As it’s the Union Elections season, candidates are stepping up to the plate, ready to vie for your vote and make their mark on campus. The Hustings, a pivotal event in the electoral process, serves as a platform for candidates to present their visions, answer pressing questions, and engage directly with the student body. Officer trustee candidates (President and the VPs) were posed with two questions each, whereas student officers received only one question each during the Hustings.
As it’s the Union Elections season, candidates are stepping up to the plate, ready to vie for your vote and make their mark on campus. The Hustings, a pivotal event in the electoral process, serves as a platform for candidates to present their visions, answer pressing questions, and engage directly with the student body.
Officer trustee candidates (President and the VPs) were posed with two questions each, whereas student officers received only one question each during the Hustings.
For those who attended the Hustings in person, their responses will be summarised, highlighting key points and insights shared during the event. Meanwhile, candidates who were unable to attend will be marked as "presubmitted," as they had the opportunity to craft their responses in their own time prior to the event.
President
You will be working closely with the Vice Chancellor and her Executive team (the most senior leaders of the University) how would you go about building and ensuring a positive, productive and collaborative relationship?
Holly Lloyd:
Holly's approach centres on honesty, transparency, and proactive communication. Drawing from her experience as VP (Education), she stresses the importance of keeping university executives informed and engaged, saying, 'Being honest with them and keeping them up to date lays the foundation for trust and mutual understanding.'
Central to her strategy is representing student voices and concerns to bridge the gap between leadership and the student body, fostering inclusivity and responsiveness. She believes, 'Working in cohesion with the university is built on trust and also responsibility.'
Transparency is key for Holly, who values candid dialogue even during challenges. She acknowledges, 'Not everything goes well, but some things do go very well,' advocating for a culture of accountability and problem-solving.
Regular meetings are vital to her engagement strategy, ensuring open communication and alignment across stakeholders. Holly emphasizes, 'Keeping up with regular meetings' facilitates synergy and collaboration."
As leader of the largest student body in Derbyshire how will you make sure that you are being representative a of the entire student body and not just the students who elected you?
Holly Lloyd:
Holly stressed the importance of hosting events open to all students, ensuring equitable opportunities. "Offering everything that we do to everybody," she asserts, reflects her commitment to inclusion.
Holly also emphasises the need to hear from underrepresented groups, like BLC and NSA students. By actively engaging with them, she aims to amplify their voices. Additionally, she plans to be visible across various campuses, including Kev Rd, to foster connection.
Collaboration with student representatives from different cohorts, such as NSA apprentices, is key. By working together, she ensures diverse perspectives are considered in decision-making processes
Vice President (Activities)
The VP activities role is seen as a popularity contest between sports, societies and student led service, how would you make sure you are representative of the entire activities programme?
Alex Carey (Pre-submitted):
I believe that to represent all students here at the university of Derby, we need to give the same opportunities to all groups of students. For example, if I was to get this role, I would like to implement a section of the sports centre on a bucs Wednesday, where societies are based to give them the same opportunities as sports. As well as this I would like to implement a buddy system where a sport is pair with a society to run charity events and or socials once a term.
To help improve engagement, with in activities I think it is crucial to start to focus on recruitment from when students know they are coming to the university as well as this have monthly notices for SLS sent by email, monthly society days and taking bucs Wednesday to new heights.
Gabby Gretkowska:
Gabby's highlighted her commitment to ensuring representation across all aspects of the union’s activities programme, not just focusing on sports but also on societies and student-led services. She plans to continue her work from the previous year, emphasising providing media coverage for societies and student-led services to showcase their activities equally alongside sports.
Gabby suggests initiatives such as hosting interactive fairs where societies can demonstrate what they do, attending their sessions to understand their needs and preferences, and promoting these opportunities on social media to engage the wider community. She emphasised the importance of hosting inclusive events that cater to everyone, fostering a sense of community across all aspects of the activities programme. This approach aims to ensure that all students feel represented and included in the university's activities.
How will you plan to increase engagement within the sport teams, societies and student led services?
Alex Carey (Pre-submitted):
To help improve engagement, with in activities I think it is crucial to start to focus on recruitment from when students know they are coming to the university as well as this have monthly notices for SLS sent by email, monthly society days and taking bucs Wednesday to new heights.
Gabby Gretkowska:
She mentions continuing initiatives such as the Society Social, which was a recent success and aims to foster a sense of community and belonging among students. Additionally, she plans to continue events like Varsity, BUCS Wednesdays, and BUCS Takeover to encourage participation across various activities.
Gabby emphasized the importance of media coverage to provide opportunities for students to get involved in different activities. She intends to host events regularly to ensure that there are always opportunities for engagement, allowing students to represent their sports, societies, and student-led services while also informing the wider community about their activities. This multifaceted approach aims to increase engagement across the board and create a vibrant and inclusive university environment.
Vice President (Welfare)
In addressing the pressing concern of night-time safety for both students and the broader university community, what comprehensive strategies would you propose to enhance safety measures?
Amelia Clark (Pre-submitted)
One strategy I would implement given the position is a lecture at the start of each academic year informing students and the wider university community of the services available to them, including the SafeZone app and schemes such as "Ask for Angela". Additionally, I would include a stall during Freshers in September and January providing free anti-spiking items such as drinks covers and information leaflets with helpful tips, which would then be available by request from the Union Info Point. Finally, I would encourage students and the University to think bigger and create a student-led Street Angel-style programme, with training provided by local services such as EMAS, the fire service and police contacts.
Ben Clarke (Presubmitted):
Ensuring the safety of Derby nightlife is one of my top priorities in campaigning for this role. Spiking and sexual assault are massive issues within a nightlife setting and something that should never be overlooked and treated with upmost importance especially if involving university students. It is important to educate and make aware, to the full student body and beyond, these issues with aim to prevent them or inform people involved of the appropriate actions to take if involved or witnessing these events. Over my course of time at the university I have made strong connections with notable Stonegate staff within roles I’ve held, this would be key in helping the working relationship between the Union and these venues, and addressing any welfare and safety issues that may arise. One strategy that would really enhance nighttime safety is an increased street presence, creating a volunteering team and working with local charities and the council to have a bigger nighttime safety team would certainly be helpful to improve safety measures in the city. Progress has already been made with things like the SafeZone app however refining this and spreading the word further for resources like this, layered with other strategies really will keep the nightlife in Derby as safe as possible.
Jack McGuinness (Presubmitted)
As VP (Welfare), I've developed an Executive Officer Night-time Economy Action plan, which has been developed from advice taken from the Union of Students Venues and Events Manager and representatives from Stonegate, a partner of the union that provides bar, pub and club venues.
This has been developed alongside the wider city based Night-time Economy Action plan, which I am attending a workshop today on, working with the City Council and other organisations to feed into.
During my time in Office, I've attended residents meetings and Police and Crime Commission roundtables to discuss safety in Derby as a whole and the investment going into it. And one point that came up during the PCC Roundtable was the pushback that has been received on a national level from some taxi companies on the proposal to make it mandatory to have CCTV installed into taxis. To help push this proposal forward, I've been gathering student insight to put forward students ideas about the proposal.
Although not specific to the night-time economy, there's also the safer streets scheme that the City Council are applying for, and the University and Union of Students are working to assist in the application.
As for spiking instances itself, the Executive Officers are having training which will be part of
Internally within the Union and University, I'm the Union representative for the Student Safety and Security Group and the Safeguarding group, where we discuss everything to do with student safety and the plans ongoing to mitigate the risks students may experience.
Student safety isn't just a concern during the night either and as we lead up to a huge sporting event, the Euros, I am fully aware that with a loss of a game comes a spike in domestic violence. That's why I'm working with the University and the City Council in preparation for the event, utilising the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy the PCC have developed.
As VP Welfare, you oversee Liberation months, pivotal occasions that allow the union to educate and commemorate a diverse array of topics and causes. With Women's History Month currently underway, could you share with us a woman of notable influence who personally inspires you and why?
Amelia Clark (Pre-submitted)
Personally, the woman who inspires me most in my life is Rosalind Franklin- the woman who imaged DNA for the first time, but was passed over for a Nobel Prize! Modern society has come a long way in terms of acknowledging the achievements of women, but we still have a long way to go.
Ben Clarke (Pre-submitted):
I feel passionate about making a big thing off all of the liberation months and celebrating them to the fullest ability possible, I love the togetherness and acceptance this brings as it promotes equality and inclusivity especially for those more underrepresented groups. I strive to make these even bigger celebrations than they already are and have a flagship event based around each one of them. I have prior experience in events and have future ambitions of working in the events industry. I surround myself with many positive female role models including friends, family and colleagues, and each and every one of them inspires me in their own ways. In relation to someone of notable influence who inspires me I’d have to say Amelia Earhart. She thrived in a male dominated industry and society, which is inspirational and tells everyone to just do what they believe in and what they want to do, don’t let anyone else hold you back or be pushed into doing what you should do because of your socio-economic status. Be yourself and follow your dreams.
Jack McGuinness (Presubmitted)
I'd say Rebecca Wood, the Advice Manager at the Union. One of my manifesto points from this year has been about promotion of the Advice service and that's because I know the benefit it has on students that need help. Becca is the link mentor for the VP (Welfare) position and has provided so much knowledge and experience to the work I've been doing.
Mental Health Officer
As a mental health officer, how do you plan to promote mental health within the university community? What specific initiatives or strategies do you intend to implement to support the well-being of students and raise awareness about mental health issues?
James Eames:
James proposed several strategies to promote mental health within the university community. He acknowledged that solely focusing on resilience and self-care wasn't enough. Instead, he suggested creating ambassador roles to support students struggling with mental health issues. These ambassadors would offer guidance and advocacy, ensuring students received comprehensive assistance. James also emphasized the need for increased awareness and recognition of mental health challenges, along with providing resources and support at each stage of mental well-being. Overall, his approach aimed to empower students to prioritize their mental health and seek help when needed.
Nursing and Midwifery Officer
How do you intend to boost participation from your school and ensure that the voices of students are effectively heard within the Union?
Natalie Chwalibogowski:
Natalie aimed to involve nursing and midwifery students more in Union activities, recognising their busy schedules. She planned to organise events tailored to their needs and academic interests. Natalie emphasised listening to students' voices and gathering feedback regularly to address their concerns. As a cohort representative, she ensured students had a platform to share their thoughts. Natalie strived to be approachable and friendly, encouraging students to engage with her. Overall, her focus was on inclusivity, support, and effective communication to ensure all students felt involved in Union activities.
Derby Business School Officer
How do you intend to boost participation from your school and ensure that the voices of students are effectively heard within the Union?
Jacob Taylor:
Jacob addressed strategies to boost participation and ensure student voices are heard within the Union. He emphasized utilizing existing resources within the Business School, such as the Student Employment Agency, to enhance employability skills and encourage greater engagement. Additionally, Jacob proposed establishing a business society to provide opportunities for guest talks and events tailored to business students. He highlighted the importance of proactive communication and feedback mechanisms to address issues effectively, emphasizing the role of student representatives in facilitating this process. Overall, Jacob advocated for a proactive approach and exploration of current services to promote participation and amplify student voices within the Union.
There are only 24 hours left to cast your vote in the Union of Student's Elections. Your vote is crucial as you are selecting the individuals who will shape the future of our academic experiences.
VOTE HERE