ACTIVITIES OFFICER CANDIDATES

The Student Activities Officer supports and develops engagement and inclusivity in extra-curricular activities at the University of York including Societies, Media, Raising and Giving, Volunteering, and other events. The Student Activities Officer represents more than 200 student groups to the University, lobbying for their interests and makes sure that they receive the recognition they deserve.

ANNA NJOROGE | SHE/HER/HERS | MAKE ACTIVITIES ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE! Philosophy | Third Year

Why do you think that some societies struggle to fill their committees, and what will you do to aid this? Becoming a committee member is a lot of hard work, a lot of time, and sometimes very little recognition. I want to work to alleviate those logistical pressures and issues, and increase the amount of support and praise our committee members should be receiving.

What would your sabb cocktail recipe be?

Secretaries’ Screwdriver, for all my wonderful society secretaries:

- Vodka

- Orange Juice

- 10 unread emails

Three Key Manifesto Points

1. Accessibility Through Development: Expanding Activities through developing new and exciting projects for students to engage with.

2. Accessibility Through Representation: Allowing students to see themselves represented across activities and YUSU events, and encourage them to make their mark.

3. Accessibility Through Support: Increasing support for societies and committees, making roles such as Chair, Secretary and so on, less taxing.

JINGYI LYU | SHE/HER | LET MORE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN Education MA UNIVERSITY ACTIVITES!

Why do you think that some societies struggle to fill their committees, and what will you do to aid this? Find out the problem, coordinate, and communicate with each other as much as possible, and solve the problem as openly and inclusively as possible if the legal situation allows.

What would your sabb cocktail recipe be?

“vibrant, diverse and uniquely wide-ranging”

I do not drink this cocktail. I like Mojito and Martini. Other meanings, wait until I understand.

Three Key Manifesto Points

1. Help more international students participate in University activities.

2. Update and develop more activities of the University.

3. Regularly investigate students’ opinions and ideas on the activity, and hold meetings to discuss the activity’s content, form and mechanism.

Rohan Discusses the Importance of the Activities Officer

“bring yourself to the role”

“vibrant, diverse and uniquely wide-ranging”

Despite “still [having] five months left!”, Rohan spoke to Vision about his fondest memories of being Activities Officer, calling Fresher’s Fair an “absolutely outstanding experience ... reinforc[ing] how vibrant, diverse and uniquely wide-ranging the the amount of Activities we have here at York is”.

Championing diversity and representation through his work, Rohan stated that Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) was something he wished he had more time to work on, especially BAME representation. Telling Vision that “it pains [him] that [he] won’t be here for the implementation” of an EDI Research Project, Rohan advises future Activities Officers to “continue looking at how student groups can embed increasingly inclusive and accessible communication and management methods”.

“increasingly inclusive and accessible”

Rohan’s biggest piece of advice for incoming candidates, however, was to “bring yourself to the role”. Emphasising that candidates are directly contributing towards “evolving and developing YUSU and the University”, Rohan reiterated that there’s still lots that can be done to improve how YUSU promotes and engages with student groups. Read the full interview online!

“bring yourself to the role”