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My name is Dylan, I am an autistic student in my third year of study. If elected Equality and Liberation Officer, I will focus my efforts on the following areas.



Accessibility:

Over the last two years, rapid and widespread changes have been made to how education is delivered at Leeds, and it has become clear that some of these changes will be permanent. This has led to new ways in which some students are unfairly held back, and the time has not been taken to properly address these and consult with students. I will strive to ensure that students are not deprived of an education by accessibility problems, and streamline the process through which issues relating to this are raised.



Approachability:

It is time to challenge the culture of self-service support that has dominated university life for too long. It is unfair to expect students (for example those who are neurodivergent or exhausted with stress) to go looking for support in such a large and confusing structure. Instead, I will push for and put in place systems of proactive support, such as buddy systems, to regularly check students are doing ok, as well as forums for marginalised students to talk about their experiences.



Accountability:

We all must take responsibility for our actions and have a right to expect this of others. I will fight for transparency and clarity in who is responsible for what; as well as ensuring that bigotry and hatred are not tolerated. If I make a mistake, I will not shy away from accepting responsibility.



If you want to see improvements made in these areas, please lend me your vote and I promise to work tirelessly to make this happen.

Let Yas Liberate LUU

Vote Yas #1 for Equality and Liberation



A) Liberate the University:

Reviewing all equality and diversity training, and making sure it provides information on supporting students with discrimination as well as work around allyship



Ensuring the University has a streamlined approach when students and staff report racism (including, making sure the university provides a follow up report)
Promoting and ensuring there are freedom to speak up guardians at different schools across the university (who are trained to deal with addressing concerns such as discrimination).



B) Liberate Wellbeing:

Continue to lobby for accessible mental health services, ensuring that they can tailor their support students of ALL marginalised groups



Continuing the work around the tackling sexual violence campaign, again ensuring that support inclusive to all students.



Commencing a new campaign that addresses accessibility around mental health services for marginalised groups.



C) Liberate activities:

Create a funding program that provides lower socio-economic background students the opportunity to not only buy a membership for a society but to buy appropriate equipment, and travel expenses.



Supporting societies on all thing’s equality and liberation. This includes revising the training that is provided for them and ensuring that their societies are as assessable as possible and supporting societies to achieve this.



About me:

Hi, I'm Yas- a BAME working class student, currently studying my MA at Leeds. I've been a liberation co-ordinator twice & already working on some of the above policies. A vote for me is a vote for someone who knows the union in and out and knows what needs to change!



Follow: @letyasliberateluu on Instagram

I’m Haryati, a part-time, commuter, mature, student-parent in my final year of Child and Family Studies who moved to Leeds from Singapore 17 years ago. I’m a school rep, Learning Champion and member of the Mature Student Advisory Board (MSAB).



I became a school rep because of the many stories I’ve heard of students’ frustrations with their course, how their realities were not reflected within UoL’s culture and they did not feel part of the wider university. As a school rep from Lifelong Learning Centre I get to represent students, many of whom fall within LUU’s liberation groups. I was part of a wider team which organised a family day during Festival Week and we are currently planning another one.



Being a Learning Champion gives me an opportunity to speak to potential returning students to inspire them to return to education and because of this I want to ensure that our experience is a positive one. This is my reason for being on MSAB and why I’m running for Equality and Liberation Officer.



Accommodate and encourage dialogue – amongst students, across schools, between staff and students. Under-represented groups need to feel that their presence in the university matters and that their experience is not an after-thought. I want the LUU to facilitate drop-in sessions, seminar so we can meet in an informal way, one that is not solely focused on identifying a problem or looking for a solution.



Extended hours for help and support – ‘front door’ help and support should be accessible beyond the hours of 9-5. Early mornings, twilight hours or late nights are sometimes the only time we have for our own care.



One-stop directory of all available support – all students should be able to find and access the support they need quickly (LUU’s and schools). Often the urgency in seeking help is hampered by having to trawl through web pages and different sources. A QR code of this directory should be available wherever students are.



I know how hard it is to make connections when you feel invisible and overlooked and by voting for me, I will work to ensure that LUU and UoL truly provide an inclusive experience of all.