Nominations: Nominations closed
Voting: Voting closed
Election
Category
Candidates
Saiff Hamid
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Facilities: Acquire more space for activities and procure a new sports ground & Olympic venue for TeamUCL
Equality, Diversity & Safety: Continue my work on creating a more inclusive environment within societies and ensuring that student safety remains a priority during activities both on and off campus
Finances: Streamline the payment & reimbursement system so that funds are quicker and easier to access, ensuring students are out of pocket for as short a time as possible
Communication: Improve union-society & inter-society communication and increase transparency
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I have been Pres, Tres and Welfare Officer of UCL Hockey, as well as Tres of Electronic Music Society. Furthermore, this year I am one of the Sports Officers and a member of the Union Exec. These roles have developed my passion for student activities and improving the SU, and through them I have gained a wealth of experience in making activities more enjoyable for all. This includes implementing a new TeamUCL Inclusion Campaign, changing the SU regulations to protect students, creating safer SU spaces, organising the move to Scala & investing profits back into student experience
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
After holding the 6 leadership positions within the Union listed above, I have a wealth of knowledge in the problems faced when running a club or society, and the issues that students want to see improved. Furthermore, having been Sports Officer this year (through which I have worked very closely with the current Activities & Engagement Officer on numerous projects), I have learnt the ins and outs of how the system works, and as such developed the best possible understanding on how to improve things and make the most impactful change.
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Dimitri Papatheofanous
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
First and foremost, I would like to optimise the interactions between committee members and the Students’ Union:
- Clarifying the forms on the SU website.
- Introducing more communications channels with principal officers.
- Improving the training materials.
I would also like to create more storage spaces for societies, make the Welcome Fair larger (let’s face it, those stalls are pretty cramped), increase the visibility of new and small societies, and create a support system for societies wishing to participate in inter-university events.
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
During almost five years at UCL, I have developed a strong relationship with the Students' Union. I am currently in my third term as President of Harry Potter Society, I co-founded Pokémon Society and helped it win the Best New Society award in 2021, and I have been at the forefront of many large-scale collaborations, including three Yule Balls and four Reading Weeks’ worth of events.
All of this has given me a lot of experience in being a part of the SU, and more generally in having a leadership role, both of which I believe are important qualities for the Activities Officer to have.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Being involved in societies, both as a regular member and as a committee member, has been the highlight of my time at UCL. I would love the chance to contribute something more to the Students' Union, and I believe that all my experiences have given me a good foundation of skills which I can develop and use to ensure that clubs and societies remain as enjoyable for current and new students as they have been for me.
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Thomas Lau
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Ensure activities access @ UCL East
+ minorities engagement & rep in clubs & socs
New & strengthened initiatives for postgrad involvement: part-time and carers
Disability awareness in events & policy support
Promote sport participation through Project Active for socs
Review Union bureaucracy: shorter notice, more flexibility, simplify procedures (esp contract & finance), quicker response, transparent progress, greater democratic oversight
+ Club & soc support: better facility access & storage, resource allocation, administrative ease, coordinate club & soc collabs, facilitate professional engagement
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Looking beyond challenges that plagued us and establish a better vision for years to come; the launch of UCL East brings opportunities anew for a student-centric agenda.
Throughout my degree, I have been active across the Union. With 3 years of experience as Student Rep, I am well versed in understanding your needs and taking action to meet them! I have also become a capable leader through committee positions, first society Treasurer and now President at ELSA. These trials have granted me requisite skills for bringing our vision into reality. With your support, we can make changes that matter.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
We have struggled with restrictions and limitations, and many of our formerly vibrant socs from 2019 are no longer part of the Union. I understand how it matters to students to have a vibrant union that reflects their priorities and interests, their characteristics and identities, and will endeavour to create an environment where this diversity will be celebrated and brought to even greater heights! I will ensure that this is, and will always be OUR Union!
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Mary McHarg
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
- Ensure all UCL activities are sustainable, accessible, and inclusive
- Foster inter-society and club communication with an online hub for exec committee, so collaboration is effortless and support is readily available
- Make sure there’s plenty of society events, socials, and sports leagues all year long
- Improve storage spaces for socs and clubs- the archery range is long overdue a makeover!
Plus, as a union rep, I will:
- Fight for UCL to rejoin Stonewall
- Stand in solidarity with UCU and UNISON strike action
- Support pro-BDS and Free Palestine campaigns
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I've worked across societies, clubs, and networks as President and Events Officer of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Soc, running regular collaborative events and fundraisers both online and off over the past couple of years. I aided in setting up the Niche Societies Network, which continues to host inter-society events every term, and helped revive SFFS post-pandemic, nearly tripling its membership. I know the ins and outs of activities, and I’m here to make actionable change on your behalf.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I’m driven, hardworking, and I get stuff done. As a queer student, I know the importance of being represented and heard in leadership, and want to make sure everyone involved in activities at UCL gets their say.
If you like where I’m coming from, you might like to vote for my friends, too: Jenna for Education, Daria for Welfare & Community, Anoushka for Union Affairs, and Mustafa for Equity & Inclusion!
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Azure Lo
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
- In-person elements: With COVID restrictions removed, students should be enjoying the full pre-pandemic campus experience in UCL
- Inclusivity: Ensure student life in UCL is inclusive to everyone (BAME, LGBTQ+, etc.). Ensure committees in societies are trained well before term starts
- Term 2 Re-freshers: Another highlight in the middle of year. Expect another round of freshers fair, sports leagues, as well as lots of SU and society events
- Grant: Societies should be allowed extra grant to offer a better experience to students (for equipment, more diverse activities, etc.)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
My experience in leading 2 societies is crucial, and I regularly engage with members in the societies. I have also been a lead rep for my department, ensuring that any concerns are expressed clearly to those higher in the hierarchy, as well as bringing in changes if necessary.
Apart from my roles as president and lead rep, I also worked in different committee positions and as a welcome ambassador. I believe I am both a good leader and team member when working with others. Therefore, I believe I am the best candidate based on my experience and my dedication on student-led activities.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I’m one of the few students who knows what a normal pre-pandemic UCL life is like. Most students have expressed how activities and social life are critical in a university student’s life. I believe both UCL and the SU can offer so much more as we move out of the pandemic. My experience and insight on UCL/SU operations is invaluable for this position. I strongly believe that I can foster a better social environment at UCL and enhance student’s experience. All in all, I am confident I can fulfil the responsibilities for this role and be a good addition to the Sabb team.
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Arjun Patel
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
UCL students deserve spaces for new experiences and to find communities they love. I hope to facilitate this by finding new spaces for clubs to train, rehearse or perform in. I will work closely with activities to help them create safe spaces for all students and to remove the barriers of entry in activities. I hope to ease strain on club leaders by streamlining administrative processes and giving clubs more power to hold the union accountable. I aim to build a cohesive community within clubs and societies by encouraging collaboration and discussion to create a SU that serves us all.
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Since joining UCL, I have been a prominent member in many clubs and societies and volunteered with UCL volunteering services. I have years of committee experience with Cheerleading Club, Greenough Society and Live Music Society. I have first-hand experience of how sports, arts, academic and cultural societies are run and understand how the wide variety of activities helps all UCL students find safe spaces to grow and learn. I have partaken in numerous Team UCL initiatives including recently partaking as a panellist in the “creating safe environments for women in sports” event.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Activities have played a huge part in my UCL experience, and I understand how important they are to so many students. To many they’re not just hobbies, they’re good memories, coping mechanisms, families, communities. My experience helps me understand the needs of the different types of clubs and societies including sports, the arts, academic and cultural clubs. I hope to find spaces and facilities for these clubs and societies to continue to serve their members, and help them to be as open, accessible, and safe as possible.
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Mirabel A Brow
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
I aim to make UCL become a closer and more integrated community. Just a few of my priorities:
- Design a more personalised and memorable graduation.
- Support society accessibility via more training, weekly feedback meetings and opportunities for postgrad summer soc activity.
- Create society sports leagues to increase sports engagement.
- Continue work to improve sports facilities access.
- More memory making experiences such as balls, mixer events and inter-uni collaborations.
- Better utilise resources, improving room bookings, collaborating with departments and UCL Museums.
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
For the past two years I have been elected President of UCL Art Society, over which our membership has tripled to more than 1000. This has involved coordinating a committee of 18, implementing member feedback and an intimate understanding of the workings of the student union. I am confident and competent leading a team, listening to feedback and am keenly aware of accessibility issues. I have lots of relevant experience working in events, past employers including UCL and Bloomsbury Festival. Most of all I bring a passion to do more!
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I am genuinely passionate about making UCL the best place to be. My dedication and hard work to deliver an accessible and diverse program of art events is all the evidence you need to see my commitment and grit. I have so many ideas and a yearning for change. Having first enrolled in 2017 I’ve witnessed the strategies rolled out by our union, some more effective than others. I want to take the best bits of my experience and build upon them. I enjoy discussing the student experience and take pride in all I’ve done to improve it.
For my full manifesto visit my linktree @votemirabel
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