This week was a bit of a slow starter but as usual the pace soon escalated!!!
Much of the early part of the week was taken up with meetings with some of our excellent support staff. From Edy our Campaigns advisor to Dave from the waterfront we really are blessed with an excellent bunch of staff here at the Union, who consistently have brought new ideas alongside an element of consistency ensuring campaigns and representation can grow throughout the University.
Alongside this Ross and i had some more great fun in lectures promoting the NSS, my particular favourite being where i left the lecture sharpish after the lecturer arrived - meanwhile Ross was still flyering the students!!
On wednesday i got my much needed fix of working groups!!! First we kicked off with an excellent campus development discussion, where suggestions ranged from how to get students involved to ensuring environmental sustainability.
Following this we met with the final elections working group before we kick off on the 5th! Some awesome suggestions came up regarding the candidate question time, and also about general promotion.
The key thing that was raised was that the Union MUST promote why people should care about the elections - highlighting the breadth of what the Union. Its so rare to be in such a big organisation where you really have a massive amount of control. Students really can impact on what the Union does and where it goes - the sabbatical elections are one of the most crucial parts of it!
A key issue that i have been working on this week is issues surrounding building work going on within the new buildings. On Thursday night we had a fantastic opportunity to meet with a number of students from the halls and hopefully give them a voice. It was an excellent opportunity for us as officers to really grab the bull by the horns on a issue that students are really being directly affected. But more importantly to me was that the students were so uplifted by the fact that people were taking their issue on - its what we are here for and to be a part of that support network is a real honour.
On Friday the all wales convention rolled into town, asking students who should decide the laws that affect you daily here in Wales - Westminster or Cardiff? Parliament or the Senedd?
In 2007 the Assembly set up the "All Wales Convention" to see what welsh people thought.
They are going around Wales guaging public opinion on whether Wales have a more powerful assembly, more like the Scottish Parliament? Its other key aim is to explain the present system of powers available to the assembly.
At the helm of the legendary diplomat Sir Emyr Jones Parry, who served within the EU, Nato and UN, the all Wales convention is coming to Swansea.
It was a fantastic event and it was a real pleasure to meet Sir Emyr who did a great job of starting a good debate. There was a variety of opinions, in particular concerns were raised about whether we are moving towards a divided isle, yet we are so similar?
Friday evening a number of us went down to Bristol to support the "reclaim the night" march. Since 2004 the London Feminist Network numerous women have marched throughout the UK to say no to rape and male violence and demand justice for survivors. The UK rape conviction rate is still at its lowest ever, just over 5%. As a key supporter of the womens campaign it was crucial that Swansea Union represented to say enough is enough — to put their feet on the streets for women’s rights and take back the night.
On our return Luke, Estelle and I made our way back to the Union alongside Adam Bruce Smith to SSSH some students!!!
