Rachel Hoskins: SU Equal Opportunities and Welfare Candidate
Her Campus Nottingham met with Rachel Hoskins, a 3rd year Archeology student running for the position of Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer. Rachel is the Communications Manager for the UoN Feminists, which involves managing liaisons between various student groups and the SU, she is a welfare point of contact for members of the UoN Fems and has also been working on promoting the Living Wage Campaign at the University.
Hey Rachel! What made you put yourself forward for the position of Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer?
One of the reasons I put myself forward is because I have a lot of knowledge of real student experience. This is something that has helped me develop my manifesto, as through personal contact with students I have found out what they need. Personal contact is something that is really important in welfare.
I want to keep working with existing networks, some of whom I have worked with previously, who currently provide welfare to groups of students. I want to put resources into the groups who already do this because dealing with the multiple issues that arise in welfare is a difficult job for one person to do effectively.
I want to focus on making mostly small changes but a few big changes as well, as I think this will make the most impact.
What do you think the most difficult part of your manifesto will be to implement?
I’ve made an effort to make my manifesto achievable. I don’t want to make promises that I can’t keep because I have a responsibility to those who vote for me to do what I’ve said I’ll do!
I think one thing that will be more challenging is engaging with the international students. That initial contact will be harder than reaching out to other members of the student body, but once they are involved I hope that the campaign will be more enriching for all students at Nottingham.
Are there any issues that stand out as particularly important to you?
Accessibility and inclusivity of welfare resources. So trying to expand the points of contact for welfare and resources. The current welfare resources are based around Uni Park Campus and they need to be spread out to other campuses, as well as online. I want to tackle stigmas and increase inclusivity through my proposed year-long ‘Talk About It’ video project, which would include all different types of students by asking them to talk about the issues they face in the video.
What should we look out for during the campaign? We’ve already seen some cat faces already on social media!
Yes! Keep an eye out for purple cats with glasses on and look out for the personal stories about welfare on Facebook. They’ll also be a Crafternoon – so look out for details about the event on social media as well.
How can people support the campaign?
Like the page on Facebook, share the stories, tell your friends! Ultimately choose the manifesto that you think that will be best for you. Make an informed decision.
Do you have any slogans?
Keeping with the cat theme ‘The time is meow’ and Rachel is ‘the puurfect choice’. Some of my campaign team wanted to use ‘the CATalyst for change’ but we decided that was too much…
Anything you’d like to add?
The way my campaign is structured is to target students at key points during their university experience. I want to make sure finding welfare is as simple and as clear as possible- so people know where to find the help they need, whether that be on the internet, social media, or through sports groups, societies and support networks, and also through their courses and tutors.
QUICKFIRE ROUND
Ocean- yay or nay? Nay- I’m more of a Rock City kind of girl.
Dream Job? Working at an animal rescue centre. Official animal adopter. I want that title.
If you were to go on Mastermind, what would your specialist subject be? Feminism!
Although we think this is pretty obvious from your branding, cats or dogs? Actually, both!
Pizza or pasta? Pizza! Omg no. Wait. Omg. Pasta. I don’t know!
VKs or Jagerbombs? Regrettably, Jagerbombs.
Hallward or George Green? Hallward- George Green is nicer, but Hallward has my books.
Thank you for your time Rachel- we wish you all the best with your campaign!