Astrid Rudjord

My background: 

My name is Astrid and I am standing as Equality and Diversity Officer this year. 

I am a final year undergraduate student in Archaeology and I am also an international student from Norway. 

I am fiercely passionate about promoting equality and diversity within the Students’ Union, and I have experience working with An Cumann Gaelach to further Irish language rights within and outside the university. However, although this is one of my main passions, I am also passionate about other issues, and I will maintain an intersectional approach towards equality and diversity issues. As the Irish proverb goes: Ní neart go cur le chéile. 

My aims: 

1. International outlook: 

   1. As an international student myself, I know how isolating Queen’s can sometimes feel when the weekend approaches and most of the students go home. For some, the university is a home away from home all week as well as in the holidays, and I will work to provide more events and support for international and GB students, as well as any other student who would prefer to stay on campus in the weekends and holidays.

   2. The pandemic has exemplified the struggles so often faced by international students. In some cases, students were vilified for simply coming back to study, often with the help or the encouragement of the university, despite there in many cases being little reason. Further, us international students missed out on the disruption payment given to other students. I will campaign to make sure international students are heard and made to feel equal at Queen’s. 

   3. International students at Queen’s are a huge asset for the university and for the wder student community. I will aim to provide more opportunities for students to share their cultural backgrounds, be it through cultural events such as song or dance or cuisine. 

2. Language rights: 

   1. As an Irish speaker and learner, Irish language rights are very close to my heart, and I will continue the fight for comharthaí dátheangacha (bilingual signage) as well as campaign with the Irish language officer and An Cumann Gaelach for further recognition and opportunities to use the Irish language and to learn the Irish language within the Union and at the university. These steps help normalise the language for people who may not have encountered the language as much before.

   2. As an international student, it is important to me that the Irish language is treated as a cross-community language, but even more than that, as a language for everyone, and I will aim to provide opportunities for all students who are interested, particularly international students, to learn and be exposed to the language. 

3. LGBTQ+ rights. 

   1. University should be a place where anyone, no matter their sexual orientation or gender expression should feel comfortable expressing themselves. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I will campaign for LGBTQ+ rights within the university, as well as provide more events catering to all parts of the community.

   2. I will aim to organise regular catch-up sessions for LGBTQ+ students, either in person or online, as safe spaces to meet other LGBTQ+ students and to socialise. 

4. Mature students and student carers: 

   1. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made it clearer than ever that students come from a range of different living conditions, and that when circumstances change, as they have, it becomes increasingly difficult for some students to focus on their studies, among these students with caring responsibilities, mature students and part-time students, who may have more responsibilities at home, a home which has now become the sole workspace. I will work to make sure that situations like these, and the ongoing pandemic, if it is still a problem in my term, do not particularly disadvantage mature students, students with caring responsibilities and part-time students. 

5. Disability rights: 

   1. While pandemic has been difficult for most, the changes made to university education has been beneficial to many. The ability to work and attend lectures from home, as well as to allow students to rewatch recorded lectures or watch lectures in their own time has been helpful to many, and I will campaign for the university to maintain this opportunity for students even when it is safe to return to campus. 

Download Manifesto
Candidate Question Time Answers (Video)