A Campus For Everyone
For every student who came before, every student here today and every student yet to come. My manifesto is simple: keep the lines that protect students, remove the ones that separate us and reimagine a campus for everyone. This starts first with understanding that there is often a quiet border between students, whether home and international, undergraduates and postgraduates, students who can afford "extracurriculars" and students who "cannot", at the campus. Adapting the campus to recognise, understand and accommodate the nuances of students is paramount to ensuring that belonging becomes a standard and not a perk.
The 3 drivers of this vision are
- Affordability – A campus for "everyone" must be financially viable to students. It must consider cheaper essentials on campus and the current cost of living crisis, alongside its effects on students. As such, I will prioritise partnerships with the private housing sector in providing students with reliable and affordable accommodation options close to the campus.
- Accessibility – This aims to dissolve the barriers between the different student groups and the barriers to participation, especially for commuters, placement and apprenticeship students. For many, you are expected to show up ready while figuring out the journey alone. I will work with the university to create a streamlined travel resource to cushion travel costs where possible to major placement sites linked to Chelmsford.
- Accountability – This means students know who to contact, what will happen next, and when they’ll hear back. It also means problems don’t disappear into a void. I will make student voice visible and outcomes transparent while protecting privacy and handling issues responsibly.
My stay at the university has been deeply rooted in service. From leading teams to solve social causes through the Student at the Heart of Knowledge (SHOKE), to leading a public speaking society to help students find their voice and finally, leading the IMECHE Railway challenge at the School of Engineering. These experiences have been valuable and have equipped me with the skills needed to thrive in this role.
To build a campus for everyone, all hands must be on deck. Vote Elijah for Chelmsford Officer.