Dear all,

This week, as I’m sure you are aware, is SU Officer & NUS Delegate Elections Week 2016. Beyond the more light-hearted elements of the week - posters, lecture shout-outs and creative advertising outside the Library - is a deadly-serious point: it’s really important to have your say on who represents you for the 2016/17 academic year.

The University and SU have a strong, productive and challenging relationship. Your sabbatical officers make decisions at every area of the University – Council, the Senate, and on Estates Committee, for example. They shape services that look after your mental and physical health, they lobby for more study space, and they help run the brilliant 320+ clubs and societies which are the beating heart of campus. They work long hours to represent you in all areas, and they provide the student perspective that is absolutely vital in decision-making. Without elected students, this really wouldn’t be your University.

Sabbatical teams have different priorities each year, so it’s really important that you do read the manifestos thoroughly and vote for the candidates whom you feel best represent you and your priorities as a student. They will have put plenty of effort into writing them, and can be held accountable to them by you.

And let’s not forget the part-time officers, who represent you – unpaid – while also studying at the same time.

It takes two minutes to vote at this link from 9am Wednesday, so please do exercise your democratic right and we, along with all of you, look forward to seeing who is elected come Friday night!

Best wishes,

Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President
Isaac Leigh, President of the Students’ Union