This term at the SU has been a busy one and we are only 4 weeks in. Thus far there have been lots of exciting initiatives that have been put on so let's hear from your Sabbatical Officers:
Maneeka
This term, I had the pleasure (and chaos) of organising a series of events designed to celebrate friendship, culture, and the incredible power of women across our campus. In February, we kicked things off with Galentine’s Day with the fabulous ladies of ACS, a festival of friendship, crafts, and way too much paint. Students bonded over paintings and drinks, sweet treats, and the universal love language: free snacks. March turned up the energy (and the colour) with our Holi celebration with the Desi Society. Armed with mountains of vibrant powder, music, and unstoppable enthusiasm, we turned the campus into a rainbow — and maybe stained a few white shirts for life — all in the spirit of joy and togetherness. For International Women’s Week, we rolled out a jam-packed schedule. We started strong with a Quiz Night with the Medical faculty (turns out people do know their feminist icons!), followed by the launch of a Pledge Board where students could pledge to be awesome. Then came a Round Table Discussion packed with powerful conversations and big ideas. Our Games Night proved that feminism and board games are a perfect match, and we ended the week on a high note with a cosy Coffee and Chat — caffeine-fuelled empowerment at its finest. We also launched "Women in Power" Instagram stories, shining a spotlight on the inspiring women of our university and filling everyone's feed with well-deserved inspiration. Meanwhile, our weekly Crafternoons ran all term long, offering students a space to unleash their inner artists. All in all, the events sparked laughter, learning, and lots of new friendships — and maybe a few glitter stains we’ll never quite get rid of.
Kamva
This past term has been busy and exciting! As Vice-President, I’ve supported students through academic appeals and managed our network of academic reps. I’ve ensured that feedback from students is taken seriously by raising key issues at faculty and university-wide committees.
I have been involved in two major campaigns in my first term. The AI & Academic Integrity Campaign focuses on encouraging the ethical use of AI tools in learning and teaching. We are working with university leads to introduce workshops that promote AI literacy while protecting academic standards.
The Representation & Voice Campaign aims to strengthen the role of course reps through better training and support. We’re preparing for our first Student Council meeting to share best practices and address academic challenges like inconsistent feedback timelines and clarity around assessments.
Beyond this, I’ve collaborated with the Wellbeing, Skills, and Diversity teams to raise awareness about men's mental health, particularly during May. I’ve also hosted a weekly social quiz night every Monday to help students relax and connect.
Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback or attended our events — your voice drives change. I'm looking forward to building on this progress!
Annabel
This term has been undoubtedly busy. I have been at many meetings proposing great initiatives to the benefit of the student body, as well as ones that the student body has advocated for. For example, we recently held our first Student Town Hall of the year, and it was fantastic to see so many students taking part. We discussed a range of topics, which included hardship support, wellbeing, diversity, and exam updates. It had been interesting to hear from students on their different perspectives and inputs to making our university experience great.
Thank you to everyone who came, and we hope to see even more of you at the next event.
Aside from this, I have been equally busy with some other campaign initiatives that have been put forward by students. One of which is the new campaign around AI in education, which aims to help students integrate AI into their learning and use it responsibly both academically and recreationally. So, you’re ready to engage with technology in both academic and everyday settings and compete confidently in the wider job market.
In addition, our part-time officers have been actively supporting students at various events, from cultural celebrations, celebrating the different individualities and protected characteristics, as well as different beliefs and ideologies. Their work continues to make a real difference in student life, and we’re grateful for their dedication.
Besides the mention of the campaigns and the student officers, the SU’s bid to enhance the student voice as part of the representation element is proving to be working excellently. The various student reps have been trained and are confident to deliver the best possible representation for their mates in the different roles they serve. This is now seen in the various reports that they present at the various meetings that they sit at, and are equally eager to see that they can make an impact in the work they are involved in.
In all this term, although busy, it has so far been an excellent opportunity for students to engage at different points has indeed been excellent to see all of the amazing things going on and hope to see all of them come to life.