James Warren - UPSU Vice President Welfare
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Manifesto update:
No Means Rape
UoP and UPSU currently lacks a Sexual Misconduct campaign and any policies surrounding rape. Now elected I’d bring both into play at UP.
The campaign is well under way, with Bystander training coming out soon so if you would like to become a Student Empowerer (that is the right spelling) then please give me a message. Alongside I am currently researching and then writing a new sexual misconduct policy for UPSU, this will flow nicely with the new University one that is due to be drafted in December. During Alcohol Awareness Week I will be hosting a Sexual Misconduct day on Thursday 16th.
Mental Health Awareness
I am hoping to bring in a more detailed campaign, which also looks at male mental health.
The next Mental health awareness day will be on Tuesday the 14th during Alcohol Awareness Week. During my term here at UPSU I want to look at changing the culture on how we look at mental health, looking at how we can celebrate it instead of looking at it with negative eyes.
Sexual Health
I wish to continue the work already in play and improve the awareness of sexual health
In the University Wellbeing centre the Council will be hosting LGBT+ friendly service in order to reduce the stigma for trans or non-binary. It will also reduce negative stigma from service providers. Condoms and sanitary towels are still free in the HIVE as well as lube.
Key role related activities update
Alcohol impact
On the 11th of October I went to London for AI training. The day was fantastic and encouraged deep thought in regards to student drinking and the culture of binge drinking. After the day I came back and realised that although some students do drink a lot it is not a wide student issue. This led on to the thinking that our SU shouldn’t market ‘Non-drinking’ events but make our events accessible and consider drinking an option and not the goal. On the 13th of November Alcohol Aware Week will begin. This will look at how drinking affects different parts of student life rather than telling the student body that drinking is bad.
Granny
Granny’s main aim is to improve student engagement across the year. On Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th I shall be hosting pop up SU in Astor House (Wednesday) and Discovery Height (Thursday), I won’t be dressed as granny but I will be there to increase student engagement and embed myself within the student community as much as possible.
The role of the Vice President Welfare involves:
- Representing Plymouth Students and students in the community
- Improving student experience in all areas relating to welfare (Health and wellbeing, equality and diversity support services, housing, safety, student finance)
- Supporting mature students
- Working as a trustee of UPSU
See last update here