Thursday 25-02-2021 - 13:26

Hello and welcome to this week’s officer blog! 

We hope that this week’s announcement from the prime minister lets you see a light at the end of the tunnel for this pandemic. Please visit the Bristol SU Coronavirus information page for advice and guidance, and to see where our priorities remain as officers over the next few months. 

This week we’ve been busy working on consent culture, supporting student asylum seekers, securing funding for PCR tests for International students, looking ahead to education post-covid, and reasserting our commitment to removing hate and discrimination from our campus. 

 

Sexual Harrassment Research 

Jason, your Equality, Liberation, and Access Officer has launched the No Means No: Consent Culture and Sexual Harassment Research project. This follows on from Bristol SU’s Let's Talk About Sex survey in 2018, which found that 52% of students had experience sexual harassment while studying at the University of Bristol. Join the other 650 students who have completed the survey so far by filling it in today. 

 

Sanctuary Scholars Emergency Fundraiser 

The Sanctuary Scholar Legal Fund exists to support asylum-seeking students with legal fees. We have had a new application to the fund, and don’t currently have enough to cover it. A group of students are running the distance from the Wills Memorial Building to the Home Office to raise the money as an emergency fundraiser. Please share the campaign far and wide, and consider donating if you can! 

 

PCR Tests for International Students 

Roy, your International Students’ Officer has been lobbying the university to provide funding for students coming from one of the 33 ‘red-listed’ countries who need to pay for a 10-day quarantine and two additional PCR tests during quarantine. He has so far managed to increase the amount that students can claim back on PCR tests to £210 per student. 

 

Education 

David and Leah, your Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Officers have been busy consulting with students and staff on what education should look like next year and after Covid. They’re also pushing for the benefits of open-book online assessments remain even after Covid, and are excited about the possibility for lasting, comprehensive assessment reform. The officer team have also been pushing forward with the upcoming tuition fee campaign – watch this space for more details! 

 

Supporting students challenging discrimination 

This week we have quickly acted to support students working to challenge discrimination on campus and in Bristol. Leah has worked closely with BRISOC and J-Soc and coordinated productive meetings between the university and the students involved. 

 

Climate Emergency Day of Action 

Make sure to check out Bristol SU’s Climate Emergency Day of Action today! The climate emergency is now, and we must all do our bit to protect the planet from destruction. We’ve got a full programme of speakers, virtual events, and careers webinars planned – click here to get involved. 

 

If you think you can take on the challenge of being one of Bristol SU's next SU Officers, you've got until 9pm today (25 February) to nominate yourself for a role.