Diversity Officer

Based on my manifesto point of creating an ‘inclusivity media campaign’, I have worked on creating a website that celebrates our cultures, creativity and community. Students will be able to send in their photos, videos and recipes to the website to illustrate their identity. Culture and Faith societies will also have the opportunity to send in photos from their meet-ups and events to share with others on the website. This website aims to create an online community of creativity, curiosity and understanding where diversity is celebrated.

I want to build a global campus here at the University of Reading where more traditions are more widely celebrated across our campus. This hopefully will take the first steps in changing our culture where all celebrations are as widely celebrated as Christmas often is. In terms of deciding which festivities we will be creating a wider campus celebration for (as unfortunately in my year here at RUSU I will not be able to organise and plan events around every cultural and religious festival), I have looked at the demographic of our student population and have chosen celebrations either celebrated across many countries around the world and/or looked at our international students population and gone from there. As such, I have begun planning and organising Lunar New Year celebrations across campus for February 2019.

Continuing my global campus campaign, I am also working on creating more events and celebrations celebrations for Diwali.

Student-run, peer-support networks which give you the opportunity to meet other students from similar backgrounds, share common experiences and receive advice and support from each other. Most importantly, Networks are a space where voices of under-represented student groups are heard leading to campaign ideas. Networks are run by your RUSU Diversity Officer as well as your RUSU Part-Time Officers.

I would like to make myself as Diversity Officer available during specific days and times during weekdays for students to come to the office to discuss anything from my work to what they would like to see a change in. As such, I would like to block out times in my calendar and promote them as my ‘office hours’ on my social media so students feel like they can drop by during those times if they would like to discuss anything with me.

An anonymous reporting system is already in place at UoR to report discrimination or harassment in any form. However, this academic year, I will be working with the RUSU Welfare Officer (Dan Bentley) as well as the university on creating a ‘Never OK’ campaign that draws attention to reporting systems in place for students as well as where to go or who to speak to when you need help, support or advice.

When looking for private accommodation if you no longer want to live in University Halls, most private landlords ask for a guarantor, but what if you can’t supply one?

I’m working on a scheme where students who don’t have a third person to act as a guarantor (e.g a family member, who agrees to pay the rent if for any reason the tenant cannot) can opt in to have the University of Reading act as their guarantor. This aims to mostly benefit international students, students who are care leavers and students from low-income families for whom it can be a challenge to find a guarantor that the landlord will accept.

The aim is to have a pilot scheme up and running in 2019.

The Free Periods campaign will mark the start of providing free feminine care products (pads and tampons) at RUSU for all students that require them.

I hope to also promote the use of healthier, eco-friendlier and cruelty-free feminine care products through this by working with companies to provide these products at our Students Union in support of the campaign.

Furthermore, I want to raise awareness of Period Poverty in both the UK and internationally. I would like to arrange talks by charities and/or organisations regarding period poverty and the work they do to combat this.

Aside from raising awareness, I would like to encourage students who are able to, to purchase and donate feminine care products to a collection point at RUSU where we will send the products off to a charity organisation that tackles period poverty overseas.

Lastly, I want to break down the taboo surrounding periods by arranging panels, discussions and possible a photography exhibition that talk about periods, body confidence, and female empowerment.

I hope to run this campaign in January 2019.

This is an initiative that has come about from ideas gathered from other student unions as well as from feedback from students at a Student Network Meet-Up.

I will be working with the Deans of Diversity & Inclusion at the University of Reading to created badges with ‘he/his’, ‘she/her’. ‘they/their’ and ‘ze/zer’ printed on them that will be created for staff and students across our campuses to wear on their lanyards, backpacks or however they please. This is part of creating a change in our culture across the University of Reading amongst the whole student and staff population.