Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Introducing the new SU exec team!
Grace Lawrenson, VP Equality & Diversity
Grace is stepping into a brand new role as Vice President Equality & Diversity, a position which aims to give a voice to under-represented students at our University.
She will be working with the part-time SU reps to support them in their campaigns this year, particularly those in liberation roles. “It’s really amazing to be back here as a full-time member of staff. I was studying at Headingley previously, so being down here at City feels like a complete change too. This role is perfect for me, it’s so exciting to be creating the role for the Equality & Diversity reps of the future.”
James Starnes, VP Education
James is a familiar face to many students, having previously been an AET Faculty Rep. A mature student who has just completed his second year at our University, he’s taking a year out from his Computer Forensics & Security degree to pursue his new role as Vice President Education.
James’s role will involve looking after student’s educational needs and providing a voice for the student community on a number of university boards and committees. He is very much looking forward to the year ahead with his new SU colleagues: “I couldn’t ask for a better team. They’re all happy and engaged, we get on amazingly well. I’m looking forward to the year ahead - seeing the changes, how they’ll affect students, and how we can make the best of that.”
Harry Walters, VP Activities
Harry is well placed to be representing our student societies, volunteering and media having served as station manager for our radio station last year. He is incredibly passionate about media and how it can engage more with his other areas of volunteering and societies. He hopes that by overseeing all three he can encourage them to work much better together and help to raise the profile of each strand individually.
He says: “Joining a society was the best thing I ever did, I made so many friends. Working on the radio station and getting more involved with our Union helped me build my confidence and find my footing. I even met my best friend through our Film Society! I’d encourage all of our new students to get involved; they will make so many friends this way.”
Sarah Gillborn, VP Welfare
Psychology graduate Sarah has always taken a personal interest in mental health, something that she has grown to further understand through her studies. Her objectives this year will feature a consent campaign, with the aim of getting every student at our University to attend a consent session to understand the issues and sign up to a pledge. She also plans to work with other Students’ Unions to tackle tenancy fees and estate agent admin fees that are yet another worry and expense for students. She wants to engage more students in the Union and build on the success of this year’s Stress Less Fest while the stress she experienced around her own exams is still fresh in her mind.
She explains: “I can relate to those who may need the support of the Union to make friends and settle in. I struggled in my first couple of years at uni until I joined the Feminist Society in my third year. I really came into my own there and getting involved with our Union was the best thing I could have done.”
Jay Malpass Clark, SU President
Former Sport Coaching student Jay is commencing a second year in post as SU President. This year he hopes to implement ‘Student Voice’ – a feedback programme enabling students to come up with ideas to improve the university experience, then work with university staff to ensure they are implemented. He’s also working on a ground-breaking student consultation framework which allows consultation with students on potential changes within our University.
Jay is very much looking forward to working with the new team: “They’re a fun bunch. They’re accessible and open and interesting to students, but they can all walk straight into a board meeting and get straight down to business. That’s a rare thing.”