Meet Danillo Pagnelli, future LGBTQ+ officer, and the longest running committee member of the LGBTQ+ Network. The founder of Soap Opera Soceity, Cat Cafe Society, Sims Society (to name a few!), tells us about his diverse experience being on 50+ UCL societies, and his journey to preventing loneliness on campus.
Committed to creating new societies
My name is Danilo and I am a 22 year old UCL student. I study BA Ancient Languages part time and I am going into my 5th year in September. I have been on the committee of the LGBTQ+ Network since October 2020 and I am the longest running committee member (I feel old!). I have been on the committee of 50+ other societies in UCL, and I have founded 5 societies so far, which I am president of. Next year I will be your LGBTQ+ Officer along with Anji.
Organising LGBTQ+ events
This year I served as Social Secretary, which I have absolutely LOVED. I have independently organised and hosted 3+ LGBTQ+ events every single week, including Speed-Friendings, picnics, collabs, movie nights, Cupcake Socials, Kahoots, Cat Café visits and more. I also organised and hosted all the LGBTQ+ Network socials for Welcome Week, along with sharing resources, signpost students and share information about LGBTQ+ life and resources. I have also organised many collabs with different societies, networks and other university LGBTQ+ groups, which has been one of my favourites.
My mission is to reduce loneliness
Loneliness is not uncommon and it is nothing to be ashamed of. I run so many LGBTQ+ events so people have enough opportunity to meet others. Through running these, I've met new people and helped others along the way to make friends. Making events as accessible as possible to everyone is something that really motivates me.
Connecting with communities
Aside from being awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership by Students' Union UCL and being awarded Personality of the Year, my biggest highlight has been organising inter-uni collabs: I contacted 95+ universities across the UK and the world (including the University of Auckland in New Zealand!) to organise collabs between the UCL LGBTQ+ Network and their LGBTQ+ groups. It has been awesome to connect with communities across the globe on a subject so close to my heart.
A message to my past self
If I could give a message to my first year self, I would say to not be discouraged if things do not go the way that you thought they would and to not give up and to to to try out those ideas that you have.