As I said in my last blog I now have some completely formed ideas about what a successful year for me will look like. Along with representing students in the community, to the university and co-ordinating Residence Associations, I have some key aims that I will achieve to clearly benefit students; all of them derived from my manifesto that you the students elected me on. I have three main aims with many other smaller priorities:
1) Halls of Residence Fees - Rents at this university are astronomically high compared to other universities of our stature. I will work with Hospitality and Accommodation Services to find alternative ways of funding the current system rather than passing on the burden to students who already face spiralling debts at university. However if the answer that is worked towards is not adequate for students I am not afraid of a campaign that will show the university the strength of feeling within the student body on this issue. The issue has to be taken seriously as it is not only affecting the reputation of the university but it is also blowing a huge hole in first-years pockets. You elected me to run a cross campus campaign and I will do so if the conclusions reached with the University to make it easier for students are not adequate to you as students, and the university should be prepared for that.
2) Improving Accreditation and making it easier for students to move to private housing - We are currently looking into the possibility of having a space within the Guild that is a one stop shop for Housing and Community. It will be a place where only accredited landlords can advertise once a robust complaints procedure is up and running, making it a trusted letting agent for students where they can get a house from a reputable landlord and have an ability to officially complain with the landlords fearing reprisal. It will cut out the uncertainty of searching for a house amongst the letting agents in Selly Oak, eliminating unfair letting fees and bad advice. It will also serve as an advice centre on housing issues and will be the base for the already exceptional Community Warden Scheme. This is a long term project in a very public partnership with the university but there will hopefully be scope for a temporary vehicle for the service this year before it is hopefully written into the building redevelopment.
3) Improve Community Relations - Too often the negative aspect of students in the community is focused on and stereotypes about students are perpetuated by the odd occurrence of poor behaviour. I want to focus on the positive aspects of our work in the community and will organise and execute a community showcase on campus for local residents, councillors, emergency services, business owners or anyone who has a stake in the local community to show how amazing our volunteering projects and different community schemes are. Hopefully this will help to alleviate the animosity sometimes felt between students and permanent local residents.
4) Other aims:
1) Halls of Residence Fees - Rents at this university are astronomically high compared to other universities of our stature. I will work with Hospitality and Accommodation Services to find alternative ways of funding the current system rather than passing on the burden to students who already face spiralling debts at university. However if the answer that is worked towards is not adequate for students I am not afraid of a campaign that will show the university the strength of feeling within the student body on this issue. The issue has to be taken seriously as it is not only affecting the reputation of the university but it is also blowing a huge hole in first-years pockets. You elected me to run a cross campus campaign and I will do so if the conclusions reached with the University to make it easier for students are not adequate to you as students, and the university should be prepared for that.
2) Improving Accreditation and making it easier for students to move to private housing - We are currently looking into the possibility of having a space within the Guild that is a one stop shop for Housing and Community. It will be a place where only accredited landlords can advertise once a robust complaints procedure is up and running, making it a trusted letting agent for students where they can get a house from a reputable landlord and have an ability to officially complain with the landlords fearing reprisal. It will cut out the uncertainty of searching for a house amongst the letting agents in Selly Oak, eliminating unfair letting fees and bad advice. It will also serve as an advice centre on housing issues and will be the base for the already exceptional Community Warden Scheme. This is a long term project in a very public partnership with the university but there will hopefully be scope for a temporary vehicle for the service this year before it is hopefully written into the building redevelopment.
3) Improve Community Relations - Too often the negative aspect of students in the community is focused on and stereotypes about students are perpetuated by the odd occurrence of poor behaviour. I want to focus on the positive aspects of our work in the community and will organise and execute a community showcase on campus for local residents, councillors, emergency services, business owners or anyone who has a stake in the local community to show how amazing our volunteering projects and different community schemes are. Hopefully this will help to alleviate the animosity sometimes felt between students and permanent local residents.
4) Other aims:
- Make the Housing Roadshow bigger and better
- Drop-in sessions on campus and at halls of residence sites for students moving into private housing
- Campaign for lighting in Selly Park along with Hollie
- Lobby for Wheely Bins in Selly Oak
- Lobby for recycling bins in first-year flats
- Sshhh campaign
- Consolidate the 'Rate Our Landlord' website
These are the aims I will seek to achieve this year and I have some key success parameters that I will strive to meet. I will update you on my progress throughout my blogs and Guild Council reports while also informing you of the other activities I have undertaken on your behalf, hope you're having a great summer!
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