Nominations: Nominations closed
Voting: Voting closed
Election
Equity & Inclusion Officer is a full time Sabbatical Officer of the Students’ Union working full time to provide leadership to the Students’ Union’s services; and representing the interests of students to UCL, including participating in UCL committees and regular meetings with senior staff. They will lead on equity and inclusion work across the Union to ensure that UCL is truly inclusive and welcoming for all students and that all students are able to participate in the Union’s activities.
Category
Candidates
Pooja Narayan
(she/they)
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
- Take sustained efforts to tackle systemic racism, starting with closing the BAME awarding gap– Strongly incorporate BIPOC international students’ experiences in narratives of racial discrimination.
- Strive for holistic integration of UCL East campus– Devise concrete measures tackling everyday student living and access concerns that impede their wider educational and social participation.
- Strengthen existing support and redressal mechanisms for LGBTQAI+ students-Paying specific attention to the intersectional struggles of racial minorities, international and disabled queer/trans students.
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
As the Coordinator of the BAME Awarding Gap at my department, student discussions revealed that entrenched impacts of the awarding gap extend far beyond numbers. I will draw on these insights to center BAME students’ lived experiences and lead with the knowledge that structural racism at UCL cannot be dismantled without sustained efforts. As an academic rep, I strive to foster an enabling space for my classmates, sensitive to their diverse experiences and needs. Being approachable, actively listening to student concerns - small and big, and finding sustainable solutions are paramount to me.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Steep tuition and visa fees, and cost of living are the chief deterrents for international students, particularly POC and those from the Global South, applying to study abroad. Hailing from India, I know this intimately. In my role, I would demand robust financial support for international students as it is critical to widening educational access and inclusion. I would also work to expand student access to free community events as having that opened up a world of possibilities for me. I am passionate about cultivating nurturing spaces where student voices are amplified to be the loudest.
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Eda Yildirimkaya
(she/her)
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
• Offering mental health support tailored for BAME, LGBTQ+, disabled and international students.
• Providing budget-friendly, healthy and more diverse food options suitable for everyone’s taste.
• Checking all the buildings’ accessibility measures and making arrangements in students’ timetables accordingly.
• Offering British sign language classes to increase inclusivity on campus.
• Ensuring that awareness periods like Black History Month, Disability History Month, and LGBTQ+ Month are commemorated.
• Providing continuous support groups for first-year international students
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
My candidacy is inspired by a five-year tenure as my high school’s Guidance Committee president. At UCL, I initiated the UK's largest student-led charity campaign for the Turkey earthquakes, which won the 2023 Students’ Union Charity and Impact Award. Connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and overcoming adversities, enhanced my commitment to community service. I aim to enrich our student community, fostering a sense of belonging, security, and freedom of expression. Committed to actively addressing each student's concerns, I'll strive to cultivate an inclusive campus environment.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
It’s EDA’s ERA: Equity, Diversity, and Action for UCL!
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Ahmad Ismail
(he/they )
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
If re-elected, I would
Continue:
Championing LGBTQ+ & marginalised communities through departmental networks
Shaping structures to incentivise students to be active in SU by remuneration, university credits, & showcases
Introducing low-commitment beginner arts programs
Lobby for:
Affordable food options
Affordable accom + beyond 1st year
More performance + rehearsal space
Better support for part-time work on campus
Improved financial support packages
Mental health & disability support
Increasing gender-neutral toilets
More relaxation & chill-out space + amenities (ie, water fountains)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Coming from an intersection of at times, conflicting identities, my passion & experience in widening participation shows me UCL has a lot more to do to truly become an inclusive environment.
As EIO, I have worked to ensure equity is at the heart of key decisions & initiatives:
- An accessible campus
- A diverse curriculum
- Addressing issues such as the cost of living crisis & its impact on students, particularly from marginalised backgrounds
If reelected I will ensure students from all communities thrive at UCL by empowering marginalised voices to reach their full potential.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
UCL can be daunting! As a queer Palestinian coming from outside London, I certainly understand feeling like an unseen number that can only ever stand on the periphery of our society. Feeling like things were built with people like me in mind was difficult; the system is not! As EIO, I have worked on initiatives to help bridge that gap by supporting & uplifting marginalised voices on campus. I want to expand on this year’s work using the relationships & insight I have built. I will also lobby UCL to give the EIO a position on Council, UCL’s highest governing body. Follow my campaign: IG
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Freya Li
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
1. Improvement of academic adjustment policies such as EC and SoRA 2. Improvement of accommodation support, such as rent adjustments, accessible facilities and diverse activities 3. Increasing career opportunities for students, such as organising more recruitment events for disabled students 4. Co-operation with medical institutions to reduce students' difficulties in accessing medical treatment 5. Increasing opportunities for cultural events, such as Black History Month 6. Collaborating with the UCL Global Disability Innovation Hub or other relevant organisations to realise more possibilities
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
1. Real thoughts on the whole support system. I am a female international disabled student, so I have experienced almost all of the support that UCL has for students. I have found problems with this so I can practically solve them 2.I have great empathy and a passion for helping others. I have donated one-to-one to a girl completing her three years of education 3. I can think deeply. My English papers have been accepted by academic conferences for 8 times, 3 of which were IAMCR, a top conference in the field of media, and almost all of them were single-authored and for the studies of women
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I wanted to hold an umbrella for others because I have been in the rain before. As a disabled female student from a foreign country, I have experienced many unspoken sufferings. I have grown stronger today. I am sure there are still students on campus who are experiencing frustrating moments similar to mine, and I would like to be there to help and support them, to let them know that "you are not alone". My experiences have given me more empathy and awareness of specific issues, so I can do this role.
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Crystal Wang
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
- Introduce mandatory video training on equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion for new students during the registration, with optional follow-up sessions throughout the year
- Strengthen the system for reporting and addressing bias, discrimination, and harassment
- Recognising UCL's international student population, provide multilingual wellbeing support services to maximise accessibility and effectiveness, specially for those for whom English is a second language
- Organise cross-faculty events and campaigns to build community cohesion and appreciation of diverse identities and experiences
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I aim to foster a sense of belonging for all students of diverse backgrounds at UCL, making the university feel like a second home. Having been studying in the UK as an international student for over six years, I have interviewed and written stories about people from various places and backgrounds during my undergrad studies in journalism, and now continue this journey as an anthropology postgrad at UCL. I produced content tailored for LGBTQ+ community for a magazine brand in the last Pride Month, and I am always proud of making voices of those underrepresented and marginalised groups heard.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Coming from an East Asian background, I was born and raised in a multiethnic region where I had the chance to know and explore the cultures of another 47 minority groups apart from my own, which made me believe every person needs to be equally represented regardless of their identity or the number of the population since I was little. I am the course rep this year for my programme and I enjoy leading the way to make a difference wherever there is a need. I will always ensure students’ feedback are prioritised, and work tirelessly to address any disparities or injustices within the university.
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Rie Raut
(They, She)
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
I will focus on connecting the diverse networks at UCL and helping them better facilitate student needs. I will establish new forums to better understand the evolving needs of the current students. I will also support the Student Union and advocate for more inclusive policies at UCL to help our marginalised students who come from different parts of the world. I will connect with other officers to ensure my approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is Intersectional and it applies across different levels and offices at the university.
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I have worked as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant for Schools, Universities and Corporations and helped them make space more inclusive and safer for people to be in. I bring a ever-learning approach and I am always unlearning and learning to better understand issues and help people. I have worked as a Trans Activist at the intersection of caste and gender in India and have worked people from the grassroots to the policy makers. I bring my empathy and care for the marginalised communities which will help me understand the needs of UCL students.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I am a Dalit trans student who comes from an economically poor background and working-class family, who understands marginalised communities and have grown up around marginalised communities. I have learnt from trans and queer leaders and am keep to share my learnings with the community to help better represent the students of UCL.
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Ying Huang
(she/her)
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
If elected, I aim to foster inclusivity where all students feel valued and heard.
I hope to:
Conduct regular audit to identify areas of disparity in UCL
Implement targeted support programs for marginalised groups: scholarships, tailored academic supports, etc.
Provide training and education for UCL staff and students on unconscious bias, and cultural competence
Set up free events in Black, Disability, LGBT+ History Month, International Women’s Day, etc.
Host global cultural festivals: Diwali, Hanukkah, Day of the Dead, etc.
Encourage participation and leadership for underrepresented groups
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I was a secretary of LGBT+ Network during my undergrad years at Bristol. I have volunteered for various charity organisations such as FoodCycle and Hedgehog Friendly Campus.
I bring a wealth of experience in equity and inclusion work, having led initiatives to promote diversity in various settings. My skills in communication, collaboration, and strategic planning will enable me to effectively engage with stakeholders and drive positive change within the Union and at UCL.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I am willing to make everyone feel embraced by our community from the very start of their first day at UCL. I hope to organise a series of events from welcome schemes to theme month and culture festivals.
I would fully support Student Communities and Networks – POC, Women’s, LGBT+ and Disabled Students. I would be dedicated to creating a campus community where everyone feels welcome and supported. With my experience and passion for equity and inclusion, I will actively champion the needs of marginalised students and work tirelessly to make UCL a more inclusive place for all.
Thank you!
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