My name is Clement Mathias and I am running for the position of Ethnic Minorities Officer in this School. I am also an undergraduate for the nursing department. Being born and brought up in Eastern Nigeria, I never truly sensed the feeling of being an ethnic minority till the moment I came to the university of Derby. Living amongst people who knew so little about where I was from created a feeling of loneliness and made it difficult to settle in. However, through joining ethnic societies and by keeping an open mind about meeting new people and embracing new cultures, Leicester slowly became my home. Now I want to be able to help and create that same magic for every ethnic minority person in the campus.
If I were to win the election, the following things would be at the top of my priority list:
1. Empowering students by offering a venue or a platform where we can exchange ideas, and experiences, and discuss concerns that are generally present within the Ethnic Minorities community. Specifically, this forum will focus on issues that are specific to the Ethnic Minorities community. This forum will be dedicated to the development and realisation of cultural change, the promotion of equality, and the prevention of discrimination in violation of the law.
2. Organising multicultural activities, training, and workshops, at which individuals and professionals from a variety of backgrounds would be able to address and teach students how to deal with differences, bullying, harassment, cultural awareness, and ways to resolve conflict; these activities and workshops would be multicultural in nature.
3. Taking an active role to being available to students, being the main point of contact, as well as proactively seeking opportunities to engage and represent Ethnic Minorities interests; serving as a link between the university administration, union, and the NUS conferences - working together to address and act on issues relating to race, racism, and ethnicity. Taking an active role in being available to students, being the main point of contact, as well as proactively seeking opportunities to engage and represent Ethnic Minorities’ interests.
4. Bringing about positive change and organising awareness campaigns by organising more events and activities, establishing a network that gives Ethnic Minority students access to resources, support, and a sense of community, and coordinating efforts with other student organisations, subcommittees, and officers to advance Ethnic Minority student interests.
Denzel Washington is credited with having stated that "at the end of the day, it is not about what you have or even what you have accomplished." It is not so much about the accomplishments themselves as what you have done with them. It is about those whom you have helped to become better versions of themselves. It depends on what you have contributed in the past.
Vote for me, and together we can make this our school more welcoming to people of many different cultural backgrounds,