Stella

I’m the Welfare and Rights Officer for both CUSU and the GU, so I am responsible for representing and advocating for the welfare and rights of both undergraduate and graduate students. This takes place through campaigning, in committees, by running training sessions and awareness-raising events: working to support and empower students to make change in the university.

I ran because I want to make sure that we deal with the structural issues that have created the mental health crisis, and that we centre the advocation of rights in our work as CUSU and the GU. The work of a union has always been about promoting the rights of its members, and we know that without rights, any attempt to provide welfare support just pastes over the real problem: I want to bring my experience from political organising in Cambridge to campaign for the rights of all students. We must not forget that welfare is a political project which has its roots in the radical work of women of colour like Audre Lorde who recognised that, for marginalised people, fighting for welfare is a fight for existence.

My priorities for the year are to centralise rent efforts within CUSU and the GU, to increase support for survivors of sexual violence, and to help build antiracist campaigns within Cambridge. I also want to counter the harmful ‘bubble’ myth that falsely divides students from people living in the town by facilitating increased community engagement and access to University facilities.

Studied: English at Churchill College.

What do you do when you’re not at CUSU?
I love to cook (currently obsessed with Diana Henry’s ‘How to Eat a Peach’ and would highly recommend), swim (I miss the sea!) and hang out with friends at the pub.

Favourite place in Cambridge?
My favourite place in Cambridge is Granchester meadows – especially at sunset in the summer with a good barbeque and good people.