the main thing with all these support services that we are lacking. Especially for first year students. Its important to increase resources about the warning signs.
Ella: anonymous wellbeing report system. Advice services like Nightline is anonymous but the ones throughout the day are not. It’s the importance of the welfare role in different societies. Prioritise welfare roles that aren’t drinking based to encourage sober events.
Joe: its important we take the stance as the students union and have the resources in place to help students with addictions. Having a more proactive resources like JCR execs and mental health staff who can spot the signs and get the students the help they need.
What experience do the candidates have in empowering other student voices?
Joe: having been on the JCR county exec, I’ve been able to support international and faith officer in their campaigns. Giving them a bigger platform to run them because I’m not going to fully understand the issues of transgender students, so I want to give all the support to the LCOs and forums.
Ella: I was a part of the she should run campaign. I want to continue running that it’s a great way of empowering womens+. In terms of experience, I was the international students’ officer for Lonsdale and won an award for an event I threw. I have an experience as an oversees student myself.
Will: I’ve been part of the first exec of the LU Cabaret and Burlesque society. Mostly LGBTQ+ students but also I’ve been in execs where we’ve been trying to make the space more welcoming for students with disabilities.
(At Joe) Question; if elected, what experience do you have from your previous roles do you have to keep supper club and LUSU Pantry alive?
Joe; I’ve helped at the college’s coffee club where students can come and talk about what they’re going through. In my previous roles, I have done a lot to make sure things are open for students. It’ll be about working with the student body in order to get enough money for the students’ union.
(at Ella) How are you going to work with nightline to encourage students working for Nightline?
I’ve spoken to people about this issue just yesterday. It’s worth mentioning that they’re students too and have their own wellbeing needs. Encouraging students to be part of nightline should be addressed.
(at joe) How will you signpost?
Joe: we have CAT teams, and the counselling team. I want to streamline these so people can understand where they can go, and they know where to go for help. It’s quite difficult to get access to these resources.
(At Ella and Will) I was wondering if you could talk more about what you think the difference between wellbeing and welfare is?
The difference between the two is the sense of the word. Welfare has a more negative sense to the word and wellbeing is before the issue has happened. On par with sports, different wellbeing activities.
Will: Wellbeing is a wider term and encompass all students. It doesn’t just focus on the crisis point. I think that wellbeing is related to CAT teams but if you’re requiring welfare advise its more serious. Showing that welfare is the issue for professionals. But wellbeing can be maintained on a community level.
Education Officers
Tom Cross (they/them)
Huseyn Guliyev (he/him)
Harrison Stewart (he/him)
Joshua Chooyin (he/him)
Tom: Why do you think students should support you if you don’t mention students with disabilities?
Huseyn: My manifesto about AI links into that. If students vote for me, they’re voting for more accessible education.
Harrison: everything in our manifestos applies to every student. One of my manifesto points is about timetables and this makes it education on campus more accessible for everyone
Josh: as a student with ILSP, I spend a lot of time trying to work for and with students who are similar to me. I think Theresa lot more we can do and I want work with our LCOs, all of them.
Joshua: Why education when so many of your manifesto pledges can be achieved in other roles?
Harrison; my role’s gone! No but I worked for education in my roles. A lot of things in manifesto applies to education sphere but also don’t apply to it because you work outside your realm a lot.
Huseyn: I want to bring the knowledge and the experience I have to improve education in Lancaster and making it more accessible with AI and more holistic skills with AI sparking this passion.
Tom: I’ve been doing loads of things like academic rep. I’ve loved it. The academic regulations and some of the changes that you can make as an academic rep. I just thing it’s a great thing.
Huseyn: what are your stances on strikes that affect students in negative ways?
Josh: There is more students union can do with a better academic rep system.
Harrison: one of the main roles of being an FTO is to empower students. I like the right to strike but students can be disadvantage because of them
Tom: we have to listen to what the union assembly say. I want an action plan to in form students on what’s going on.
Harrison: all of our manifestos are ambitious. Why are your manifesto points more important than others in regards to money?
Huseyn: with AI, there was a recent investment of 12 million on campus. AI is affecting all students and I think this is important thing to invest in. yes it requires money, but it is very important.
Tom: if you don’t ask for it, you wont get it. It’s unlikely that I’ll get everything done. People have told me that uni won’t do rent freezes but that’s happened.
Josh; I think you’re overestimating how expensive my manifesto is. Mine isa bout changing the systems. But with hidden costs, if we can’t eliminate that then it’s about transparency about it.
To Harrison Wont the cut of the timetable day mean that students are getting less out of their days and their money?
It’ll cut the hours for students who are on campus for more than 8 hours a day. Other unis have found ways to maintain that money and still have less hours.
What would guys do in your positions next year about discriminate of academic reps like geographically?
Josh: we don’t have enough support for academic reps. There needs to be a new structural form of the academic reps.
Harrison: When I was academic rep for law school, I would bring up stuff and things wouldn’t be heard.
Huseyn: I’m a faculty rep this year. I want to improve training for academic reps. interactions with other students tells you a lot about prejudices that student face.
Tom: No department is more important than another. We spoke about this in the debate and people frown down on creative degrees and that shouldn’t be the case. No degree is more important than another.
(to Tom) why do you believe you can do better (regarding transport) than former officers?
Tom: more student respondents. One of the hardest things to achieve and pledge to do. You’ve got work with the uni, the council, and students. It’ll be hard to do.
How can you deal with issues that will come up?
Josh: we have regulations coming in from the outside in engineering. We have to navigate the teaching committee. Its something I’ve been able to develop on in various teaching committees.
Harrison: I lead on a democracy which to me means to the general election. I really heavily fed into my manifesto about responding to these issues.
Huseyn: as an international student, I don’t have much experience about politics in the UK. I’ve been talking to professors about AI and it’s a huge change. What I found the most prevailing thing is about regulations. Regulations are there to build a better system.
Tom: you learn a lot on the job. That skill shows what you’re capable of. There’s people in the SU and members of staff who know more.
Is it the job of an Education FTO to support LCOs?
It’s the job of all FTOs to help LCOs. Getting our LCOs who are more deeply connected to communities it means that we can all support each other.
Open questions
Can I get everyone’s debrief on what their plan about Wednesday afternoons is moving forward?
Tom: building on the plan that Sam’s done. Negotiating with the uni. I commit to include PG students as well in that.
Huseyn: This is not part of the manifesto at the moment, but I am in favour of. When we want to make a change, we don’t full it up. I think the main thing is to discuss with departments.
Harrison: Commend the work of Sam and Jack on this. One thing that we’re lacking is lived experience. We haven’t had a BUCs athlete who knows how annoying not having Wednesdays afternoons is.
Josh: with more academic reps, we are able to help out more and support students.
To Huseyn Does AI kill the creativity in certain degrees?
Huseyn: that is a very fair point. There’s a different approach to creativity now. I’ve seen how my thoughts are being written and has helped me become more creative, I’m enjoying writing more because I can understand my thoughts on my essays.
