It’s almost 19:00pm. Here I am sat at my desk writing my manifesto. My stationary position obscures the busyness, the noise, in my head. As I write I am wondering what I should have dinner - Knowing I have food in the fridge yet still toying with the idea to order out; I am mapping out when to start my reading for the upcoming week; And try as I may not to worry about it, the impending avalanche of assignments resides comfortably in the corners of my mind. I am sitting yet moving a thousand miles per hour. Stressful yes. Overwhelming at times; But not unfamiliar. This is probably the most common, and visible feature of being a university student; Juggling.
Hello, my name is Elisha Lualua. I am a third year student studying politics, philosophy and economics; And I am, as we all are at Goldsmiths, a juggler. I can’t recall a singular moment where I did not have multiple things to juggle. There’s always reading to do, assignments to write, a social to attend and a family to stay connected with. We, as students who have to manage it all, are rarely deciding what exactly we have to manage though. It is in certain rooms, in certain meetings, where what we are faced with as students is decided. For all the juggling that we have to do, it may sometimes feel as though that fact goes unconsidered; And this is why I am running for Union Chair.
In this past year alone there have been decisions made, and courses of actions pursed, that have significantly impacted students. There was an overwhelming amount of students who began this academic year having to manage the impact of ‘Transformation Programme’ Students were left with no immediate communication as to whether a module they had previously chosen was still running, left to manoeuvre without timetables as a result and left to contend with a singular hub system, which saw a significant rise in foot traffic as students attempted to resolve the issues they were facing. On behalf of all of students at Goldsmiths, having to manage circumstances that were imposed, I am putting myself forward to be your advocate. To be your voice.
The students at Goldsmiths don’t just need any voice though, they need an effective voice. I have been that voice before I was at Goldsmiths. I was the voice that spoke in the meetings, to the people, on behalf of those I represented. I was the voice that centred those I represented in every policy discussion, in every proposed course of action. I as that voice understood that I was the bridge between those I represented and those people who sat in the rooms, who attended the meetings, and made decisions from a place that seemed distanced from the very people their decisions impacted. Just as was the case then, I believe that a bridge is needed between the students at Goldsmiths and the decision makers.
On the behalf of the students who always have reading to do and assignments to plan for, societies to participate in and socials to attend; On behalf of the students who have work to do and family to stay connected with; On behalf of every student who must juggle it all, I am running to be your voice. I am running to be your bridge. I am running to be your Union Chair.
Thank you,
Elisha Lualua
On Behalf of the Students