Scott Jennings: SU Community Officer Candidate
Her Campus Nottingham met with Scott Jennings, who is running for the position of Community Officer. Scott has campaigned for the Living Wage Campaign at the University and co-founded the Nottingham Student Housing Cooperative.
Hey Scott! What made you put yourself forward for the role of Community?
The areas of policy that come under the Community Officer are the ones that I am most passionate about, working with the council, police and other external organizations and issues around housing are where my passions lie and where I want to push for Hands On Changes.
Also having run for Community Officer last year and coming such a close second place (75 votes was all that was in it) and still having the passion for my ideas has led me back to run for a second time.
Why do you think the role of the Community Officer is so important?
I think it’s so underappreciated as a role for the influence it has and the issues it covers, partly because many former community officers have stepped back and outsourced issues like housing to the likes of Unipol which hasn’t worked. Community Officers can lead interventions into all kinds of issues and engage students with political campaigns making huge changes in the community. The mistakes of the past where the Union and Community Officers have disengaged from the likes of the City Council led to the car parking charges we now find in Lenton.
What relevant experience do you have that you can bring to the role? Judging by your manifesto you’re clearly passionate about social issues like housing and wages!
My personal experiences are: Being on the Environment and Social Justice Committee for the last 2 years, founding a society and being chair of it, Co-founding Nottingham Student Housing Cooperative, being a campaigner for the Living Wage and being the current Student Chair of the campaign.
I have also already put some of my other ideas to students through our Union Council and shown that students agree much of the time with what I say and where I’m coming from.
What’s the best part of your manifesto/ your favourite part of your manifesto?
If I was to give 3 points. My first is the Union Letting Agency, something that exists at other unions and would be a game changer. My Second is supporting Nottingham Student Housing Cooperative, this inniative is really exciting, bringing a new form of student housing to the table copied from over 60 years of experience in North America. My third and final is the Living Wage campaign, I am passionate to see all staff treated with the respect they deserve and paid living wage.
What part of your manifesto do you think will be the most difficult to implement?
The Living Wage for Staff, however the University has backed itself into a very bad corner in this issue, so many other Universities are accredited Living Wage employers it’s becoming more and more damaging especially while executive pay has seen jumps well above other parts of the work force.
What should we be looking out for during campaign week? Slogans, branding?
I’m campaigning in a light red, my logo is below and my slogan is “For Hands On Change”. Some cardboard copies of the logo are around campus alongside banners.
Anything else you’d like to add for our readers?
I’ve been endorsed by 5 former officers of the union. Hopefully this means something to your readers about people who have done the job believe I can achieve what I lay out in my manifesto.
QUICKFIRE ROUND
Ocean- yay or nay? Yay!
VKs or Jagerbombs? Jagerbombs
Pizza or pasta? Pizza
Cats or dogs? I can’t choose I have one of each furry pals.
If you were to go on Mastermind, what would your specialist subject be? Politics or Science.
What would your dream job be? Doctor
Hallward or George Green? George Green (whenever its actually finished…)
Gandalf or Dumbledore? Gandalf
McDonalds or KFC? Neither
Thanks Scott- we wish you the best of luck with your campaign!