Molly Richardson's Maifesto

Hello, I’m Molly Richardson, I am a third-year sociology student and a candidate for the up and coming election for the AHSS faculty. I’m a passionate and hardworking candidate with the main purpose of my campaign being the representation of Anglia Ruskin Students. My main goals of becoming the new representative of the AHSS faculty are community, equality and fun. I am running for this position as I believe I am the ideal candidate; I am passionate, driven and committed to represent what the faculty needs.

I have experience as a fellow student of the university, who has experience using the mental health facilities first hand and knows how and why there is areas of improvement. Also, being a course representative and founding the sociology society I have been able to speak to fellow students for their expectations, wants and needs throughout the university. Also having a severely autistic brother and being involved with the National Autistic Society from a young age, I can give students who are on the spectrum the voice they need coming into a new environment whether it be regarding studying or just socialising.

My first issue I would want to tackle would be rent prices in Cambridge, as the prices are soaring our student finances do not correlate. Leaving most students, similarly to myself, forced to work and create more pressure on themselves to get through their studies with not much help from student finance. Also, I am interested in tackling the barriers created by student finance to get the help students need as they may not receive any from their relatives. In order to tackle this issue, I believe I would need to speak to the Cambridge MP’s themselves, Heidi Allen and Daniel Zeichner. I would ask how they could help the government recognise the inequality faced by ARU students especially in a city as divided as Cambridge. Also creating a petition to show them would be a key part of getting the ball rolling from a political sense of helping our students. 

My second issue is mental health in universities, as someone who has used the mental health services in ARU, I understand some of the wants and needs from students who suffer with mental health. It is common for students to not even realise the services exist and I want to promote what already exists whilst also improving the help on offer. A big factor of mental health of students is loneliness, so I want to get more free activities regularly available all year around through the student union. Such as movie nights, animal visits, arts and crafts and so on, to build a community for students who feel unincluded, especially for international students who usually come to university alone. My main point for mental health would be creating a pen pal system within the university to bring people together who don’t feel comfortable in Ice breakers and social situations so by creating a pen pal system its completely on your own terms and its an easy way to make friends and strike up conversation and just help students feel a bit less lonely. By ensuring more events are on all year round instead of just the beginning also will help students boost morale and let off steam, with having more LGBTQ+ nights, quiz nights, silent discos, ball pits and so on.

Also, continuing with mental health I want to talk about sexual violence, unfortunately is a taboo topic within university culture, as I have been sexually assaulted myself, I understand how victims feel. Its dehumanising and I want to promote being able to talk about it so students can receive the help they deserve, like I did. ARU facilities for sexual violence are unappreciated and to start the conversation would help students who come from all walks of life. As sexual violence towards the transgender community is at its most violent, women being sexually assaulted regularly, and men being listened too also who have been sexually assaulted.

My third issue that needs tackling is promoting societies, as a founder of the Sociology society I believe I would be a driven advocate to help others set up societies and how it can improve your wellbeing and academic life. Through making our society we’ve been able to network amongst the different years of the sociology course as well as creating a study buddy system to integrate students and to benefit our own social lives. I believe creating and maintaining societies are a big part that can link students and enhance their mental wellbeing especially as first year students. I will try and get most degrees to start a society, so it creates a community of individuals who are all equally passionate about their studies and meeting new people.

These are my main three points as to why I am nominating myself for 2019’s elections, I believe I have so much to offer and my passion for this university and the students will only drive me to be the representative that AHSS needs. I can bring the fun back to our faculty whilst doing what needs to be done, I will listen to what the students want, and I will deliver. I chose the bee for my campaign as it represents community, determination and resilient which completely supports me and what I believe. So please, vote for Molly Richardson and you won’t be disappointed.

 Thank you!