SU Blog: Election time is here again.

by Helen Gimber

It’s that time of year again.

The student elections are here and you lucky lot should be getting very excited as it is your time to take the lead.

There are 19 positions up for grabs so if you want to improve the university and if you want a stronger Students’ Union then you should grasp this opportunity with both hands.

We’re looking for passionate, committed and enthusiastic students with an eye for the future that want to make the UAL student experience better.

Student Involvement

Everyone reading this shouldn’t just think about voting during the first week of March, but should think about putting themselves forward for one of these positions by noon on February 15.

Being a candidate is easy; just go to www.suarts.org/elections for more information.

By the eve of Friday March 5, UAL students will have voted their peers from across the University into these following positions:

Four sabbatical officers: students’ union president, activities & volunteering officer, culture & diversity officer, education officer (all full-time paid roles).

Four college vice presidents: Camberwell, Chelsea & Wimbledon (C-C-W), CSM, LCC, LCF (part-time volunteer roles).

Eight members of the democracy scrutiny committee (part-time volunteer roles) and three student trustees (part-time volunteer roles).

Make a change

As a sabbatical officer, you get to lead campaigns and influence decision-making within the university, working full-time for the Students’ Union and receiving a living allowance of around £21,600!

This year, the Student Exec voted to change the roles and remits of the sabbatical officers, removing the role of campaigns & communications officer and creating a brand new education officer role.

This has been done to allow more focus on students’ learning experience and academic representation.

As a vice president you get to influence things at a college level whilst still a student.

As a trustee, you have strategic oversight of the finances and direction of the Students’ Union and as a member of the democracy scrutiny committee you are the democratic police, making sure the student execs do what they should and maximising the number of students involved in our democracy.

All of these positions receive expenses. We rely on students to put themselves forward and students to use their vote.

Get Involved

You must be a student at UAL if you want to get elected.

It doesn’t matter what year you are in but being a Sabbatical Officer is a full-time role so, come July, you either take a year out of your studies or do the role following graduation.

As a trustee, vice president or member of the democracy scrutiny committee, you will need to be a student next academic year as well (and throughout the duration that you are elected for).

Good luck with the term ahead, and I hope that you vote during the first week of March.

Democratic regards!