Vanessa Wilson is a fourth-year History Student. Vanessa is currently the president of the LGBTQ+ society and has participated in multiple roles within it.
Driven by improving the quality of life for students, she makes the argument why she should be your next VP Communities.
Q. Why are you running for VP Communities?
A. “I’d always been interested in Union work. I’ve always looked up to all of the sabbaticals and thought that they are doing God’s work within the university.
“I didn’t actually think running for a position within [the] Union was for me, but after being president of the LGBTQ+ society I thought that I would love to take on the responsibility of running for this position.
“It’s such an important role, and I’m always up for a challenge.”
Q. If your candidacy is successful, what would be your main priorities within the SU?
A. “My main priorities are to fundamentally change the relationship between the Union and the student population. I know candidates say it every year, that there’s a bit of a disconnect between the Union and students, but it’s true. It does need to be worked on because I have talked to dozens of students who have absolutely no clue what the Union does or where it even is.
“They [students] don’t even know where the Union is because of the signage. They have absolutely no clue where they can go to when a problem arises and that is a first step.”
Q. What are your long-term goals for this position?
A. “Definitely improving the facilities on campus for students. Primarily by looking at the quality of life for students by getting nappies and baby formula being sold at the university for student parents.
“I have scoured this university, and I have only been able to find one changing table. It wasn’t even marked where it was. It was at the bottom of a stairwell in the Macroberts [Arts Centre]. I know there’s one in Cottrell, but it’s at the back of everything. What are parents supposed to do? The bottom line is that the university isn’t accessible for student parents.”
Q. What has the person currently in this position done well?
A. “One thing which I am quite close with is that [Ellie Hammond] wanted to increase and create drop-in sessions for LGBTQ+ people within the university. I have raised this issue as the president of the LGBTQ+ society, so I have been heavily involved in that. Quite a few times, we have hosted drop-in sessions for LGBTQ+ students, and it’s been an absolute blast. I think it’s built up the community a bit.
“Another thing I quite like that Ellie has done is her work with housing and improving the quality of life for students and I’d like to carry that on.
“I would really like to continue her work with GBV [gender-based violence]. I think the Reclaim the Night march was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t go, but I sent a few people from the LGBTQ+ society, and they had a blast. I would absolutely love for something like that to happen again or regularly. I think the reception at the end of the march built a sense of community and that brings people together.”
Q. What experience do you have that would make you suitable for the role of VP Communities?
A. “I had two roles within the LGBTQ+ society; I was originally secretary and now I am the president. I have co-ordinated a couple of events for the society – we had a trans-vigil last November. It was incredible, but I can’t take all of the credit. It’s the people that come that make the event, I just do the little bits.
“I have also had a steady job for the past two years, which managing with university is not the easiest, but it is a sad truth that students have to work to be able to afford university.”
A copy of Vanessa’s manifesto can be found here.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Students’ Union/ Vanessa Wilson
Politics and Journalism Student at the University of Stirling
