Hello Roehampton,

My name is Michael Keohane, I am a third year Journalism student and I am campaigning to be your new RSU President. I came to Roehampton as a young and rather naïve 18-year-old from a small village in rural in Ireland, promising myself that I would take every opportunity that came my way. Throughout my three years at Roehampton I have strived to ensure a strong and positive working relationship with the University, RSU and Digby College team in order to create positive change for the better of us all whilst also having the most incredible time with memories I will cherish forever.

500 words is not long enough to go into the detail I have about each one of these ideas plus more so here I will give you a brief outline and encourage you all to approach me to discuss and find out more if you’d like to:

• Approachability: Strive to dispel the ethos that RSU represents a selective group of people and increase its approachability by providing more opportunities to the greater population.
• Be More Proactive with Mental Health: Introduce mental health first aid training to some 40% of our student population with the overall aim that more practical workshops be introduced for all. The focus will begin with students in roles involving responsibilities such as Flat Reps, ROC’s, Society Presidents and Sport Captains.
• Increase a more proactive relationship with RAFA 2 and the SEWG: RAFA 2 aims to increase the engagement and attainment for students of the BAME community by empowering, inspiring and collaborating with students.  The Student Engagement Working Group is a committee looking to increase engagement and employability whilst developing the staff to student relationship.
• Create more effective campaigns with a Clearer Timeline: I want to create a series of monthly campaigns that encourage conversations, inspires students and most of all educates.
• Create a better communication network online using students as co-creators: I want to have a section of the website that will act as vessel to promote student’s achievements, showcase student’s work and ultimately help students to educate each other.
• Lobby the University to have a clarification on their disciplinary procedure and transparency in outcomes.
• Strive for a more diverse selection of events: I want to ensure regular events that are new are added to the calendar such as the showing of major sporting events, trips across London locations and possibly movie nights for new films.
• Continue the campaign to create an off campus social space on campus and work to maintain engagement with Reps for Off-Campus.

I am ambitious yet driven, I am passionate about Roehampton’s future but am also committed to ensuring that you all leave Roehampton confident of entering the working world, with fond memories of an unforgettable time.

Everyone has their favourites.  If I am not one of yours please do put me as your number two, I assure you I won’t let you down.

Thank You.