Candidate for the position of Union President

Image for Alice Lundy

Alice Lundy

Hey all! My name is Alice Lundy, and I am running to be YOUR Union President.

During my three years at Canterbury Christ Church, I have taken on many roles and responsibilities which would make me a great Union President. I have set up the Disabled Students’ Society (formerly Network), been the campaigning face for Disabled Students, and been a Student Representative. I feel that all of these have enabled me, a disabled girl from London, to become the strong women I am today.

Follow my campaign online - 

  • Instagram - @alice_for_unionpresident
  • Facebook - @Alice for Union President - CCSU

If I were elected, it would be an absolute honour to continue with the fabulous work our outgoing President, Dan Bichener, has been able to achieve over his two years.

There are some key things I would like to tackle if I were elected these are –

The Cost-of-Living Crisis –

One of my major priorities for this coming academic year will be to support students through the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Building on the brilliant work already happening, whilst simultaneously bringing in some new initiatives.

I would like to:

  • Continue the development of an on-campus pantry at all campuses–
    • Students would be able to go and use the food from this space without fear of judgement.
    • It is a known fact that some students have to use food banks to satiate themselves at university.
    • By having a communal food area this could be eliminated.

 

  • Continue having the social space for students off campus –
    • Tea and Toasty (formerly Café 41) is a welcoming and warm hub for students
    • I want to run some events in collaboration with departments across the university (including but not limited to Careers and Enterprise, Student Support, and the Learning Skills Hub).

 

  • Bring a nice warm sociable space for students on campus –
    • I would like to discuss the particulars of this with the students across all campuses
    • It is integral that I take a student-focused approach to all I do!

 

Educational Events –

I would like to:

  • Raise the profile of a lot of the services external to your course team
    • The Learning Skills Team provide so much support to students (there is more than you initially think)
    • The Careers Team can help you with so much – I would like to continue working with my fellow Careers Ambassadors to make the team more visible.

 

  • Promote and be involved in the planning of events for awareness weeks/ months as well as religious/ cultural festivals –
    • I would like to be able to offer a suite of events, reciprocating what has been offered for LGBTQIA+ history month, for all awareness months, as well as religious and cultural events.
    • Working with the President (Community, Diversity and Inclusion), the International Students’ Society and International Students Officers on Union Council, to ensure the cultural events are run respectfully and appropriately.

 

  • Support students with their life skills for university and post-university life –
    • As much as going to university is about your degree, you learn so much about yourself as a person.
      • I will strive to put on events like cooking support, budgeting, and taxes – all the things you're expected to know as an adult that is never taught to you

 

  • Closing Our Gap - 
    • Working with Mary Makinde, I would like to support students' from BAME backgrounds to thrive at this university - through extra events and educational talks in lectures. 

Exam Support –

I would like to:

  • Continue the work I have been doing with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor to provide more support for all students around the exam period –
    • Including the availability for Mock Exams, a pre-look into the exams hall before examinations
    • As well as improving the tailored support for international students and disabled students.

 

Medway Campus –

If I were elected, I would –

  • Pledge my promise to be present in Medway to hear your concerns at least once every month, with online sessions bi-weekly –
    • I believe that all students (not depending on which campus they attend) should be able to freely access your Students’ Union – we are here to represent you!
    • My emails would also be completely open and waiting to hear your concerns

         It's YOUR Medway, so have YOUR say!

 

  • Develop a community sense between all the universities at Medway Campus –
    • Using my connections (through the work I do with Kent and Medway Progression Federation), I would like to, alongside the President (Community, Diversity and Inclusion), work closely with the Sabbatical Officers from Uni of Kent and Uni of Greenwich, to bring Medway together.

 

Canterbury Campus –

  • I would like to continue having SU representation on Campus –
    • I would really like to harness the power of the Union Council – this is why I would ask your part-time Union Council officers to be a physical presence on campus –

 

  • Improve the study spaces on campus –
    • I would like to discuss with all students about what study spaces they prefer (whether that be the sofas, computers or private study rooms). I want to bring that to you all to decide.

 

Learning Support Plan (LSP) Campaign –

I would like to:

  • Continue working to improve the experiences of Students with Learning Support Plans
    • In my time as Disabled Students’ Officer, I have conducted research to find out what needs to change and feed that back to the relevant teams.
    • There is still a lot to be done in this area, and I would really like to work with the elected team to further the success of this campaign

 

Thank you for reading my manifesto. It would be an absolute honour to be able to represent you and the rest of the student body in the next Academic Year (2023/24).

 

So, Vote Alice (she/her) – for your Union President 23/24.

 

Any queries/ concerns - email me on - alice.for.unionpresident@gmail.com