Asked why the role is so important, Theo said: “Well, for the two main sides of the role, liberation is so important in the SU and just like generally in the world, because obviously there still is discrimination.
“So many things are more difficult for people in marginalized groups. And I think it’s really important that at the SU level, there’s someone who can advocate that and can really dedicate a lot of time to that.
“And then on the activity side, that’s all of the societies. That’s so much student-run activity, so much student-run things that are happening. So we need someone to help make sure that that is being made as accessible and as good as it can be.”
On their plans for if they were to be elected, they said: “I’ve been part of LGBTQ+ society, which is the offshoot from the representative committee that we had last year and essentially we saw that restructuring up close.”
The individual representative liberation committees were changed at the start of this year to become one overarching committee.
Theo continued: “My main plan to do with that is to simplify the kind of result of that, which is Liberation Committee, and in terms of the way it’s organized, in terms of the way meetings are scheduled.
“Right now, there’s so much with the different subcommittee meetings often clashing with each other or being poorly communicated. I want it to be one interface, where it’s one place that people can go and can see what the main Liberation Committee is doing, what all of the subcommittees are doing, and how they can get involved themselves.
“Because right now there’s no signposting. Anyone can become a member, there’s no way for them to know that unless they speak to the right people.”
“In terms of activities, I’ve got it categorized into two main things, one of them being making societies easier to run, making them function better. So I’m going to do that through optimizing how space in the SU.
“So things like storage space on campus that isn’t being used could go to societies, but also things like making it easier for societies to promote themselves and their events and things through official SU channels. Also trying to protect society finances from more budget cuts.
“I know a lot of societies are really struggling in terms of budget, while a lot of others have more money than they know what to do with, so kind of systematically going through, reviewing that, and meddling around until it makes a bit more sense, especially for the working committees as well, as well as making it easier, or facilitating more collaboration between societies, especially the representative societies, and liberation committee, and other change-making spaces.
“And then also, I plan on focusing a lot on training, revisiting all of the committee training that society committee members get and creating opportunities for people in the same roles to really network with each other and share advice.”
On why they feel they are the right person for the role, Theo said: “I think for one, I’m already quite well networked within the SU. I have been able to meet and connect with so many people in so many different parts of the SU.
“I’m personally very active in terms of liberation and the representative societies. I know people on like working committees. I know people on committees for the sports societies, things like that.
“As well as just especially on the liberation side, my own lived experience has been very intersectional in terms of me being queer and also trans and disabled and a person of color. I feel like I’m as, essentially as equipped as you can get to stay aware of all of the different factors that could be affecting people coming from different backgrounds.”
