This new series will investigate the inner workings of Greenwich Students’ Union - Its systems and the people that keep them running.
As a union, we have many democratic systems which allow you, the student, to input your opinion and make change on campus. From elected student representatives to channels for change, I will be diving into the spaces and systems which make GSU, GSU.
Student Representatives
We exist to represent you, the student. Therefore, our student representatives are integral to the work we do.These elected students amplify your voice and work to complete campaigns which centre their fellow students. This includes marginalised communities on campus, represented by our Liberation Chairs, who work to resolve student issues within their communities. Our Chairs also oversee their associations which are fellow members of the community, who support the work of the Chair to contribute to inclusion on campus. These include Women’s, LGBTQ+, Disabled, Student of Colour and Care Experienced Chair.
We also have our Sabbatical Officers who are elected to tackle student issues full-time for one year. Our GSU Officers, now with remitted roles, work to complete their campaigns built around student concerns. These Officer roles include President, VP Activities and Communities, VP Inclusion and Wellbeing and VP Academic Representation. Each role functions to support students differently an ensure every element of the student experience is considered.
Elections for our next Sabbatical Officers is coming up! Make sure to have a look into the different roles and the amazing work you can do as an Officer.
Channels for change
Our democratic systems are also important in allowing you to have a say. We have multiple channels for change which exist purely to ensure student voice is alive and well within the union. Our vision is driven by yours.
The first example of this is GSU Council. GSU Council is a space for you to bring your concerns and highlight any issues you see within the university. You can also propose changes through our petition feature which dictates what student issues are brought to council. This means you can put forward any suggestions or flag any concerns which can then be taken on by GSU to tackle on your behalf. We also have Scrutiny Panel, which is where your Officers present their work to be scrutinised. A board of Scrutiny Panellist assess the work of the Officers to keep them accountable to their original pledges and ensure they’re not stepping out of line. This panel makes sure that the GSU Officers are always serving you, as they’re mandated to do.
Inside GSU Continued...
I will dive deeper into these channels for change as my series progresses, letting you know how we can support you to have your voice heard. Keep an eye out for more articles speaking to our elected student representatives, exploring our democratic channels and highlighting how you can get involved.