In the last of our series of election candidate interviews, Ben Hobson caught up with journalism and english literature student, Sarah Wynn to find out why she’s running for Campaigns officer.
Why do you want to stand for the position?
Campaigns Officer is obviously a mix of welfare and the Equal op’s, I stand fully for both of them and even when it hadn’t been merged I was still thinking of running for them. I just want to make a difference about discrimination or things that hold students back within the SU.
Any campaigns that you feel strongly for?
I recently had an issue in the family where I had to look after my niece and my nephew, so I spent quite a lot of time looking after them. My niece is one and my nephew is seven, and just travelling around town with them and everything else. That was hard enough as it was and then realising that there are people out there that are studying and are at university and are looking after children. That struck me because I couldn’t even cope with two children on a week break so having to do it all, it just fascinates me, and I think they need as much help as possible. One of my friends has just had a baby; luckily she graduated just as the baby arrived.
It’s the support systems that need to be in place and some of them need to be improved upon as well because another friend of mine had a baby and the amount that the university were offering her for accommodation/rent, she could afford a mortgage rather than pay for the university accommodation. It was easier to afford a mortgage than pay the university. Obviously it’s just one of my things, and it’s going to be a big project but it’s still going to be one that’s going to have an impact on the student population.
Why should people vote for you over the other candidates?
I’m intent, I’ve definitely got an addictive personality, you can never say “can’t”. Anything that I’ll do I’ll put my entire mind to it. Obviously I can’t turn round and say: “I’ll be better than them” but I’ll make the most of what I’m standing for and improve and take on everything else as well.
What relevant skills and experience have you had?
I’m chairlady of the white water kayaking and canoe club at uni, I’ve been treasurer and secretary of that. I’m also part of the playing cousin project, which helps out disabled children around the area and everything else, so I’ve got a lot of experience working with disability. It also deals with seclusion, so seclusion of race, gender, sexuality and everything else. I’m also secretary of the sports council. I’ve done loads of campaigning for everyone else, so I decided it was my turn.
How are you going to make your campaign different?
It’s going to be a rough ride! It’s going to be a fun one though. Hopefully I’ve got friends behind me who will help me along the way. It’ll be different, we’ve got a lot planned and some of it maybe a bit shocking, but it’ll hopefully work. Obviously we’ve got the ideas of fancy dress and everything, we’re all going to be going round in jumpsuits, we’ve got a couple of people who are going to expose a little more than necessary, obviously no private parts.
What issues are most important to students?
Top-up fees, that’s being able to afford everything. There’s also the seclusion and dealing with everything. One of my main policies is going to be an open door policy whereby anyone can come in and let their feelings be heard at any time. No-one should be shot down for saying what they want. Obviously if you’re voted into a position, you’re voted in because of what you can do for them. I want to make sure that everyone gets their voices heard and make sure that you don’t feel you’re being discriminated against for age/gender/religion/sexuality/everything else. Taking care of what certain areas want and do, but other areas such as sexual health and parking around the university and just anything that students want to change.
As campaigns officer is a new position, how will it affect the SU?
I think the SU will change, obviously we all hope that things will change for the better. It’s taking the best parts of equal op’s and welfare and makes it worthwhile so it could go two ways, but hopefully I’m definitely going to work my hardest to make it for the better.
How will you cope with the responsibility?
Well you’re going to have a weight on your shoulders and you’re going to have the issue of the fact that you’re a guinea pig, it’s going to be a test run. But at the same time I think I’ll cope well. I think it’ll be a challenge and it’ll definitely be one that you can try.
