6th November 2023
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It’s time to meet your candidates! 18 students are going head to head to become a member of the 2021/22 Student Officer team! So who are our candidates? Why do they want to be a Student Officer? What do they love about Liverpool! Keep reading to find out!
DISCLAIMER: Liverpool Guild Student Media has taken all appropriate measures to contact ALL candidates with regards to an interview and to provide them with a right to reply.
“My name’s Maria, I’m 24 years old, I’m originally from Worcestershire and I study a Masters in Management currently. “
“I think one of the main reasons is I’m just passionate about making change for students. I think because of the issues that I’ve faced in the past, that’s formed a lot of my manifesto, and I just don’t want students to go through the same problems that I had. I just want to take action and listen to issues that need to be changed.”
“Honest, approachable and empathetic.”
“To be honest I haven’t been here that long, I moved here last year just before lockdown, so I haven’t had much time to explore the city. I’m going to say the people. I’ve lived in quite a few places around the country, and I think Northern people are a lot more friendly if I’m honest!”
“I’m Josie Sawtell-Cousins, I’m from Nottingham and I’m studying Politics.”
“In terms of why I want to be a student officer, especially in 2020 we’ve seen a lot of people in power letting us down, and I know that’s on a national level, but also on a local level in terms of the local council in Liverpool, and I think it really highlights now more than ever the role of people in power having a moral responsibility and making sure that they are standing up for people and standing up for the student community with Liverpool. Through what’s happened this year, I think its highlighted more than ever the need to really get involved in politics and try and actually make some positive change, and we can definitely do that through the University of Liverpool.”
“Enthusiastic, passionate and compassionate!”
“When I went for the open day, I fell in love with Liverpool. I think the culture is amazing and the history- there’s a fact that apparently, outside of London, Liverpool has the highest amount of museums in the country, and you can definitely see that in terms of the amount of culture that’s available and at an affordable price- it’s not expensive to access really amazing culture and I feel it represents Liverpool as a city!”
“I’m Jamilia, I’m studying Law and I live in Milton Keynes but my heritage is Ghanaian.”
“For me, mostly I just want to represent the diversity of our student population. I also really want to work on bettering mental health support, and really just celebrating the diversity of our student community.”
“Energetic, bold and clumsy!”
“The clubs- I love the clubs!”
“I’m Ella and I study Biological Science, I’m in my second year and have a tendency to the zoology side of biology. I’m from the Midlands, kind of near Coventry, in the middle of nowhere!”
“I’ve become more invested with activism, and trying to make a change really in the past two years, and I see the role of student officer as trying to start making a change through the University”
“Compassionate, friendly and shy!”
“I really love the city, I feel it’s great because it’s not too big so you feel like you know it quite quickly, but there’s also so much going on so I don’t know it that well at the same time!”
“My name’s Greg Davies- I’m from North Wales, I started back at the University of Liverpool back in 2017 and was doing Business Management with Spanish. Then after the pandemic started, I decided to stay on and do a Masters, which I’m now doing in International Relations and Security.”
“I have seen the damage done by Coronavirus, and having been a student for so long, I’ve seen many areas in which the University could be better for students. So I think the skills I’ve developed doing a Management degree, as well as a Politics degree, along with my extra-curricular activities, have really set me up well to jump into this role and try and make things better for students.”
“Enthusiastic, openminded and adventurous!”
“I love the campus, I’ve seen a lot of Universities spread out across the city, but I think it’s great that we have campus Uni, and we’ve got Abercromby Square and everything like that, and living about a two minute walk away from there is great too!”
“My name is Siva, I’m doing my International Business masters, and I’m from India, and currently in India right now. I did an undergraduate degree, and I did that from India, then moved to Liverpool for my Masters.”
“As an international student, I expected a lot after coming for my Masters- getting involved in a lot of things, to get to go to classes. But after coming, I myself have faced a lot of problems such as not being able to attend the classes, or with cameras during lectures. We’re just being stuck in our own rooms, and we’re not allowed to meet anyone. As an international student, I pay a lot of fees, and I am not getting the value of education that I’ve expected. Also I’m a course representative for my course right now, and I’ve been talking to a lot of my course people, so I basically have an idea of what everyone is going through right now and I think they need a voice that is loud so everyone can hear it, so I decided to run for Student Officer – I’ve been wanting to run for Student Officer, so even some of the tiniest changes can be made.”
“Adventurous, outgoing and willing to meet new people!”
“The people are very friendly, and it’s nice to see students hanging around the campus, around the city, smiling with their friends, going for a coffee, for a walk, for a job – it’s very friendly!”
“I’m half Brazilian, half English, but I was raised in Dubai, and I studied Law.”
“I want to continue running as Student Officer because everything that I have and am running on are things that you can’t fix in a year. You can’t fix mental health in a year or completely combat sexual assault or make campus the most inclusive place possible – you have to keep at it! They’re all things I’m really passionate about and I have made changes through them so far, and I want to continue the work.”
“Confident, persistent and honest!”
“The Baltic area – really specific but that area is like a s***tier version of London Camden!”
“I am from North Wales and I studied History and Sociology”
‘Mainly because I have enjoyed this role this past year so much. I feel like I’m fairly good at it now – like I’ve gotten a grasp of it – and I really enjoy the role. I’ve been talking to students, finding out issues that I didn’t know were a thing, and then advocating for them – making change. I weirdly like doing the committees, even though it is a really bureaucratic part of the job, and I really like working on my manifesto as well! So, basically I just want to stick around for another year because I like it so that’s why!’
“Hardworking, ambitious and enthusiastic!”
“There’s so much to like. I think as a student my favourite thing was choir – I found a real community through the music society and I really enjoyed that. Now, as a student officer, I think the city itself – I think you don’t appreciate it as a student as much because you’re so busy doing your degree – but at least lockdown has given me a chance to go to all of the parks that I can – so, yeah, I think those two things!”
“I am from Derby which is in the Midlands, (which not many people know!) and
I studied Politics but I graduated last year”
“I want to be Student Officer because I was Student Officer for the last year – I still am until July. I feel like, over the last year, I have realised how much the University don’t really put students’ needs at the top of their priorities and it made me even more passionate about fighting for the student voice and holding the University to more account. I want to continue the work that I’ve done over the last year and continue giving students a voice.”
“Loud, honest and fun!”
What’s your favourite thing about Liverpool?
“My favourite thing is probably, so cliché, but the pubs and the nightlife – I love the vibe at night and I just think everyone is so friendly – I’ve met the best people here. That is my favourite thing – the whole vibe is just really feel good.”
“I study Economics or Business Economics and I’m from Brighton.”
Why do you want to be a Student Officer?
“I think I’ve wanted this job since I was about 8. In my first year, I came across a problem, my dad got ill and I messaged the University saying I need the support, I need to understand how often I can go home and see my family, how that affects my attendance, my grades and stuff like that. Before I got an email back explaining to me how they could help with my situation, I got four emails about how bad my attendance was. It was just an absolute nightmare. When I eventually got the support, it was great and they did everything they could to help with the situation, meaning that I could go home and see my family, but that initial problem – a lot of people just would have quit and dropped out, and lost confidence in the system. So, that’s where the passion began – I was thinking, right, I want to try and change that a bit and make life better. Sadly, if you talk to people who have been in my situation, I’m not alone – that story comes up again and again and again, and with some people who decided that University wasn’t for them or that they couldn’t continue without being with their family and, sadly, even during COVID that has happened.”
“Lanky, lanky and lanky!”
“Chester’s definitely isn’t the right answer and Nabzy’s isn’t either. Probably a night out – that is what I miss the most at the moment.”
“Hello I’m Ruby, I’m doing my Masters in Law. I’m from Liverpool- I’ve lived in Liverpool for around six years, moving from Birmingham.”
“It’s an incredible opportunity to create change- that’s why I nominated myself as a candidate”
“Self-aware, kind and confident!”
“I think the Albert Dock is absolutely beautiful!”
“My name is Vasiliki, I’m from Milton Keynes- I’m currently in Liverpool, and I am a second-year Law student!”
“I want to be Student Officer because I feel like this year has been challenging for everyone, and it has made me question what standard I expect from the University. So I wanted to take the opportunity to kind of actively participate in restoring the University experience- and I hope this will be reflected in my policies”
“Funny, charismatic and passionate!”.
“The people are vibe! The people in Liverpool are so lovely and I say that coming from the South because people can be a bit rude in the South- but the people here are so lovely and welcoming!”
“My name is Mitchell Burns-Jackson, I’m from Warwick in Leamington which is in the Midlands- a bit near Shakespeare country and I study Politics.”
“It’s my first year here in Liverpool and it’s not been fantastic and I’ve noticed that regardless of COVID there could be some great changes that can be made- ones that put students, community and wellbeing at the centre of what the Guild does. And I’m always looking for new ways to support and help other people who are in my position and that’s really why I’m running. Because I feel like I’ve developed a good amount of experience – there’s always more to get don’t get me wrong I’m only 19! But I feel like I have a good amount where I can hold the position that I know what can be achieved and by what means it can be achieved.”
“Energetic, impatient and committed!”
“The community aspect of it 100%! I come from a small town in the West Midlands where being yourself isn’t exactly on the top-tier of peoples expectations. I came from a town where I got bullied a lot for being gay, I experienced bigotry from my teachers, from all the places I’ve worked at and I’ve come to Liverpool and all I’ve seen is a strong community where everyone supports each other and everyone accepts you for who you are!”
Did you know that Liverpool Guild Student Media is the Official Media Partner of the 2021 Student Officer Elections?
Check out our “On Campus” tab for all things Student Officer Elections, and follow our Instagram for all the updates!
Check out our article with current Guild President Adnan here! Learn about the day-to-day of the role, how to run a successful campaign and what it means to be part of the Student Officer Team!
Article Image Credits; Liverpool Guild Of Students
Feature Image Credit; Liverpool Guild Of Students
