Palestinian man standing up for the rights and values of all ethnically diverse students. By ANY means necessary.
Growing up in Northern Ireland as a half palestinian I have become no stranger to hate crime and racism.
Too many times have I seen the voices and values of people of colour suppressed, intimidated and dispelled. That is why the the past 2 years I have championed the voice of ethnic minorities throughout student council and as a history rep.
I will always and forever stand on a platform of intersectionality and rigorous hard work to empower and value those who are so often looked over.
My policies would include:
1.) Creating a safe space for Ethnically diverse students throughout campus, holding demonstrations and protests against forces of oppression and creating an environment of challenge against the university and its lack of action to protect its students against racism. I would promote language classes, social events and greater funding for POC clubs and societies, working closley with the Equality and diversity officer to ensure spaces of saftey are tended to by the SU.
2.) I would challenege the SU to include more ethnically diverse food options and ingredients in the SU, things which are familair to foreign students that would encourage enhance their experience in a unfamilair enviornment. additionally I would aim to organise free bus trip to the asian supermarket for POC students.
3.) Campaign for educational programmes and demostrations highlighting Isreali aprathied against the people of Palestine, making sure that at it is being talked about at all levels so that apathy will not consume us. I would challenge the history of white demonstarors getting center stage when taking about these topics and encorage that Palestinians are given the opportunity to stand at the forefront and make our voices heard regarding the apartied struggle.
3.) Work with facualty reps to ensure that the uni is taking an inclusive approach to learning. Ensuring that POC history, culture and religon are being explored in the study of Humanities and Social Scienes. Additionally, that the STEM subjects are taking into account the experiences and differences of POC's needed when training the next generation of doctors and nurses.
4.) Championing mental health through making sure that our student officer team is continuisly taking active steps to promote mental health awarness and creating pathways for dealing with mental health.
5.) Create an enviornemnt of accountability. Too often are memebers of this university let away with disgusting acts of bullying, harrasment and racism whether it be in the classroom, in the bar or on social media. I would make it paramount to lobby for reporting measures that are safe, easy and accessible for students to report what they experience and to see action taken against agressors.
6.) Challenge the costs of living. Students are paying exortionate prices for rent, food and transport. I would pressure the council to put these issues at the forefront, challenging how prices in an SU shop are so high, why is an SU shop being leased out to corporate conglomerates at all? Challenge rising costs of the SU bar and pressuring our officer team to tackle rent prices.
7.) Enforce climate stargedy policies and increase support for sustainability in the university and in greater student life. Through the implemntation of cycling schemes, organic food promotions.