Why I am running:

At some point last year, I've come to the conclusion that Roehampton as a university has a  problem: it is decaying. Broken doors in accommodations, peeling walls and moulded windows can be seen on campus. Roehampton is also decaying academically. Lecturers are striking weekly as Roehampton merges humanities courses by replacing senior lecturers with substitute teachers with little experience in their subject. The state of the university is appalling and as president of Digby Stuart, I aim to change this.

My name is Sasha and I am running for the position of Digby Stuart president because I want to address the many problems plaguing our college and campus. What makes me a good candidate for this position is my previous experience as a secretary of the Swiss Youth Parliament in Koniz, pastoral assistant at the local church of St Margarets and Trans Officer at Roehampton, I know what it is like to get things done. Within the Swiss Youth Parliament, we organised many debates with local politicians and facilitated events in our local community, such as outdoor film evenings and fairs showcasing the active societies in the area. Within the Church, I've been closely involved with the caretaking of others and social media, having learned to listen and reflect on challenging issues. In my position as Trans Student officer, I've helped create a group chat for transgender students.

Aims of my candidacy:

There are two critical areas I will address as Digby Stuart's President:

Accommodation

• University dorms are in a horrible state. Toilets and showers are constantly clogged and communal kitchen appliances keep breaking down. As president, I aim to pressure the university to honour its obligation in making Digby Stuart accommodations livable by asking them to invest in durable bathrooms and kitchens.
• Many students complain about the state of accommodation kitchens. Despite cleaners coming often, they do not come over the weekends and I will implement a new cleaning policy in accommodations that will encourage students to take responsibility for their kitchens.
• Life on campus feels isolating for many. A lacking sense of community and anti-social behaviours are common as people don't respect each other. Working together with accommodation services, I hope to match people with their accommodations based on their preferences and experiences. This way, the university will ensure that your flatmates will be like-minded and compassionate. 

Digy Community

• I am currently working on developing projects with the Digby chaplaincy which would create opportunities for students to engage each other in communal activities, such as college dinners and holiday celebrations. As president, I would be able to fund these activities on a greater scale.
•  As much as uni is about learning it is also about making lasting connections. Teachers should encourage this by not having all the classroom time taken up by education.

Digby Stuart has great potential. Let us make this happen together and reclaim Roehampton!