Electronic Music Society: Welfare Secretary

After joining EMS this year, having been at UCL for a couple of years, I have immersed myself in the society and gone to as many events as possible, meeting loads of new faces and having a blast in the process. I've also been active in the EMS community more generally, getting to know everyone from the first years to some of the elder statesmen in the group chat. 

I have devoted a lot of time to the society this year, and would love to get more involved next year. I feel that the role of welfare secretary offers an ideal chance for me to do this. As a current medical student, I am well aware of the strain that poor physical and mental health can take on students. I have first hand experience of dealing with these issues through my 6 years at uni, and am familiar with the scope of problems that students face, as well as the different avenues of support that are available. I am also a cofounder of a charity called RWorld which raises funds to deliver "mental health first aid" training to teachers and students in schools and universities across the UK. 

Finally, in addition to supporting my fellow students, I am passionate about promoting a culture of inclusivity that warmly welcomes and encourages the entire diversity of UCL students and electronic music fans to engage with the society, and ultimately make it the best that it can be.

It's a well-known issue that inclusivity needs to be promoted in the electronic music scene and I want to help make sure that people find electronic music accessible no matter who they are. Whether this be showcasing their talent at society events, attending DJ taster classes or even having the confidence to submit mixes for competitions, it’s important that no one is left out!

As welfare secretary my main aims would be: to make society events an inclusive and safe space; to help to organise female led initiatives; and to increase the frequency of opportunities for society members (of all abilities) to grow their skills and knowledge about electronic music.

Recently, it has become apparent that the society needs to make DJ selection for events fairer and more inclusive. This would be a priority for me as someone who has struggled with having the confidence to put myself forward to DJ at events. 

I would like to make sure trials are held at least twice a term to ensure that events are reflecting the fairest selection of talent. Additionally, I hope to make open decks nights at Phinneas more regularly occurring, as this is a great opportunity to build the confidence to play at a club. 

UCL is such a diverse international community and I have so many ideas to help make sure Electronic Music Society is showcasing the huge range of talent here!

Over and out! – Sophie, prospective EMS welfare secretary