Whether you've spotted our giant cube around campus, or heard us shouting about it on social media, you’ve probably noticed that the Leadership Elections 2023 are well underway at Imperial College Union.
Last night, Union Council met to debate whether Imperial College Union should continue to support strike action being undertaken by the University and College Union (UCU). The UCU is a trade union representing academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff.
Queer: denoting or relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms.
But what does being queer mean to us? When we were younger, being queer meant being different. Being ostracised, being bullied, being less. It meant hiding, dampening a core part of ourselves, for fear of serious consequences.
Last night Union Council met to discuss the Union’s stance on the planned industrial action by the Imperial University and College Union (UCU), a trade union representing academics, and Imperial Unite, a trade union representing staff in technical, operational, and professional services. You can read the Council Paper here.
Sunflower lanyards have recently become more visible around the UK. There’s been some confusion in recent times on what exactly the sunflower lanyard means, and why an individual might choose to wear it – read on to find out more!
In a very stereotypical start to this blog, I can’t believe almost a third of this year has already passed. Having joined the full-time party a bit late as I was finishing my Masters, the first stretch of this year felt like playing a bit of catch-up. Turns out there was a lot I didn’t know, and everyday ends up as a learning experience.
I’m not really sure where the time has gone – we’ve nearly reached a third of the whole year already! The last few months have essentially been a massive trial by fire – I’ve been learning so many things and meeting so many people that I hadn’t even realised we’d reached 100 days.
Time passes really quickly when you’re a sabbatical officer. Time is an incredibly valuable inexhaustible resource, and I have learnt to make the best use of every precious minute I have in my current role, because once I reach the end of July 2023, that will officially be the end of my tenure. Last year was all about quick wins and short term changes – this year is going to be all about setting up the Union for success in the long term, whilst continuing to campaign on critical issues.
Jumping right into the deep end as the President of a multi-million pounds organisation as my first ever full-time job is not something I have ever expected. The role and the sudden responsibilities put on my shoulders are nothing short of challenging, and the learning curve has felt more like a rocket launch rather than the gentle hike that I may have liked more. But as with all rocket launches, a frame that can withstand unpredictability is required.
