Surrey Decides is the annual election for the student officer team of the Surrey Students' Union. Here at The Stag, we encourage every student to make their voice heard. Voting opens on 27th February, and more information can be found on the Union website, here.
The Stag Committee reached out for comment from all of this year's candidates. These are the manifestos we received, unedited and in their own words.
Union President
Liam White
Hi! In case we haven’t met, my name is Liam; I am currently the Vice President of Support, and am running to return next year as your Union President! After years of involvement in every facet of Union and University life, and an extremely successful first year as a Sabbatical officer, I am ready to elevate the student voice and lead your Students’ Union.
After years of involvement in every facet of Union and University life, and an extremely successful first year as a Sabbatical officer, I am ready to elevate the student voice and lead your Students’ Union.
My manifesto is ambitious, impactful, and entirely informed by the needs of our students. My first cluster of pledges centre around the theme of “Your Union”, which is all about providing much-needed leadership and strategy to make better use of the organisation’s resources. For example: we are at our best when we collaborate, yet are afforded very few opportunities to discuss strategy and initiatives as a team. Under my leadership I can facilitate stronger teamwork to tackle student issues cooperatively, rather than through disparate and underpowered campaigns.
Furthermore, I see great vulnerabilities in the way we are engaging with students. Too many times I have sent students to an inbox, rather than to a staff member. This is directly visible in the Pulse survey, showing a 10% decrease in students agreeing that they would turn to their Union for advice or support over the last year. That is why I will challenge our existing hybrid-working policy, such that we start to value staff who can commit to physically showing up in their place of work during the hiring process.
I am additionally seeking to refine “Your Experience” as Surrey students. The dissatisfaction of clubs and general members of Surrey Sports Park is a clear fault that needs addressing, with overcrowding from public members and highly restrictive timetabling of public classes. Whilst space and budget is always going to be limited, it is my job as a representative to ask for more. That is why I will also ask for more from our own Union, including making our own spaces more accessible and desirable for students to use.
The final point I will discuss here is all about cost-of-living, and value-for-money. Whilst I will continue to advocate for every last penny saved by students, budgets can only stretch so far when Guildford is prohibitively expensive, and maintenance loans fail to provide enough to survive on. I believe that Universities and Unions are not doing enough to fight for their students politically. Did you know that Royal Holloway benefits from a higher maintenance loan cap, despite Egham being cheaper to live in than Guildford? Injustices like this call for us to use our representative power to challenge our council and our government, not just to consider our loans but to more actively sanction rogue accommodation providers who prey upon our students.
I have much more that I want to fight for, so please read my manifesto and follow my campaign on social media if you like what you’re hearing. A vote for me is a confident vote for student empowerment, advocacy, and leadership – so vote Liam for President!
Amel Boukabous
Hi my name is Amel, and I’m running to be your next Students’ Union President. I’m a Digital Marketing MSc student who did her undergrad at Surrey in Psychology. As your current Union Chair, I have represented the many student communities at Surrey. I have the experience of being in the central zone and understand what needs to be done to excel the student experience. I have the unique perspective of both University and Union as I have worked on either sides of the coin while still keeping students’ experience as a priority.
I have the unique perspective of both University and Union as I have worked on either sides of the coin while still keeping students’ experience as a priority.
Your Union is here to represents your views and feedback to better your student experience.
Our student experience can really impact how well we do at university whether that’s socially or academic. I’m a strong believer that having a say in your student experience, as we should be amplifying our students’ ideas. Our student representatives such as our sabbatical and part-time officers really contribute to that, but more needs to be done to recognise their work while educating the student body about the impact they are making. But it also includes educating our incoming students, starting early to educate them to understand what the Union really represents and does.
Your belonging is what makes those lasting memories while at university.
It’s really important that we feel that we belong somewhere at university as it can be such an overwhelming time whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate. We all want somewhere to belong, so creating those safe spaces is important. We do a lot to represent EDI, but there is still so much that needs to be done, and there are ways to improve what we are currently doing. At Surrey, we are lucky to have such a diverse background of students but often it seems the university will only focus on the younger target audience that excel well at university. As the Union, we have the right to lobby the university to do more, especially in areas such as the access and participation gap plan.
Your future is about supporting students in the bettering their experience while having a lasting impact for the years to come.
Things will naturally take time to implement, however if we don’t lobby for change now, when will we expect for anything new to happen? There are things that can again impact the student experience but only for the better. With the cost of living crisis, and mental health on the greater rise students need access to things that will help make life a bit easier to cope with. Student are already overwhelmed about their future, so why not help support them with a better future.
VP Voice
Luana Vasconcelos *endorsed by The Stag Committee*
Hi everyone. My name is Luana. I'm an international student from Brazil completing my BA in English Literature with Creative Writing this year. I’m also a mature student, having joined Surrey when I was 22, for my second BA.
I’m running for VP Voice because I love representing students and want to make sure that everyone is having an amazing experience at Surrey. I’ve been heavily involved with the Students’ Union; volunteering as a Course Rep (21-24), Head Rep (22-24) and Voice Zone Part-Time Officer (22-24). I’m also a part of many societies, such as Disney Soc as President (23-24) and Wellbeing Champion (22-24), The Stag as the former Treasurer (22-23), LitSoc, PetSoc and more.
I’ve dedicated my time at Surrey to improving the student experience, and if elected VP Voice, I would prioritise making sure that all students feel represented and supported by the Union. My manifesto centres around EDI, with strategies to support students from diverse communities, including international, BAME, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and postgrads. These communities are often marginalised in one way or another, so I want to make sure the University is keeping them in mind and improving support/representation. For a full view of my strategies, you can check out my campaign Instagram at @luana4vpvoice.
I’ve dedicated my time at Surrey to improving the student experience, and if elected VP Voice, I would prioritise making sure that all students feel represented and supported by the Union.
I also have some ideas to support students with the Cost of Living, such as improving the Community Hub by introducing Swap Day and encouraging societies to donate and buy items to help maintain the Hub. I plan to keep lobbying the University to increase the amount of student jobs available. If elected, I intend to survey students to see what kind of jobs they would like to take, then discuss with the University which jobs are feasible to create.
You can check out my full campaign at @luana4vp voice and watch Question Time on 27/02 at 7 pm, in Rubix or online, when I’ll be asked questions about my manifesto and proposals. Voting opens on 27/02, and you can vote here.
Lastly, I want to take a moment and wish the best of luck to all candidates who are running in Surrey Decides. It is so important to get involved, either by putting yourself forward as a candidate or by voting to ensure your voice is being heard.
VP Support
Samantha Buss *endorsed by The Stag Committee*
Hello everyone, my name is Sam (she/her) and I’m running to be your next VP Support. I’m a PG/T student who has been extensively involved with the Union and University life. I’ve done various supporting roles on campus and externally, including being a Peer Supporter and Support Zone PTO in 2022. Read more to find out about what I’m advocating for:
Mental Health Awareness
As a part of my campaign, I plan to expand the impactful “Let’s Talk” campaign, ensuring these discussions not only raise awareness of topics but also deliver accountable outcomes to support students. I want students to know how we’ve made the campus more accessible following Disability Awareness Month, what policies we’ve implemented, etc. By enhancing Speak Week we can help facilitate these discussions around what students want to see. What would you do differently if you were in charge of wellbeing services? Then, I propose the introduction of “Wellbeing Wednesday” on the Union’s Instagram to create a space for transparency and accountability. I want to showcase our achievements, and updates on services. I want to engage with students and listen to what they want to see. These initiatives will help us create a campus culture where mental health is prioritised and supported.
I want to engage with students and listen to what they want to see. These initiatives will help us create a campus culture where mental health is prioritised and supported.
Improving Access to Wellbeing Services
I am dedicated to advocating for essential changes in our university’s support services. I will work with university staff on creating a new recruitment strategy where diversity is prioritised. I want students involved in the recruitment process to ensure that our staff reflects the diverse needs and experiences of our student body. I aim to introduce Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) across each academic department, so disabled students have a point of contact to help them navigate support. We currently have a fantastic partnership with the Samaritans, and I want to try to develop this with more services. I plan to create a feedback strategy to work how students want to best engage with these services – Do you want easier access to Talking Therapies? Do you want more events? More drop-ins? More self-help resources? This is what I want to find out! Lastly, I plan to resign access forms to wellbeing services to be inclusive and user-friendly, ensuring all students can easily access the support we deserve.
Enhance Student Experience
Building positive staff-student interactions is crucial for fostering a supportive campus community. To achieve this, I am committed to implementing a clear policy regarding the timings and tone of important emails and discussions, ensuring that every student feels respected and valued. Additionally, I propose to create a Postgraduate Taught Student Handbook, covering all aspects of their personal and academic lives at Surrey. This initiative aims to help narrow the gap between undergraduates and postgraduates by providing clear information to help navigate university life effectively. Finally, I want to ensure we have a sensory room on campus to provide a supportive environment for neurodiverse students, enhancing our sense of belonging and inclusion in university life.
I want to emphasise my passion for supporting students at Surrey and ensuring that each one of us receives the tailored support we deserve. Your voices, concerns, and ideas are invaluable to me, and I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions, suggestions, or simply to say hello. We can work together to create a campus environment where every student feels heard, supported, and empowered to thrive.
You can follow my campaign @SamBuss4VPSupport
Kaden Trueman
Hi all! My name is Kaden (They/He) and I am running for VP Support in Surrey Decides. I am passionate about supporting others no matter who they are, and improving key aspects of the student experience so that the students that come after me don't have to struggle through the same things I did.
I am studying MSc Space Engineering, and I also did my undergraduate degree at Surrey. I’ve been studying here since 2019- how time flies! I already work in the Support Zone part-time as an Academic Advice Assistant- answering students' queries about academic processes (ECs, appeals, etc.), housing concerns and signpost well-being support. I’ve really enjoyed this role so far, and it's made me realise that I’d love to get even more involved with the Students Union.
Hearing what issues impact students through my job helped me form my manifesto points. I was also inspired by my experiences from studying at Surrey for the past five years and the issues I have faced.
Disability & Neurodiversity:
Accessibility is very important to me- I was diagnosed as autistic and ADHD, during the final year of my undergraduate. During the first two years of my degree, I found some aspects of university life incredibly challenging, but I wasn’t quite sure why – I want to raise awareness about the support available for undiagnosed students.
I am also passionate about the idea of creating visual guides/‘stories’ for autistic and anxious students. There are certain things on campus that I didn’t do for literal years because I didn’t know how systems work- for instance, something as simple as getting lunch at Hillside was quite intimidating for me. Visual guides can help students know what to expect and how things work in major buildings such as the library, Hive, Nest etc.
Visual guides can help students know what to expect and how things work in major buildings such as the library, Hive, Nest etc.
I don’t have a physical disability, but I have seen from students who do, just how much there needs to be done on campus to address accessibility issues. I really want to continue to push the university to address these, both with short-term and long-term solutions.
LGBTQ+:
I am queer and trans, and I think there are various improvements that can be made at the university for LGBTQ+ students. Increasing LGBTQ+ inclusivity and training can really go a long way in improving students' experience. Being trans, I also know how tedious admin processes you must go through can be - I want to create online resources for students who are legally changing their name etc.
Study Support:
Through working at the SU, I have seen just how important it is that students are aware of the EC process, and I want to continue to push this information out to students. I have also seen the unique difficulties Feb intake students can face and want to review course structures and ensure that differences between Feb and Sept intakes are extremely clear to applicants. You can find my socials, manifesto and more, here.
Please remember to vote KADEN for VP Support!
VP Community
Li-Sian Chow
Hi, I’m Li-Sian and I’m running to be the next VP Community. I’m a final year Business Management student and studying a GGA in Sustainability. I also currently work at the Students’ Union part time as a finance assistant and at FOH answering mostly general and box office questions.
My three main goals if I’m elected would be improving student experience, student living, and create a more inclusive environment for all students.
My three main goals if I’m elected would be improving student experience, student living, and create a more inclusive environment for all students.
I’m passionate about the student experience and well-being, and by ensuring all students feel a sense of belonging and equality, I believe this will improve their experience and mental health. I also firmly support being as sustainable as possible to do our part for the planet and am learning more about this every day. This would include caring for nature reserves, the environment, and reducing our carbon footprint.
I believe I would be a suitable candidate for the role as I’d like to represent ethnic minorities and understand how it feels to be underrepresented. I’ve also experienced multiple parts of the university such as going to Rubix every Citrus and Flirt as a fresher, to going through academic appeals, seeing well-being counsellors, the disability team, the process of changing flats in halls etc., and therefore believe I’d be able to voice student concerns accurately. From my university experience I’d like to make changes starting with my manifesto to ensure students are able to get the most out of their time at university and are able to enjoy it throughout. From working at the Students’ Union for almost 2 years I have gained valuable insight into numerous student concerns which I aim to tackle if I get elected. I’ve been on both sides of the Students’ Union from getting advice and support from the support team, to giving students support and guidance, and I’d like to continue working with the Union to give back to students and create a safer space for the coming freshers.
Matt Aikin
I’m Matt Aikin and I’m running for Vice-President Community. I’m doing my masters in Sustainable Development here after completing my undergraduate degree in Politics at Surrey. During my four and a half years here, I’ve met hundreds of students and heard what they want to see in Surrey to enhance their experience.
Building on this, I want to improve Rubix to make it a venue all students want to visit, with something for everyone throughout the year. Additionally, I know nightclubs are not for everyone, and so I want to open up The Front Room in the Students’ Union into a proper social space serving food and drink all day and night, to emulate the success the Union has had with Manor Park Social. With these spaces, more free events in them are something clear to me students want more of, the quizzes already taking place are very successful and more events like this are needed. Watch-alongs, karaoke, craft days, board and video game tournaments, and charity events are all ideas I want to make into a reality so there are more free things to do on campus and more opportunities to socialise without the pressure of clubbing.
The environment is what I study and an area I’m very passionate about, which is why I want to create a returnable cup deposit scheme across the whole university. This would eliminate the huge amount of waste from single-use drinks cups, which are almost always not recyclable or compostable. Instead, after someone is finished with their drink, they’d just drop the cup in a dedicated bin where it is then washed and returned for use to be used again. When the cup eventually reaches the end of its useful life, they are fully recyclable through mainstream plastic recycling.
Another area I want to enhance at the Union is showcasing our incredibly diverse campus, while the Union already does this for one week a year (OneWorld Week), I want to expand this to run all year long, with a different cultural or religious society having a dedicated week for them to showcase their culture or religion with dedicated support and coverage from the Union. This would build on the incredibly impressive work these societies already do for OneWorld Gala and the exhibition in the same week.
On the topic of societies, I also want to introduce a club and society of the month to reward those clubs and societies which work hard for their members and the wider community and recognise their efforts for this. This would build upon the current STARs awards which take place once a year. In addition to the publicity of winning club/society of the month I’d like to reward the winners with something monetary or useful to their committee, even tickets for Rubix VIP perhaps.
I have many more ideas on my manifesto which you can view online or on my Instagram, and if you want to see these ideas be a reality then vote Matt Aikin for VP Community!
...if you want to see these ideas be a reality then vote Matt Aikin for VP Community!
Voting opens on the Students' Union website on 27th February and closes on 2nd March. Make sure your voice is heard by casting your votes this week!
Manifestos compiled and published by Rosie Willoughby and Ivy Ivanova.