Coventry University’s 2022 Spring Election
Last month, Coventry University’s elections for Spring 2022 took place. The Spring Election’s saw 2585 students cast their votes across the 48-hour voting period.
Those elected will work with university leadership to make decisions about teaching and learning, finances, accommodation, wellbeing, inclusion, events, and all other aspects of student life.
Later last month I spoke with Catherine Simpson, who was elected Community Officer and Ema Grmanova, who was elected as the Arts and Humanities Faculty Officer. I wanted to get a deeper insight into their roles, the changes they are aiming to make, and the goals that they wish to achieve during their time in office.
Catherine Simpson is a Sociology student in her fourth year at Coventry University and will be graduating this month. The Community Officer role requires leading on inclusion campaigns and ensuring all students feel welcome and at home during their time at Coventry University. As Community Officer, Catherine stated she had made three pledges as part of her manifesto. She said:
“My first one is to look at the inclusion polices that Coventry University has established, and see how they can be improved, challenged or rewritten. My second one is to tackle student loneliness and create an open discussion about what it means to be lonely as a student. My third one is about increasing accessibility to green spaces. So, getting students into the outdoors through walking. Also, working with the grounds team to improve our green spaces on campus.”
Catherine detailed how she intends to keep track of these goals, and work towards achieving them. Catherine said:
“Through the meetings with the board of trustees that will happen regularly throughout my year, I will be able to address whether or not I have achieved my pledges, and whether or not the university has become more inclusive. I will provide opportunities for students to come forward about any issues they have, especially ones that I may not have experienced myself.”
Ema Grmanova, from Slovakia, is a second-year student at Coventry University studying Languages, specifically French and Spanish. As a Faculty Officer, Ema will be representing the students in the faculty of Arts and Humanities and be driving change for students to enhance their experience within that faculty. Speaking about her pledges, Ema said:
“When I was writing my manifesto, I was thinking about what I would like to see as a change. My goals are to make all the students happy with their courses, and I would like to organise some sustainable books and clothing swaps, and maybe some social events in the faculty as well.”
Speaking more on these events, Ema spoke of how she felt it was important for students within the Arts and Humanities faculty to get to know students from other courses. Ema said:
“During the pandemic, we didn’t have much contact with others so this would be a good way to meet new people and make new friends.”
This sounds like an exciting but busy year ahead in office for both Catherine and Ema. They both have some interesting goals, and the changes they wish to make sound very positive for the students here at Coventry University also!
You can watch the interview with Catherine and Ema here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOM13c9FanU
For more information on the CUSU Elections, with information about how you can vote and even stand in future elections, visit: https://www.cusu.org/elections/