Thursday 16-06-2022 - 15:17

Hello!  It’s time for the final officer digest of the academic year! We’ve selected some of our key developments and highlights from the past 12 months. We hope you enjoy them.

Mental Health and Wellbeing 

This year we ran a number of campaigns on the topic of mental health and wellbeing, including Dare to Care, All About Drugs and SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance) week. 

Alongside campaigns, Ruth has liaised with the University to increase the number of staff within support services, to bring down waiting times, and worked with the Inclusion Team and the SU Trans Network to ensure the University improves support for Trans students. 

 

BAME Representation and Inclusion

Leah supported the planning, conceptualisation, and delivery of the following student-led identity celebrations: Black History Month, Islamophobia Awareness Month, Disability History Month, Reclaim the Night, LGBTQ+ History Month, Antisemitism Awareness Week, Holocaust Memorial Day and International Women’s Day. 

Obafemi organised the Being Black in Football event, which involved discussing how society can move away from racism in football and Muazam supported the set-up of the Global Lounge’s Global Collectiveness Working Group.

 

Sustainability 

Ruth and Seb organised Bristol SU’s second ever Climate Emergency Day of Action and led a delegation of students to Glasgow for Cop-26. 
Seb supported the induction of the pilot year of Sustainability Champions to promote Education for Sustainable Development within the University curriculum. Ruth and Lu launched the Bristol SU Zero Waste Shop in the Richmond Building, providing students with affordable, plastic free produce. 

 

Support During Strike Action

Aided by a strong relationship with UCU, Lu and Seb were able to offer a great deal of support to students, many of whom were UCU members, during the strike action. From providing PGRs who chose to strike with information on financial support, to signposting taught students who had been impacted by the strikes to the appropriate platforms. 

Lu was invited by UCU to speak at several of the strike rallies, and gave speeches which celebrated student-staff solidarity, and highlighted the SU’s appreciation for the work done by university staff, particularly during the pandemic

 

International Students 

Muazam organised and supported a number of events for international students, including the Global Food Fiesta, the ‘Tea and chat in a time of crises’ events run by Global Lounge and the widely attended Ukrainian crisis: past, present and future panel event.
He also worked to ensure that students affected by global conflicts were provided with appropriate support and signposted to relevant services, successfully lobbying the University to expand it’s Terms and Conditions for the Financial Assistance Fund. 

 

General Developments

Ifrah and Seb successfully lobbied the University to reconsider their plans for graduation following a petition with over 2,600 signatories. Delayed graduations were moved from Ashton gate Stadium to the Wills Memorial Building. Ifrah also secured an extension to Senate House opening hours so that students could use study and social spaces over the weekend.

Oba held a series of positive discussions with Voi, who have recently extended their zones past the Downs and towards Coombe Dingle.

 

You can find out more about the new officer team here. We wish them all the very best for the year ahead and bid you all a fond farewell!