I am a PhD student called Asa (he/they) running for Postgraduate Officer. 

 Whilst being the Democracy & Representation Student Support Officer and working at the SU I have participated in wellbeing and welfare projects. I’ve stood in vigils, helped feed over 1000 UEA students, represented Durham University alumnis and spoken for causes throughout England. 

Furthermore, I’ve organised music festivals and art exhibitions supporting: 

1. Women in Music. 

2. Football vs Homophobia. 

3. Food banks. 

4. BLM art exhibitions. 

5.  Funds for international crises. 

As a poet & musician I’ve performed for causes bigger than I and will keep fighting for democracy and equity through art and actions.  

Ethos 

Everyone deserves a space in this world, a place they can be themselves. I’ll fight to support PG students during a cost-of-living crisis, in our union and beyond. Many of us juggle work, academia and care obligations. University is beyond academia, students are beyond academics, and must be treated as such. An SU’s work is cyclical,with constant new faces, and we can build for us and for them. The foundations of tomorrow are put down today.  

Community: 

• Building relationships with Norwich, cooperating and coordinating events allowing PGs to interact and volunteer, and building a wider community.  

• Increased support for students with children, advice for parents, support meetings, and childcare facilities.  

• Reduced price gym-memberships for students over 55, keeping them healthy and on campus and mature student sports teams.  

• Further postgraduate cultural events, allowing international PGs to share culture whilst experiencing Britain’s. 

• Organising General Assembly-style meetings with University & Union officials, allowing students to address executive figures.     

 Integration:  

          Workshops for underrepresented communities, inviting PGs and academics from specific backgrounds to discuss University’s challenges.  

• More Postgraduate integration meetings, allowing PGs to meet peers.  

• Focus on signposting who, where and how to access help, provided in multiple languages; leaving no international student behind. 

• ‘Office Hours’ for all FTOs, normalising discussion between students and Union.  

•  Erase deadnames throughout the university system, so all are referred to correctly.  

•  Erase titles throughout the SU’s online system, putting all members of the Union on an equal footing, acknowledging the symbiotic manner of our relationship whilst erasing historical hierarchical structure. Someone’s marital status, gender or qualifications should not take precedence over themselves. We are temporary custodians of titles within the Union, rather than owners of them. 

Legacy: 

• Increasing networking events, inviting alumni to discuss their achievements and influences. 

• Mentorship schemes and furthering the Buddy System, encouraging academics and other staff members to offer advice and experience to PGs considering a similar career path.  

• An SU ethical services policy, limiting our use of conglomerates.  

• Continuing the PhD-Diggers, giving PGs space on the Union’s allotment.  

• Make conference funding, postgraduate bursaries and student loans more accessible.  

• Postgraduate specific support through our facilities and welfare specialists.  

• Furthering relationships between artist and student communities, taking students’ voices beyond their time here.  

If you would be interested in discussing this further contact me at Asa.Williams@uea.ac.uk