The new Students’ Union Officer team has been declared, after the annual Results Night took place on Zoom.
The event saw an all-female team elected for the second time in three years and was live-streamed on YouTube by Forge TV.
It follows a week of online campaigning and was not without a few Zoom-related technical difficulties and the words ‘you’re on mute’.
Voter turnout was much lower than it has been in previous years, with 5,479 students voting, representing approximately 16.9% of the student population. This compares to 9,383 voters in 2020 and 8,270 in 2019.
New SU President Evie Croxford said: “I am so excited with the team we’ve got. It’s going to be an incredible year and we’re going to do students justice”.
Croxford wants to focus on Covid recovery that centres students, embed anti-racism throughout the SU and University, and create a climate justice fund.
Savannah Hanson won the role of Education Officer, with over 700 votes ahead of any other candidate.
She wants to innovate opportunities impacted by Brexit and the pandemic, work to alleviate digital poverty and exclusion, and implement departmental student inclusion committees.
Shona Tulloch was elected as the SU’s first ever Liberation Officer, and said: “I have waited for years to see somebody like me in these positions. To have a queer, BME, disabled woman Liberation Officer in the position to represent these students is amazing.”
Tulloch wants to introduce a reformed reporting system, improve accessibility for disabled students and decolonise the University.
Another new role this year is the Welfare and Sustainability Officer, which was secured by Ness Matanda-Mambingo.
She wants to ensure ‘Covid alumni’ are supported, and progress sustainability within SU outlets and university departments.
Taylor Ogle was elected as the new International and Community Officer. She wants to run a visa-friendly career fair, expand payment plan options and create a homesickness survival guide.
Morgan McArthur won the role of Activities and Development Officer by 781 votes ahead of second-place opponent Ciaran Bach.
She wants to expand societies post-Covid and tackle inclusion issues, and is keen to reform SU finances and funding.
The SU’s first Wellbeing and Sports Officer Charlotte McGinley wants to make sport facilities inclusive and accessible, support students after graduation and create a sustainable Varsity. She won by 728 votes ahead of her opponent Joe McFarlane.
Two student trustees, Amber Lench and Clara Polaco, were also elected.
The number of students running for SU Officer roles this year was up from the previous year, with 32 candidates for the seven roles compared to 27 who ran for the eight roles last year.
The annual referendum saw students vote in favour of Sheffield SU to remain affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS).
The SU Constitution has also been amended to formally allow the creation of Part Time SU Officers after students voted in favour of implementing this change.
Images credit: Sheffield SU
