Full name: Rebecca Nelsey
Age: 23
Course & year of study: Modern Languages and Cultures student (Spanish, Dutch and Italian), final year.
Give us your pitch! Why do you want the job and why should students vote for you? Try and keep it short, maximum four sentences.
I’ve loved working on important new policies in the Student Union Council and forums this year, and I want to expand and continue that work. I have loads of exciting ideas on how to change students’ lives through more opportunities for growth: from helping societies to grow both within the SU and beyond, to educating students on their working and renting rights and even helping student musicians to find their next passion project. I also believe that the SU must do more to stand up against ongoing atrocities internationally, including in Palestine, and I’m determined to be a part of that by continuing Sheffield’s Students’ Union’s legacy of activism. In short, I want to be a part of the change I want to see in our community.
Why should students trust you with managing the SU’s budget funding their societies?
From years of workshop and event organising to working as an au pair for an eleven-month-old, I’m used to having a lot of responsibility. I’m also financially literate and always on the lookout for new, innovative ways to get the most out of the resources I’ve got.
Do you have any hobbies?
I have a few – hiking, crochet, snorkelling, charity shopping, writing, seeing live music… and as of recently, I perform a bit too!
Three words to describe yourself?
Compassionate, resilient and determined.
Who would play you in a film of your life?
Probably Brigette Lundy-Paine. They were my first experience of finding out the actor for a character I loved was non-binary and I’ll never forget how excited I felt when I found out, so it’d be a real full-circle moment.
What’s the best city in the UK (don’t be boring, you can’t say Sheffield)?
I’ve only been to Brighton once, but I loved exploring the flea markets and specialised indie bookshops, and I’d love to go back one day (and being by the seaside is always a plus).
Pick your top 3 Uni of Sheffield societies…
Sheffield Solidarity Group (the society I’m most involved with) and Music Culture Society (a brilliant society that I helped rebrand and reshape on committee) are obvious choices. For the third I just have to say Kashmir Society – I ended up at a social a few months ago and I felt so welcome! Plus the pink tea was delicious.
You can time travel to any year in history anywhere in the world. Where, when and why?
Lisbon, 25 April 1974 for the Portuguese carnation revolution. It resulted in the Portuguese transition to democracy and the end of the Portuguese Colonial War. Not a single shot was fired, it was kicked off with that year’s Eurovision entry, and the people decorated the revolutionary soldiers with carnations. I’d love to feel what it was like to be out in the streets celebrating.
Film or music? Favourite film/ artist depending on your answer?
Music. My music taste changes and varies a lot so it’s hard to choose, but at the moment I’m really enjoying grime-punky duo Bob Vylan.
Given the choice… pub, club or coffee shop? & Name your favourite pub/ club/ cafe in Sheffield depending on your answer.
Coffee shop. My favourite has to be the Hop – it’s fully vegan and fully delicious.
What’s your meal deal? Not Tesco-exclusive, you can be edgy and pick a different shop…
My food intolerances mean I can’t really do meal deals, but if I could I’d go for a hoisin no-duck wrap, carrots and humous, and a smoothie (they’re usually expensive, cheat the system!)
Which living person do you most admire and why?
There’s no one person I admire the most. As cliché as it sounds, anyone who effectively brings about positive change is someone I admire – and I think that working together we can achieve much more admirable change than any individual can alone.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Jane the Virgin (although it’s really not that guilty!)
What’s your favourite thing about Sheffield?
The local community. I found my home in Sheffield.