Each year, a group of students are elected to lead the SU for the following year. In this article, we’ll give you the rundown of what roles are available, how you can participate and vote.
Being an SU officer is a full-time job, and the officers are paid as such. Any student can run for a position, and you can nominate yourself or anyone you know on the SU website. The roles offered are:
The SU President
The SU President leads the officer team, chair the Trustee Board and oversee all lobbying and student representation. Another key part of being the SU President is to oversee and maximise the engagement of students in SU activities and democracy. The current president, Beth Eyre, led the Forgotten Students of 2020 campaign to address the concerns of students during the coronavirus pandemic.
Activities and Development Officer
This role aims to develop and support student-led activities. They also take care of SU social enterprise and performance as well as managing the SU finances. Moreover, they are the lead officer on student development and employability. Currently, this role is split in two. The Development officer, Jordan Weir, has pushed for sustainable travel options for students as well as the ‘Roar to your door’ scheme, which brought our favourite club night to the living room. Meanwhile, Activities Officer Joel Kirk has worked on helping societies deliver online socials and events.
Liberation Officer
The Liberation Officer’s job is to represent the views and interests of those who face systemic barriers to university participation. As such, they aim to lead campaigns that create an environment free of discrimination. They also practically tackle such issues by leading support programmes to tackle current issues. Do note that this officer must identify as part of a liberation group (BME, disabled, LGBT+, Women, Mature). This role was previously the Women’s Officer role, currently held by Lily Grimshaw who used her office to maintain a safe and inclusive campus by challenging discrimination.
Education Officer
The role of the education officer works to represent student interests and to create change on all relevant education issues. They also develop and support academic representation and lead campaigns on education issues. The current education officer, Ellie Lynas said that she aims to fix ‘the mistakes the University makes when it comes to taking care of students’ and ‘make sure the system works for everyone’.
Welfare and Sustainability Officer
This role represents all student’s views on welfare matters whilst leading campaigns on student welfare issues and the SU’s ethical environmental and sustainability work. Holly Ellis, the current Welfare Officer, has promoted a wide range of activities to improve student mental health, such as study sessions and craft activities.
Wellbeing and Sports Officer
The Wellbeing and Sports Officer must encourage student participation in sport through developing and supporting activities that improve student health and lobbying for student’s wellbeing and sports-related issues to the University. This role was previously known as Sports Officer and is currently held by Matt Graves whose message to students is ‘don’t be scared to get involved and try something’.
International and Community Officer
This role represents and promotes the interests of international students. To do this, they develop and support activities to improve the welfare of international students. They also encourage student involvement in their communities and their integration into the university. The current officer is Iuri Montenegro, who says his goal for this year was to make sure that international students still enjoyed their time in Sheffield despite the difficult circumstances.
Nominations close on the 5th of March, and voting opens for three days from the morning of the 22nd of March until the evening of the 24th. If you want to make a change at Sheffield, give it a go.
