My name is Alex Trowbridge, I’m a third-year philosophy student and the current president of Roehampton’s LGBTQ+ Student Network. In the almost three years I’ve spent at Roehampton, I’ve been fortunate to meet and speak to students from a diverse range of backgrounds regarding their education and it has become clear to me that there is a number of practical changes across campus and towards current policy which could significantly support peoples learning.

Practical adjustments to ensure everyone receives an equal education:

• Midnight deadlines (as opposed to 2pm) to reduce stress and give students the entire day to submit their essay – especially given that many students have jobs and can only work in the evenings.
• ALL seminars and lectures recorded and available on Moodle as standard policy – those with mental health and physical disabilities sometimes struggle to make it to their seminars and lectures for various, understandable reasons, putting them at a learning disadvantage.
• CCTV installation across darker spots on campus – some students feel anxious travelling on campus when it is dark because there is a significant lack of CCTV on the dirt pathways. Given that this can prevent some students using the library when it is open 24-hours, this puts them at a disadvantage.
• Brighter lights across campus – as it stands, the lamps across campus are sensor triggered, making travelling anxious for some students during the winter months when using the dirt pathways. All students should be able to travel anywhere on campus, day or night, without stress.
• Shuttle service between Whiteland’s and main campus during darker months – many students are forced to travel between their flats and lectures alone when it is dark, across an estate, despite both Whiteland’s and main campus being part of the same university. A shuttle service allows students to attend late lectures and seminars knowing they will be safe on their journey home.
• Portable ramps to increase disability access – there still is not widespread ramp access in rooms across campus, restricting disabled student’s mobility across campus. Whilst this is justified in some case (as Grove House is historically protected), there is still a viable and practical solution in the form of portable ramps, which do not require making changes to the existing building.
• Weekly feedback sessions – circumstances and conditions change, having a visible and open forum to discuss policies that may no longer work or can be improved throughout the year is vital to ensure that Roehampton offers the best education and support to their students.

Alongside practical changes to the campus and current policies, there are also several campaigns I want to concentrate on during my time in the role that highlight the challenges faced by students that are not always typically addressed (such as those faced by students from low-income households, those with learning and physical disabilities such as dyslexia and dyspraxia and those who are questioning their gender or sexual identity) and the impact it can have on their education.