Howdy folks! 

So, how did your Welcome Week(s) go? I hope you had a fun (and wholly responsible) time, making friends, doing arts and crafts in the hive, trying out the many many taster sessions from our different SU societies, and maybe even indulging in an alcoholic beverage or two from time to time. 

Mine was filled to the brim. I spent two whole weekends welcoming freshers on to campus, chatting with their adults as they waved teary (and not so teary) goodbyes to each other as they started their journey with us at UEASU.  

Aside from this, I've been working open days, doing interviews with local and national media, been engaging with charities and businesses, meetings with students, whether they be individual Societies like PrideUEA or Palestine Solidarity Society, taking the lead on the overwhelmingly well attend International Student Treasure hunt around campus, taking part in the Tote bag and coaster painting event in the hive, taking some time to paint a gnome in exhibition space (who currently keeps me company at my desk), helping support societies in setting up their welcome events across campus, helping support our wonderful Part Time Officer team in bringing their manifestos and ideas to life, and even supporting the establishment of the SU’s very own Sustainability committee under the  

By far and away, my favourite moment was seeing the winners and the runners up in the international student treasure hunt all sitting and sharing their shortbread-based winnings in the Hive after a deeply wholesome, if rain soaked, dash around campus! 

On that same note, we’re seeing a good amount of engagement across the SU, with events being sold out, free events needing their capacity doubled, and societies having to book spaces for their events way in advance of the normal 5 days to make sure they get the rooms they want as they are so in demand! While i know this sucks for societies and their members that can’t get things booked when they want them, the silver lining is that this is indicative of an energised cohort of students who really are wanting to get the most out of their time at uni beyond just the academic. 

“How goes the manifesto things?” 

The “Know your rights” campaign is up and in full swing with leaflets and Instagram posts all over SU spaces. I’ve been in contact with the INTO centre, one of the main hubs for international students here in Norwich and shared these resources with them making sure that as many people are informed members of our community as possible.  

This campaign has had some wonderful unintended consequences, too! 

I’ve started working with staff at the INTO centre looking into ways that we can engage their residents and students in the broader community here at UEA, whether that be with engagement with all our societies and events or running events in their spaces and introducing them to the SU and what we do!  

On top of this, the “Know your rights” campaign has also sparked interest from a few other stake holders across the city. In the coming weeks I'm aiming to engage several experts in fields like Housing rights to produce a number of easy to understand “Know your rights” type leaflets for both international and home students on common hurdles faced by students. 

I’ll also be launching a “Democracy Reborn” campaign where I'll be posting videos on Instagram explaining the core features of the Democracy Review, what the principals that underlie it are and how we are making these manifest in the new system. Along with this information campaign I'll also be pushing my office hours as a space for students to come speak to me about these changes and ask questions about how it'll hopefully work.  

As promised, I am trying to make these blog posts shorter and more pointed – so, while there is more I could fill you in on, I’ll leave it here for now. Officer updates will be sent out to Union Council Reps, regular updates are available on the SU Instagram, and all of the officers are more than happy to speak to any student that might want to know about what we have been up to and what we are doing going forward. 

I’m contactable through either the C&D Instagram account or by email at c.kershaw@uea.ac.uk. From Monday 23rd September I'll also be in the Officer Hub on the ground floor of the SU building every week between 11am-1pm running ‘office hours’ for students to come and raise issues with me, chat about campaigns you’re interested in running, or just to talk about politics, history, or anything that takes your fancy! 

I’m really looking forward to working with you all over the next year and can't wait to see what we’re going to achieve together!  

All the best and good health,  

Chris – Campaigns and Democracy Officer