Founders Library, Helen Keller and the Demonstration

Monday 19th November to Sunday 25th November 2012

Founders Library Wheelchair Access

I was at a meeting earlier this week with college to discuss making Founders Library Wheelchair accessible for students. The bottom line is - it's possible. We'll be trying out fire escape routes etc, and so far are working on the project at an individual student level. Students have such a variety of needs and the library is so inaccessible at the moment, that it will need to be taken on a case by case basis.
However, please write to me (no matter your disability or reliance on a wheelchair) about why wheelchair access to Founders Library is important to you. How do you feel, not being able to access it? What would being able to study there mean to you? Do you have a friend you would like to study there with? Email me at eandl@su.rhul.ac.uk

Disabled History Month

It's from the 22nd November to the 22nd December! Luckily for us, the NUS Disabled Students Officer and also the Cambridge Welfare Officer have offered to come and talk at Royal Holloway, so I'm am getting busy organising that! On Sunday the 2nd December, Student Activities are holding a Superhuman Sports Day in honour of the incredible Paralympics! Register your interest with Steph by emailing her at sports@su.rhul.ac.uk. What ever your disability, and even if you don't consider yourself to have a disability - it will be a great laugh! Give it a go, you have nothing to loose.
Because of Disabled History Month, I am going to post in each blog someone disabled that I find inspirational. Who better to start with than Helen Keller, who inspired me to run for the position of Equality & Liberation Officer with this quote:

"I am only one, and yet I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do."

Helen Keller

Born in 1880 in Alabama, USA, at 19months old she had an illness which left her deaf and blind. It was her cook who first recognised that she was trying to communicate through signs. Helen was the first deafblind person to earn a BA degree, and was an American writer, political activist and lecturer. She campaigned for womens' suffrage, labour rights and socialism amongst other causes, and was a member of both Socialist Party of America and Industrial Workers of the World. She died just before her 88th birthday in 1968. I like her because all of her quotes are perfect in length and sentiment, and that's how I discovered her. She must have had a hard time communicating without sound or sight, but with help she tackled this and was able to fight for causes I am sympathetic to, like the womens' suffrage. 

Transgender Day of Remembrance

This was on Tuesday the 20th November, at ULU in London. It was a really nice space to be in, and together we read through the names of all the people who had been murdered because of their gender. For every single name that was read out, we lit a candle for them. After reading through the names, CN played "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and I will never be able to listen to that song the same way again. It was incredibly moving, and just right after the tough name reading. After that we had various musical acts and poetry, all by people who identified as trans, and the evening ended on a positive note. It was the first TDoR I have been able to go to - and I will certainly make the effort to go next year.

Demonstration 

Oli, Joe and Jamie at the Demo

Wednesday the 21st November was wet and rainy. Incredibly wet. Nonetheless, we marched through the streets of London with our drums beating and our placards held high - until we reached a quiet suburban area with a park, where we were supposed to gather. It had been a long, cold and wet day, and we finished in the middle of nowhere. We weren't angry with the people living in the houses lining the street, we were angry with the government! But the route agreed by the NUS and the Police led us to nowhere of any significance.
I don't regret going and representing the liberation groups who will be hit hardest by the changes to education fees, but I do wish I had taken an umbrella.

Feminism Society and Debate Society: Can men be feminists, or only allies?

Well, it was an experience! I was a last minute replacement and was put on the "Men can only be allies" team. Debate Society used to terrify me, and so I had adrenaline running through me for the whole session! It didn't help that most of the room sided with "Men can be feminists" in the first place, and so most of the question directing was at the proposition side (gulp, me!). But I was paired with someone from said Debate Soc and he was very good.
My honest opinion? That men can be feminists, but should work towards becoming allies. Through personal experience, I have sometimes been able to attend caucuses that I don't actually identify with (I was an invisible presence) - and it dawned on me that for many of the people here, it was the only space they felt safe. The only place. I heard things that were so honest, so hurtful, so strinkingly true, that I felt uncomfortable, because it felt like I was imposing on this safe space. I honestly think that being an ally takes humility, takes a lot of listening, means taking criticism constructively and also leaving the spaces sometimes. It's about recognising that it's not about you. You shouldn't jump up and down screaming "Look at me! I'm a decent human being! I'm an ally!", because we all should be. It's about encouraging others to be allies as well, and always being ready to learn more.

This Week:

It's SHAG Week!
That's Sexual Health Advice and Guidance week! There will be plenty going on! You can check out the whole range of events here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/112302825597003/?fref=ts
And on Monday, at 7pm in the Arts Building, the I&R Senate are having a Let's Talk About Sex & Sexuality: https://www.facebook.com/events/301235059982109/?fref=ts

Open Forum on General Meetings
If you've never been to a General Meeting, or you love them so much you turn up just for laughs - we're having a friendly and relaxed drop in forum on the topic. Get creative with solutions, because we're going to have to tackle this together! https://www.facebook.com/events/134054006745301/?fref=ts

I&R Senate
A more relaxed one, on becoming the best activists we can be. Wednesday, 2pm in Imagine. Come along, even if you're just curious and want to know more about creating campaigns that work. https://www.facebook.com/events/527004283996019/

Radio Show
As always, I have a radio show on Wednesdays at 11am! Fill out the form online if you would like to be my next guest! http://www.insanityradio.com/shows/desert-island-sid

Poster for Monday Night

General Meetings, I&R and Placards

Monday 12th November to Sunday 18th November 2012

General Meeting Accessibility

I would like to begin with this topic. I wasn’t able to make the Emergency General Meeting (EGM) this Friday due to work commitments, but the repercussions of which seem to be echoing on the internet even today. This isn’t just about EGMs, it’s also about General Meetings (GMs). 

It’s true, sometimes we can Tweet or put things on Facebook that after reflection, probably oughtn't have been mentioned at all. It’s not one person or one group of people, but a growing culture of freely criticising people through internet forums.

GMs are supposed to promote discussion and debate, they are supposed to be spaces where ideas are challenged. Where we’re going wrong is that internet forums such as Twitter are now being used in ways that indirectly target people personally. This behaviour has steadily been growing, but judging from these same internet forums today, students no longer find it acceptable. What’s more, we’re right. 

It’s terrifying to speak to a room full of people who might disagree with you, let alone the sniggers in the audience or the judgemental Twitter feed about you afterwards. We are not the Houses of Parliament. We are an accessible Student’s Union, a safe space. We are supposed to be representing everyone, making you feel welcome whether it’s your first or fiftieth GM. 

So, what are we going to do about? Moan about it on the same internet forums we’ve previously used to criticise? Wallow in self pity and accusations?

No! 

We’re going to work together, face to face. No matter how many or how few GMs you’ve been to, whether you know the constitution like the back of your hand or you didn’t even know there was one - there is a relaxed, friendly open forum next Tuesday. Pop by and share your ideas. You can find the facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/134054006745301/

I believe in making the Union accessible, equal, inclusive, representative and liberated. So, how do you propose we get there?

Harry

Scrutiny & Accountability Meeting

This was on Monday, and felt a little like going to see the teacher for a school report! It really wasn’t as scary as all that, but did feel a bit odd. The funny thing was, they were monitoring our progress according to the constitution and the manifestos we ran for the positions with. In all honesty, I’ve begun doing loads of other things that I hadn’t put on my manifesto! And that stuff didn’t count! Fair enough really, we ran on manifestos and that’s what you voted us in for. I’ll just have to pull my socks up (is that even a phrase?) and get to it, even the itty-bitty constitution bits!

Executive Committee and General Meeting 

Exec met on Monday evening, it must have been a pretty normal meeting as I have nothing special to mention - sorry! However, Tuesday evening was the General Meeting, and I’m not sure where to begin. Some controversial motions were brought up, but more than that, it was the raw emotion behind each point of view. I suppose that’s how accessibility in GMs was brought up, as passion can always be misunderstood on the internet. I am not just talking about the Poppygate motion (otherwise known as whether Dan Cooper, ULU Vice President should have laid a wreath on Remembrance Sunday or not). For some the motion on no platform for fascists was uncomfortable to watch, including myself. I left that GM feeling raw and worn out, and I can’t have been the only one. Perhaps the internet is a vent for passion, frustration and anger that ignores the more sensitive side to us all. I’m not sure, but as Equality & Liberation Officer I am working on inclusivity and understanding. Feel free to come along to the drop-in open forum for GM accessibility, I would like to know what you think.
Also, congratulations to Hodan Elmo, who was elected BME Rep for the I&R Senate and SURHUL! We are so happy to welcome you on board - avid readers, watch this space!

Talha

Inclusion and Representation Senate

We met on Thursday evening in Imagine. It was great to have such a good turnout! We collectively came up with ideas on SHAG week, and how to keep it informative. We also talked about making sure that people can ask questions anonymously at the next talk, called “Let’s Talk About Sex and Sexuality”. Not all “Let’s Talk About” talks have to be about sex, it’s just worked out that way! The talk will be on Monday.

The I&R Senate particularly want to emphasise that however much or little sex you like, and with whoever you like - that’s alright. SHAG week is to make sure we are all keeping safe, happy and healthy in our relationships. It should be good fun too!

We also kept up to date with progress so far, including Zero Tolerance, wheelchair accessibility to Founders Library and the UCU nursery petition amongst other things. The minutes will be available on the SU website soon!

Demonstration on Wednesday 21st November 2012

To highlight how the education debts disproportionately affect those who identify with liberation branches, namely ethnicity, gender, sexuality and disability, we went around the University taking photos of people with statistics. Thank you to everyone who leant us their beautiful face! You can see the photos on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.245883448874510.57749.225648467564675&type=1

If you would like to meet us for the march, there will be a coach leaving from Royal Holloway to take us there and back! Tickets are £5, and you get a free t-shirt (which makes excellent pyjamas!). Find out more from the reception at SURHUL!

Lizz

New Trans* Welfare Rep in LGBT+ Society 

Congratulations to Lizz White, who got elected as the new Trans* Welfare Rep for LGBT+ Society. It's a very important role, and they'll be working with Jess (Gender Rep) and Moose (LGBT+ Rep) on keeping us informed about Trans* issues and awareness. It's a tough job, but with the I&R Senate, we can do it!

Society Photo Day

For those of you taking photos with your society or sports team this weekend, I got in on the fun! I was able to help the photographers out on Saturday, taking down your names for your photos. Thank you also for your patience, spelling out your names and waiting in an orderly queue. In a noisy corridor, ‘m’ and ‘n’ sound remarkably identical! I couldn’t help out on Sunday, but Saturday I managed to sneak away for 5minutes to get my photo with Feminism Society! What larks!

As always, feel free to email me! I'll be seeing you on the march on Wednesday, then! Ciao!

Reading Week, Brighton and a Petition

Monday 5th to Sunday 11th November, 2012

What have I been up to this week? Well, I ran away to Brighton where I hid in my room and tried to get as much of my degree work done as possible. 

So, Equality & Liberation had to take a backseat this week; but as soon as my lectures restart from tomorrow, I'll be taking it all on again. But I did do some emails, organised for the Senate this Thursday and promoted the petition as best I could, so I didn't forget all about my role! Lined up this week, I have a meeting with the Scrutiny & Accountability board (they make sure we work on the things in our manifesto), I'm going to the LGBT Soc Trans Welfare Elections and also to the I&R Senate on Thursday. 

A few things for you to look out for:

1. Sign the petition! The campus nursery fees are far too expensive for the Staff of Holloway, let alone the students. If we want to be an institution that's open and accessible for everyone, including student parents, then we need an affordable nursery.  The SU is supporting the UCU in campaigning for this, begin with one small step by signing!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nursery-cost-at-rhul/

2. Attend the GM! On Tuesday this week is the third General Meeting of the year! For those of you who are curious, a general meeting is where students gather together to decide on what the Students Union should stand for. You usually have a President or Rep from each Society and Sport there, as well as the Elected Officers. It's a good opportunity to see EXACTLY what we do and what we say we do! Also, come and say hello! We're usually tired by 6pm on a Tuesday, but don't hesitate to tell us what you think about anything. It's what we're here for!

https://www.facebook.com/events/432993220095748/?fref=ts

3. Come to the I&R Senate! Another thing that's happening is the I&R Senate! We will be meeting this Thursday, 6pm, in Imagine. We'll be chasing up on each other's progress so far, finding out future plans, deciding what our future plans should be and also coming up with events for SHAG Week (that's Sexual Health Advice and Guidance, folks!). Pop down and say hello, even if you're only a little bit curious! Meet us all, and you can tell us what you think we should be doing!

https://www.facebook.com/events/381638841914602/

https://www.facebook.com/SURHUL.Inclusion


In the meantime I wish you a wonderful Remembrance Sunday,
and I hope that this sunshine stays with us a little longer. 

That's all for this week - UNTIL NEXT TIME, folks!

A Monstrous Essay, Movember and Activism 2012

Monday 29th October to Sunday 4th November 2012

My diary this week - one big to-do list!

A Monstrous Essay

Some of you may be thinking "Why are you writing about this in your blog? It's nothing to do with Equality & Liberation!" And you would be right. But the truth is, being a part-time officer for the SU is all about time management and priorities, particularly in third year. An even more honest truth is that I'm not very good at this balance all of the time, and I really need to be. I'm not going to breeze past the tough moments and only focus on the successes - being a part time officer, whilst working part time and studying full time, let alone the radio show, is hard work. So when it's tough, I will let you know, and when it's thoroughly brilliant, the best thing I have ever done in my life, I will let you know also.

Back to this essay, this horrible essay. It was so horrible, I spent the evening of Halloween doing it and feeling thoroughly terrified! It was the hardest essay I have ever written, mainly because it was biology based and I had never studied biology before. But I got through it, it was submitted, and now it will only haunt me when it gets marked. Until then, ghoulish essay.

Alternative I&R Senate

The I&R Senate was cancelled this past Thursday as so many people wanted to go to the talk by the head of Amnesty International UK. Instead I sat in Crosslands for two hours, free to talk to anyone about anything including upcoming campaigns, organisation for the next senate and open forums. We will be working on having open forum for self-defining women, LGBT+ students and also first years. It's exciting stuff! The talk by the head of Amnesty was interesting, and when asked about the current redundancies and strikes at UK Amnesty, she avoided the question at great length. Otherwise, it was a valuable insight into what Amnesty strives towards, and the work they have been doing during the Arab Spring. 

That night was also the launch of Love Holloway Hate Hatred, following the end of Black History Month. It was a great night, with a good variety of music! Cosy in Medicine, it was great to see everyone after hiding in the library for a week!

Jess is the Change.

NUS Activism 2012 - I Am The Change

This was a conference/training session held by NUS for activists in and around the UK. I went with Jess (our Gender Rep), and we split up to make the most of the many many many sessions they were holding! We evaluated how we campaigned and how we engaged with the wider student population. The two sessions that were most useful to me included one on education campaigns (which overlaps with Equality & Liberation, and so will begin working on that soon!) and secondly a talk on tribes and gangs. It was about how we relate to one another, and the most effective way to engage people. It was actually one of the best talks I had ever been to, so good that I told the speaker so afterwards. 

It was about the difference between running something and leading something, the distinction between reacting and responding but also about realising the importance of the people around you. Every single one of you is important to the movement, to the SU, to me; so let's not forget that. 

Regular Duties

I met with the Executive Committee on Monday, and was given the role of minuting. My fingers tapped at the speed of light to keep up with the conversation! Taking minutes is one of those tasks that I'd always prefer not to do, but when it comes to doing it I actually enjoy it. 

The radio show on Wednesday was with Claire O'Reilly, and went really well! She had a great taste in music and it was a pleasure to have her on the show. There won't be a show next week (as it's reading week) but there will be a show the week after, I promise! 

Soon we will release the video footage from the Let's Talk About Porn discussion last week - I'm just running it by the speakers first to make sure they're happy with it.
I also sat on the LGBT Soc Committee meeting this week, and I was very chuffed to have been invited. We discussed some issues and ways to tackle them, so it was a very productive!
Something that doesn't sound incredible, or life-changing, or even time consuming are emails and facebook messages - but in all honesty these take up a great deal of my time! Talking about meetings, following up on how people are doing, catching progress, talking about ideas, asking questions, answering questions... I could go on! I spent a long time doing these tasks this week, which haven't led to anything concrete just yet but will.

In other news, it's also Movember! Grow a some facial hair to show support and raise awareness for Prostate Cancer, or support those who do if you can't grow facial hair of your own! You can check out Holloway Movember teams here: http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1480550

I drew this myself - fact!