Body Hair, I&R and Founders Library (again!)

Monday 3rd December to Sunday 9th December 2012

Founders Wheelchair Access

A meeting with College again this week established that wheelchair access to Founders library is indeed possible, and certainly for evacuation in case of fire. We've been able to get one student access to the Reading Rooms on the first floor, but it should be an option for all students.

If you think that Founders Library should be accessible to wheelchair users, and that having the possibility of studying in those beautiful rooms should be an option for all, write me a letter. Tell me why you think it's important, how it influences your personal student experience, and what it would mean to you if it was possible. Email me at eandl@su.rhul.ac.uk

Inclusion & Representation Senate and the General Meeting

Tuesday evening was a bundle of excitement! 

Firstly we had the I&R Senate in Rialto (every term-time Tuesday, 5pm to 6pm) where everyone is welcome! We talked about the changes to the General Meeting structure that were happening that evening, what our representatives had been up to and where to go next with Mental Health Awareness Week. Come along up this Tuesday and we'll be structuring our plans and beginning to delegate. Campaigns take a team effort!

The General Meeting was straight after, and many things were different! The seating arrangement, the chair on the stage etc. I made a feedback box and a questionnaire for everyone there, and we got 33 replies (not bad, considering!). If you want to find out what people liked and didn't like about the changes made, then look at this link here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1venYPeulGiclWvsn8zAZthdmw_xM2y09awJKwVhYD9A/edit where you can see some very simple graphs that I've drawn up. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. 

The I&R Senate had been working with the Feminism Society on a motion to condemn the harassment that occurs outside of abortion clinics in London, and that could also happen here. It was about access to unbiased information and services without intimidation and harassment, something I think of as a right. It also raised awareness of where emotional, medial and spiritual support was available on campus should our students require. I'd contacted all the faith societies to check the wording and implications, and it went well. Luckily, all of our hard work paid off and the motion passed with a landslide.

Let's Talk About Disability

This was on Wednesday, in the middle of the day in an attempt to be as accessible as possible. I was a  little nervous at first, having never chaired a talk on such a personally sensitive topic before, and yet it was a resounding success. We were lucky to have speakers with such a variety of views, highlighting how diverse disability can be. The turn out was good too, considering it's a subject you might not consider unless it affects yourself or a loved one. It opened my eyes that bit wider, and also reminded me why I ran for this role in the first place - to make a difference, to further my own and others understanding. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the speakers for the time it took to prepare their speech and travel, and for being prepared to embark on something that can be incredibly personal. One speaker, Chris, couldn't make it due to snow near Egham, but still got as far as London from Cambridge. You can find his speech here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/chris-page/lets-talk-about-disability-some-thoughts-for-disabled-history-month/10151108394206008 which highlights a few things that weren't talked about.

Hairy Talk, then One Nation Labour Talk

Feminism Society held a talk with Emer O'Toole (who was fantastic!) on body hair. Emer began by talking about why she grew body hair, and what it means to society. It raises questions about beauty standards, why we need to be attractive in the first place, and the true source of the pressure. It was really surprising to get into groups of people I didn't know and to talk about body hair. So many questions that I had never thoroughly asked myself: Why do you shave? When did you begin? Why did you begin? What would happen if you didn't? Try answering some of the questions now, yourself.
I just wish that the session had been longer! What I liked was that it ended on a "I'm not telling you to stop shaving, just start questioning" note, which includes everyone on the body hair spectrum. We should be questioning the things we take for granted. You can find out more about Emer here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/emer-o-toole
Then I went (on a whim) to a talk by Labour Society with Rowenna Davis. It was my first talk by a political party, something that a year ago I would never have imagined taking an interest in. It was interesting and alien, deliberating constituencies, direct action, positions of power and more. The discussion at the end about education and educational systems to implement showed a range of ideas. It was a "different" experience for me. I'll definitely pass by their talks again, but discussions on the implications of body hair more personally challenging at the moment!

Hop to see you next time!

Coming up this week:

Monday

7m in ALT1 - Debate Soc: Harry Potter Vs Lord Of The Rings

Tuesday

5pm in Rialto - Inclusion & Representation Senate

6pm in Imagine - International Students Sub-Committee

7pm in SU - Student Worker Forum

Thursday

9pm in Medicine/Stumble Inn - End of the World Party