This week HCX spoke to Sabbatical Officer Alec James. Having successfully campaigned in his final year to become Exeter’s VP Welfare and Diversity, the former geography student told us about his plans for the coming year and the challenges of the job….
What made you decide to run as our VP Welfare and diversity?
In my 2nd year, I followed campaign week quite closely and started to think about what a cool thing to do it would be. I’ve had an amazing time in Exeter, but I was so aware that university can be a very difficult time, and I liked to think I might be able to do something to help. I’m an (imperfect) Christian and my faith is at the centre of most things I do, my Bible says it’s important to love your neighbour as yourself, and this role seemed a very practical way to do that!
What does the job of VP Welfare and Diversity entail?
No two days are ever the same! They always involve emails, but other than that, one day you can be meeting with the University about how they can better support our wellbeing through personal tutoring, the next meeting can be about donating food waste to charity. Ultimately it’s about trying to make sure that everyone feels welcome and at home in Exeter (and I’m always looking for ideas about how we can do that better) and always encourage students to come and see me in my office in DH1 to share ways in which to do this!
What do you hope to achieve this year?
There’s so much! I guess if I could leave having done one thing it would be students being aware of the support available to them and feeling comfortable accessing it. There’s so much good work being done around breaking down the stigma around mental health, we just have to work hard to make sure the support matches that.
What have you enjoyed most about the job so far?
Two things I guess, firstly is meeting some really cool people. Fittingly you meet a really diverse range of people in this job, working on an incredible range of projects. Secondly is knowing that what you’re doing is hopefully helpful to students is really satisfying.
On the other hand, is there anything you’ve found challenging?
I thought I’d be able to crack on and achieve the manifesto. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but thought there’d be more time to do it. Your day becomes full very quickly, and the challenge lies in trying to stay on top of all your competing priorities
When you’re not working, what else do you like to get up to in Exeter?
Sleep? My housemate is unreasonably good at guitar so we try and make some music together. I’m involved in an amazing church here in Exeter and then other than that just pretend to have a social life.