In the run up to the start of the Sabbatical election campaigning which begins this Friday, Tingo takes a look at what the main student concerns are in regards to the Campaigns and Involvement office.
Students are no strangers to campaigning and with this year’s Executive Officer elections fast approaching, many are wondering what the new Officers will bring to the University of Leicester Student Union, especially in the year that sees tuition fees rise to £9,000.
The Campaigns and Involvement Officer has much to live up to after previous campaigns such as Blood Brothers that sought to lift the ban on homosexual males donating blood and in November 2011, the National Blood service did exactly that. Other campaigns have included Taxpon- a Campaign to remove the 5% tax from tampons that can cost women up to £2,000 in their lifetime.
It is impossible to know exactly what next year’s officer will focus their Campaigns on, however considering the prominence of the up and coming national Living Wage campaign, it seems unlikely this will be neglected. Living Wage outlines that many University staff have to work very long hours and take on several jobs to make sure their families are provided for; the campaign is therefore looking to raise the wage of University staff to a ‘Living’ amount, not just the National Minimum, and although the political implications of the campaign may hinder its development, it may still become a key part of next year’s focus.
The Campaigns and Involvement officer Thom French has argued the candidates will also need to push the idea of student empowered campaigns- in particular green campaigning. They will need to face down questions such as what is more important: student activism or green impact? Mr French went on to explain a further challenge to this Executive office- Union Parliaments power to create campaign policy, alongside the Officer’s own ‘priority campaigns’
This will of course be alongside increasing voter turnout for the Unions numerous elections throughout the year.
2012, without a doubt is going to be a big year, not only for the University but for the United Kingdom as a whole. What change will the new Sabbaticals bring to the Student Union in the year that sees new students paying nearly three times as much as we do for their education? Only time will tell…
By Anna Whybrow
