Here are questions for all candidates running for the position of Women's Officer.
1.What will you do to support the work of the Disabled Students' Network, who recently released a highly publicised report detailing institutionalised disability discrimination at UCL?
2. What are some of the unique issues women face as UCL students? Which would be a priority for you to address?
3. What makes you well-suited to this role?
4. Individual specific questions to Aarushi and Lily
1. What will you do to support the work of the Disabled Students' Network, who recently released a highly publicized report detailing institutionalized disability discrimination at UCL?
Aarushi: I don’t want to speak over the disabled students network here, as they gave very clear recommendations in their report, so I would work with the Disabled Students Officer to carry these out. The ones most in line with my manifesto would be with SPSS, such as wait times, better communication about resources offered, follow up emails etc. The departmental training and a designated departmental disability officer, better explained SoRas, and preventative policies concerning accessibility are also recommendations that I will work with the Disability officer to push across UCL.
Lily: I would read this report, and would go and meet with them as soon as possible to ask what I can do to help improve this situation. I have always been fully supportive of the disabled community. When working in Local Government I worked closely with Great Western Rail, to Support them create more accessible platforms for blind customers. I can bring my knowledge gained through this and from my time as the disability network secretary again In Local Government, to fully support improvements for our disabled students.
2. What are some of the unique issues women face as UCL students? Which would be a priority for you to address?
Aarushi: The concerns all women here mentioned were in relation to harassment and mental health support. Women do not feel supported or safe enough to come forward about harassment or bullying they have faced, and in situations where they have reported it, they have felt ignored, without mental health support for survivors. This is my priority. However, problems uniquely faced by women affect some more than others. There was a trans hate group on campus this year, the DSN report on disability discrimination, and less reported issues faced by students with caring responsibilities, non-binary students, students working part-time jobs etc.
Lily: Women at UCL face a great number of unique challenges, I know this because I have been working to support women throughout my two years of education here. One of my greatest concerns is period poverty, ensuring that there are adequate free sanitary products, across all university spaces. This although started needs to become a much bigger feature of UCLS equality agenda.
Secondly I believe in ensuring that we continuously improve sexual harassment training for not simply students, but also all staff. I hear many concerning stories across campus and want to help prevent this continuous narrative, if elected.
3. What makes you well-suited to this role?
Aarushi: Mainly communication. I think there has been a problem in the SU, especially concerning harassment and mental health, with students not being aware of what is available to them. I am a 2nd year undergraduate, with thorough working knowledge of how the student body understands union resources, and how to better advertise available services. For example, many people I spoke to were unaware they could speak to the union for advice about reporting harassment. I also am a motivated person, with the work ethic, leadership experience, and (maybe too) pushy personality needed to get these big changes through the university.
Lily: Throughout my entire career I have supported minorities at grassroots level, enabling them to sustain real change. I have also worked running the commercial division of the University of Gloucestershires student union. I can bring to this role a high level of ability to make real change possible, and understand how unions work in order to do so.
I have worked in Local Government as equalities lead, ensuring that all minority communities were supported. I founded and led for two years the first LGBT network in my home county Gloucestershire. his network brought people together from all areas of the county.
4. Individual Specific Questions
Aarushi:
Q. How will you hold club and society welfare officers to account on anti-harassment training and improve the support for students in this area?
A. I think that anti-harassment training, especially of society welfare officers needs to happen before the start of their year of tenure. Harassment training becomes especially important during freshers, when new students come in and need someone to go to, so it is crucial that welfare officers are trained in the academic year they are elected, once exams are over – not once they are already the welfare officer. This training should be registered, and the entire club or society should be held accountable if their representative has not attended, perhaps by not being provided union support until they have been trained.
Q. Who will be responsible for the provision of free menstrual products in UCL bathrooms?
A. The trial free menstrual products scheme that the current women’s officer has been running has been successful, and my proposal is to ensure that this moves from a trial to university-wide program. Therefore, in terms of responsibility, they should be replenished in the same way that the cleaners replenish toilet paper in each of its bathrooms, so provided by the university itself. Menstrual products are a basic sanitary need for people with a uterus and should be treated as such.
Q. How will you make UCL a more trans-friendly environment?
A. I want to address this on multiple levels. On a smaller scale, I want to create a more welcoming environment for trans people in UCL sports teams, especially on a more casual level where regulatory bodies are less intrusive. I also want to ensure that there trans-specific training for departmental and welfare officers, to create a more welcoming environment and avoid discrimination. On a larger scale, I will push for UCL to stop using academic freedom as an excuse to allow transphobic hate groups onto campus, with specific input from the trans officer.
Lily:
Q: What’s your stance on trans rights and how will this influence your work as Womens’ Officer?
A: I am 100% committed to promoting Trans rights, therefore everything I do would be inclusive of self identifying women. I took a central role in planning and coordinating the recent Women’s Place Uk protest at the IOE, which shows I am not afraid to support those who are marginalised. We were there from 8am supporting our fellow students, and I would do it again. I am the candidate for this role who will ensure equality for all Trans students.
I have worked in the sector for a great deal of years and am ready to help UCL progress forward,.
Q: How will you tackle sexual violence at UCL?
A: I am a gender student and therefore am continually studying causes of , and effective ways to prevent sexual violence. I recently wrote a book review for an academic journal at Columbia University, that discussed at length dealing with sexual violence on university campuses, so I am confident in my ability to bring a broad understanding to the table.
I currently help deliver the student training at our university, and thus understand how it can be improved. As a trainer I have discussed with many students the issues they face, and understand how we can implement practical measures that would actually help students.
Q: How will you represent the interests of women from all backgrounds at UCL?
A: I would, if elected, meet with women from all backgrounds at UCL promote their interests, and listen to their needs and wants. I love meeting people, and would bring my passion for networking to this role. I pledge to truly go out of my way to meet with all women, to ensure I am representing everyone fairly. Something I have done throughout my career and would love to do again now. I have worked throughout my career with women from all backgrounds. Refugees, Asylum seekers, women from literally all across the world.