Plain Text Manifesto:

@sophiebourneforVPpostgrad

Vote SOPHIE BOURNE for Vice President Postgraduate

Hello, I'm Sophie- an MA student in the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance. I want to represent you in the SU to ensure that the voices of all postgraduate students are heard, including research students and those based at the Gibbet Hill site.

I will fight for:

• Improved community for PG students
• Transparency from your SU
• A more inclusive Students’ Union
• A liberated, decolonised, and sustainable campus

My Experience:

• Decolonise Advocate & PGT Arts Faculty Rep 2024 - 2025
• NUS Conference Delegate 2023
• Chair of Winchester History Society & Alternative Music Society
• Part-time Student Officer @ Winchester Student Union

Improved community for PG students:

• More PG focused events, including more wellbeing events, chances to meet other PG students at the start of term, and events outside of UG term-time
• Work with Postgrad Society to have the Graduate open for casual PG usage and more society events
• Implement PG careers events with chances to network with alumni from your course or department
• Lobby the Uni for bigger and better PG study space, like working with the library to improve the facilities in the PG Hub
• Work with the Widening Participation team to improve the financial support on offer for PGT students
• Work with the Uni to develop Postgraduate Orientation for students new to Warwick to understand its systems and processes

Transparency from your SU:

• Ensure regular updates on what I’m doing for you through a monthly newsletter and updates on the SU website & social media
• Strong open-door policy and clear information about how to get in touch with issues, concerns, or ideas

A more inclusive Students’ Union:

• Work with university and local bus companies to improve bus services to campus from Coventry, Kenilworth, and Leamington Spa
• Provide free anti-spiking products in the Copper Rooms and SU bars like cup covers, bottle caps, and free drink testing if you think your drink has been spiked
• Work with VP Sports & VP Societies to ensure teams and societies are accessible and inclusive for postgrads, including PGR students
• Work alongside VP Welfare and Campaigns to ensure PG students are considered and included in campaign initiatives

A liberated, decolonised, & sustainable campus:

• Develop the Decolonise Collective including a full week for Decolonisation Campaign events
• Bigger, improved Liberation Conference
• Continue campaigning for a demilitarised campus, building on existing links with student-led campaigns and recent SU successes
• Support Student-Staff collaboration such as the Student Staff Solidarity Network and Warwick Stands with Palestine
• Embed sustainability into SU structures and lobby university to make more sustainable choices, to create a greener campus

If you have any questions, please do get in touch via my campaign page on Instagram, @sophiebourneforVPpostgrad or email me at sophie.d.bourne@warwick.ac.uk