Why do you want to apply for an Officer position?

Hey! My name’s Zac and I’m running to be your Students Union President.

I’m a 3rd year Mature Medieval and Early Modern Studies student who’s been here since 2020! I’ve always loved the Students Union here at CCCU and I’ve been lucky enough to work with them in multiple roles across my entire university career. I love everything our Union does, they’ve helped me when I needed it and I’ve had the pleasure of attending some of the outstanding events put on and supporting our sports teams throughout varsity and the year.

I now feel like its time I put my best self forward and start working directly for the student body here at CCCU as your Student Union President.

What are your priorities?

As your Students Union president, I would prioritise 5 things:

YOUR VOICE: All voices within our students are valid and needed. Regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. It would be a priority for me to ensure that your needs and opinions are met and heard by the SU and the University. I would do all that I can to support you in having your voice heard.

COST OF LIVING: The cost of living crisis isn’t going away anytime soon and now more than ever our students need support. It would be my priority to carry on the wonderful work our SU has already done to support you, as well as working with the university to provide more money saving options. Amongst this would also be a push for more life skills training, teaching you how to budget, how to cook and help answer your questions around money. I’d also aim to provide more free social and sports activities.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE: Many of our students, including those on professional courses can struggle to find the right work life balance. These students make great sacrifices to further their education whilst supporting themselves, their families and people who may depend on them. I would look to help our students find that work/life balance. I want to work with the university to find ways in which we can give our students more opportunities to access sports, wellbeing, and society activities. I would like to have open dialogue between students and our university about how we can achieve the best work/life balance for all students.

CLIMATE EMERGENCY: I would fight to keep the climate emergency at the heart of what we do, keeping the SU and the university on track with the 17 Sustainable development goals set out in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. I would work closely with our student green office to get our students involved with the fantastic sustainability events they put on. We need to act now, there is no planet B and so let’s work together and save ours.

EVERYTHING CCSU: The SU do so much, and I can’t tell you just how wonderful and rewarding it is to volunteer within the SU. From joining the Union council as a member of the highest student decision making body to being a part of a society. Competing for one of our incredible sports teams competing in BUCS to doing charity drives with your team for the betterment of our community. When you take part in sports, starting new societies, enjoying film nights during fresher’s week, you’re supporting the SU. We’re here for you, so get involved!

What skills and experience do you have that would make you a good Officer?

Before I came to university, I worked for a builder’s merchant as a Sales expert. I had a pension, a salary with 28 days holiday a year. I’ve met all kinds of people in my life, and I’ve always worked hard to keep people happy. When I decided to come to university one of my co-workers was sceptical about where a history degree would get me. But university turned out to be far more than just studying and working toward a degree. There was so much more.

My life has changed completely since being here, I’ve made lifelong friendships, created professional networks and had so much fun. Canterbury is now my home, this city and the community within it something I feel passionate about.

I’ve been involved with the SU since October 2020 when I joined the History and Dungeons and Dragons society. Quickly I took a step up and started working as the social secretary for History society.

In 2021, I took a big leap and was voted in as President of History. I’ve been very lucky to be re-elected as the society president for the last two years. In my tenure as president, we have gone from a dwindling society forced online from the pandemic to a thriving little community. You may have seen one of our incredibly popular societies “Back to School” Takeovers! Members have always been glad to have a friendly little society that they can keep coming back to year in year out. We now are in the works with the SU to bring our society back to its original aims, as a supporting tool for those who are on our history courses, to help them with studying and shaping the way they learn. Its my hope that my successors can work to a bright future of this wonderful little society.

Also in 2021, I began working with the Dungeons and Dragons society as their treasurer. Over the years I’ve worn many different hats for the society, stepping above my role to help the society and our members. Last year I became the societies inclusions officer and helped lead the society into one of its most incredible years to date. We became one of the largest societies on campus, we ran multiple social events for both members and those who had an interest in the society. We attended conventions, had film screenings, and kept our students happy and healthy. We’ve been lucky to be recognized as an award-winning society by the SU. Now in my final year I am the Vice President of the society, and we’re on track for our biggest year yet, charity events, conventions and our first ever trip to the national championships. It’s been a pleasure to help run this society and I look forward to handing off my position to another wonderful successor.

In 2023, I helped restart the Trading Card Games society. We have lots of plans for the new year and we hope to bring in a nice little community of TCG players for friendly competition and casual socials.

In 2023, I was also elected as the Union Council Chair. It’s my duty to chair meetings of the Union Council in an independent and impartial manner. Holding your elected councillors to account and helping to promote union democracy. This experience is incredibly rewarding, and it’s brought up its own challenges which I feel have improved the ways in which I work.

When I’m not studying or attending social events, I enjoy listening to music (Sometimes it’s metal, other times it’s “I’m just Ken” on repeat). I play dungeons and dragons and magic the gathering on the weekends, I love going to see live music and having a few drinks with friends. I’m a new convert to rugby but I love keeping up with international tournaments and you’ll find me screaming for our incredible teams during varsity this year!