Institute of the Americas Society: Social Secretary

Hi everyone, my name is Ruki, and I am excited to stand for Social Secretary because I truly believe that friendships and shared experiences are at the heart of the university journey.

During my first year, I have been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing community within the institute of the Americas, and I would love to organise for others to also experience this. University can be challenging, both academically and socially, and I know firsthand how important it is to have a strong, supportive network. By bringing people together through fun and engaging events, I want to ensure that no one feels isolated and that our course community grows even stronger.I believe that by reducing social stress it can help to alleviate academic stress. To achieve this, I would love to organise a diverse range of events to accommodate everyone—whether that’s a movie night, a pub crawl, a pub quiz or even just a party. My aim is to ensure there is something for everyone and to foster a true sense of belonging within our society.Above all, my goal is to bring people together and to ensure that the Institute of the Americas Society remains an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment.

Thank you! Please feel free to reach out and ask any questions, my email is [email protected] or feel free to DM me on instagram @ruki.noordeen

After my Study Abroad year I am returning to UCL with a genuine desire to be more involved in our Institute. If elected, I would use the role to further strengthen the sense of unity in the Department, encouraging inclusivity and engagement across years and disciplines, working collaboratively with other societies to foster a more connected and lively community. Students should feel heard and represented, and if given the opportunity to be part of the team I will help achieve this. I believe I would make an ideal candidate for this position as I am deeply passionate not only about my academics within the Institute but also representing and supporting students. I bring leadership experience from my roles as Head of House and involvement with the Climate Justice Society at UofT where I contribute to social media and lead meetings and events. In this role I would continue to grow our online accounts, including providing journalism and content creation opportunities, to connect students and advertise socials. In addition, my Year Abroad has shaped my university experience profoundly, thus I hope to encourage others to consider study abroad options and be a source of support in this area. I am approachable, proactive and enthusiastic and can communicate effectively and adapt to challenges. I am reliable and ready to commit to whatever this role demands of me and hope to be granted the opportunity to be involved and represent students in my final year.

I am standing for Social Secretary as I am motivated to bring more inclusivity and energy to the Institute of the Americas Society. If elected, I will use my creativity and passion for events planning to deliver diverse and exciting socials that will help our community truly thrive.

One of my key aims is to organize frequent and engaging events through embracing the rich cultures the Americas has to offer. Why not bring the vibrancy of Rio Carnival to 51 Gordon Square? Consistency is also key - introducing a weekly coffee and quiz, with each session dedicated to a different country in the Americas, would ensure all society members feel represented and stay connected throughout the year. I also plan to make the most of what London has to offer, such as an evening at a famous jazz club or even a society-exclusive takeover of Phineas’ jazz night! These are just a few of my ideas, but with your vote, I will turn them into reality.

I am an innovative, reliable, and hard-working individual —qualities I proved when organizing a successful end of year formal last year for 150+ students. Above all, I believe in the power of community and belonging, and I will always be open to your ideas to ensure all events are enjoyable and accessible for everyone. I promise to put my head and heart into this role to create a strong community where we can learn, celebrate and create lasting memories together.

If you share this vision, then vote for Sarika Riffert as Social Secretary!

I am running for Social Secretary because I believe it is crucial to foster a stronger sense of community within our department. As our year groups grow larger, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet and connect with everyone. I want to address this by organising more social events, ensuring regular opportunities for students to interact and build meaningful connections.

I believe at least one social event per month, ranging from casual pub socials to more formal events like a ball at the end of the year/Christmas, will help create a lively and inclusive atmosphere. I am inspired by the success of other societies such as Geography and DRRH, who host regular, engaging events like debates, quizzes, and social gatherings that allow members to connect outside of academic settings. I would love to bring similar activities to our society, maintaining a balance between academic events and fun, social activities, and collaborating with other societies to host joint events. 

To support important causes across the Americas, I plan to organise fundraising activities such as bake sales. These will raise awareness for relevant causes and bring members together for a common purpose.

Having been involved in various other clubs, I’ve seen how these activities can help build community and boost engagement. I’m confident that by bringing these ideas to life, I can contribute to creating a more vibrant, connected, and welcoming environment for everyone in our society.

Hi, my name is Jay, I'm Cantonese-American, but I now live in Singapore. I am currently a first-year student, and I am running to be your social secretary. While we are a small department and society, I recognize that we all share a particular interest, and more of our social events can be used to foster this interest. Whether that be pub socials or more laid-back activities like movie nights, what I am most focused on is organizing events that can help us build this community, and I am very receptive. Another one of my aims is to improve the frequency/timing of the events to better accommodate our busy schedules. However, your ideas will come before mine, and I will make sure that they will be heard by the rest of the committee. I have experience handling logistical and organizational responsibilities, and those who know me know I will work hard to make things happen. I look forward to working to make your suggestions a reality, and to those running for the committee, I'm excited to potentially work with you. I hope you all vote for me to be your social secretary. Thank you.