London Liberation Meetings, Elections and Porn

Monday 15th October to Sunday 21st October 2012

ULU London Student Liberation Network Meeting

Monday evening I had the pleasure of attending the London Student Liberation Network meeting, orgainsed by ULU. It was fantastic to meet other activists from London University Campuses being so passionate and active about liberation and cross networking. I realised how important it was to have support from other key activists, but also to find out what worked at University, when and where - so many of the liberation or equality issues we have to focus on are sensitive yet different for every institution, and every individual. It was great to meet them all, but it also made me realise how much harder my role is at the moment, and how far Royal Holloway has come. 

As Equality & Liberation Officer, I am expected to represent every group of students - which is near enough impossible. In London, each activist specialised in one liberation branch; either LGBT+, or Black, or Women, or Disability - but not all. This meant that each activist could work with the other Officers on inter-sectionality, but also put all of their effort into promoting, raising awareness and engaging the group they were representing. 

This is why SURHUL has come so far - each Rep I am currently representing will become an Officer in their own right later this year. This means each Officer will have more voting power, more time to focus on and work with the groups they represent and also creates a team of passionate liberation activists at Royal Holloway. 

Jess the Gender Rep and Susuana the FemSoc President
after the Zero Tolerance meeting

Zero Tolerance Campaign Update

This week I met up with the SU management, the Sabbatical officers and also Susuana the Feminist Society President and Jess the Gender Equality Rep to talk about the campaign in our Union. Susuana has come across a really great idea called Hollaback, which creates an app for your phones that informs you of where and when you can get support. It's a great idea! We're also looking at designing business cards for security to give to students when they report harassment, whilst looking into getting accredited by the Womens NUS as a Zero Tolerance Union. Plenty of ideas flowing, so keep your eyes peeled! We're hoping to develop this further, which takes time!

Inclusion & Representation Senate
Our first meeting of the year! Was fantastic that so many people showed up to support what we're trying to do. The Gender Rep Jess, LGBT+ Rep Moose and Englefield Green Rep Rustam came back with some really positive things that they had been working on, and it was only the first meeting! We covered our purpose and functions, and addressed some possible future campaigns, including for SHAG week (Sexual Health Advice and Guidance). In the pipeline are talks on Sex and Sexuality, campaigns for World Aids Day and hopefully a few Gender discussions too. Come along to the next I&R Senate in Imagine, 6pm on Thursday the 1st November, would be great to see you! We will hopefully have cake (mmm) and might even be taking a video camera along too!

Martha, Adam and Joe at the Open Day a little while back

Elections and Results Night

NUS Delegate and Officer elections have been happening across campus this week - I have been helping out a the polling booth, and even went to the Candidates Question Time. It can be very nerve-wrecking, speaking to a crowd and answering questions on the spot, but each candidate did exceptionally well. Congratulations to those of you who won the roles! To those of you who lost, it takes great guts to run campaigns promoting yourself and your values - so congratulations, and I hope to see you in the SU again soon. 

Results night was last night, in Medicine. What was surprising was how close some of the votes were - no more than 10 on several occasions!
That night I also a) found out that people actually read this (!) and b) had someone give me some great ideas to ensure I am as accessible as possible! Watch this space closely. 

Radio Show

Me in the SAC Office after
our first I&R Senate!

Again, Wednesdays at 11am I interview the staff, students, lecturers or even community members of the Egham and Englefield Green area of Surrey. We find out about your lives, your favourite songs and what you've been up to so far! My guest this week was Nehanda Loiseau, all the way from the states to study a masters in playwriting here at Holloway. My next guest is Father John Dickson, our resident Catholic Chaplain! You can apply to be on the show, or listen live by following this link: http://www.insanityradio.com/shows/you-me-and-sid

This weekend I was busy, but in the meantime there was the TUC Demo in London standing up against the cuts. It's great to see so many people take to the streets in protest, to show that we are not happy with the decisions they are making. Sunday was the community tea party, which sounds like it was a hoot! I couldn't make it due to last-minute shift covering, but it sounds like it was a blast.

Coming Up This Week 

TUESDAY 23RD October 6.30pm is the next General Meeting, come along and find out what we are standing for and against in our Union. https://www.facebook.com/events/379259285482900/

WEDNESDAY 24TH October there is my Radio Show at 11am (listen in!) and later that evening the "Come In You Socs" event, where people turn up in their Societies. I won't tell you just yet who I'll be going with, but I'll see you there!

FRIDAY 26TH OCTOBER, 6.30PM we have the Let's Talk About Porn!
Come along, it looks to be a great discussion, with many different points of view coming together to talk. https://www.facebook.com/events/486281804722808/?fref=ts