Sai Rohith Chowdary Virigineni is running for Union President in this year’s elections.
The president is the political lead of the Union and represents students to the University, local and national governments and the National Union of Students.
Sai Rohith is studying a masters in Business Management at Stirling after completing his undergraduate degree in his home country of India.
He believes his experience at his alma mater makes him the right person for the job, with a manifesto focusing on culture, diversity and building connections.
Previous experience
“I was like the background character during a lot of events which happened back at my college,” he told Brig.
“The coordination between the teams is where I used to come in because they’re used to a lot of disputes or miscommunications.
“I had to pitch in between the two people from the two teams… so in that case I have good negotiation skills.”
Culture and diversity
As an international student, Sai Rohith praised the Be Connected events that the University runs, but believes that they need a bit of “spice” injected into them.
“If it is outside your comfort zone, you are able to make new friends,” he said. “When you’re doing events to get information from a person who’s locally based in one area, that is when you can actually connect with another person from a whole different state.
“It can increase your network as well which helps you in the future.”
He added that he met “a lot of people from a diverse range of cultures” by going to the events.
University festival and competition
Another of Sai Rohith’s manifesto points is a proposed festival at the University:
“Over the span of three or four days, all the classes are stopped, all the university nearby are invited. Everyone comes and shows their talent to everybody, after the four days they get a cup for it.
“I want to bring that culture, we have it in sports but not in the societies level. We have great talent is what I’ve recognised.”
He suggested that at first the festival and competition could just be within societies at Stirling, and then branch out to other universities.
“I want to bring that culture here to an extent, not a full phase right now… where only within the university each club bashes it out with other clubs to see who’s the best,” he explained.
Networking with other unis
Sai Rohith is also passionate about students building both their social and professional networks within other universities.
“Even if you’re not immediately getting a job in the later phases, if you know somebody who works in a pre-existing company and they can recommend you that works a lot of times,” he said.
“If you increase your social circle and your professional circle, the chance of you landing a job would be slightly higher.
“Personally, all my friends are spread throughout the UK.”
Housing
Housing continues to be an issue across Stirling’s campus and in town. Sai Rohith has been personally affected by the crisis.
“It took me three months to pinpoint [accommodation] down and I got into Beech Court,” he explained.
“I’m all good with connectivity but my cost of living is slightly above my pay grade as of right now. There was a recent housing petition I think… I’m all up for it.”
Why should people vote for you?
Overall, Sai Rohith says people should vote for him because he is “a new face”.
“I have a lot of new ideas,” he said. “I’m from a whole different cultural background… I could bring something new to the table.
“Leen [current Union President], I spoke to her, she’s great. I would love to work with her… she has experience over here which the local students really love to have, while I’m a new experience.”
Find out more about the elections and read Sai Rohith Chowdary Virigineni’s manifesto in full here.
Voting opens on Tuesday, February 27 at 10am.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Students Union
Film, media and journalism student. I like writing about my inability to eat gluten.
