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candidate manifestos

Candidate for the position of Campaigns and Democracy Officer (FT)

Image for Patrycja Poplawska

Patrycja Poplawska

#POWER2YOU

Hi! I’m Patrycja. You may recognise me as your current Women’s+ Officer, Societies Exec, committee member or any other position I currently hold… I guarantee that SU staff had a giggle when they saw my name on the ballot because they absolutely have not been able to get rid of me for the past two years.

Yet, here I am running to be your Campaigns & Democracy Officer, seeking to hand over #power2you. With me you will see…

  • Change
    • I will work with the Officers in lobbying the university to adequately fund your experience as student and staff. Be it your education, safety on campus or the now University owned outlets, I want to ensure that your money is streamlined back into improving your experience, and that you know where your tuition fees are going.
    • I will create an environment which welcomes student activism, by helping students create societies or grassroots movements on matters that are important to them.
    • I will work with the Activities & Opportunities Officer to investigate why people don’t join Clubs and Societies, how this varies between different demographics and how we can improve the relationship between societies and the SU. 
  • Support
    • I will invite an array of speakers and organisers to UEA to host workshops on how to kickstart your activism on current topics such as environmentalism, queer liberation or international affairs.  Acorn, Not On My Campus UK, National Union of Students, Article 26 and so much more.
    • I will create a Campaigns Directory on the website with frequently updates information on campaigns emerging on and off campus. This will take an intersectional approach, and students who want to take action on issues that are ongoing abroad will be encouraged and supported.
    • I will support the new Part Time Officer team in achieving their manifesto aims and Student Trustees in getting as much as they can from their role. As someone who has been both  - a PTO and a trustee – I know that these can be terrifying and confusing. Student representation is important in ensuring the Union is functional.  
  • Accountability
    • I will bring Officers out of the office and down to you, with regular Officer stalls and open meetings at which you can ask questions, suggest your ideas or just have a chat.
    • I will provide you with the opportunity to hold the Vice-Chancellor, UEA+Sport and senior staff to account. You have the right to ask for answers, and I will ensure that they are given to you.
    • Keeping you updated with post-Council ‘Union Updates’ which will be short and digestible videos that explain the motions put forward and what your Officers have been up to (so you don’t have to look through pages of minutes!)

Since my first year, I have heard dozens of people express their distrust, disappointment and anger with the Union. I want to change that and prove that we are not a ‘big bad SU’ by working with and empowering every single one of you.

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