Electoral Success: Student Welfare
We're delighted to be able to announce that final year linguist, Marzia Sartori, has triumphed in the recent Student Union elections! From September, Marzia will take up her new role of Welfare Officer and represent all Swansea University students' interests. We couldn't be prouder, and we wish her every success - and frankly, we can't think of anyone better for the role! She will be an asset for Swansea University, and given her close ties with the Department of Modern Languages, she will also be an asset for all language students. Well done, Marzia!
Here's the manifesto which propelled her to success:
Hello there! My name is Marzia and I am a final-year student doing Modern languages, Translation and Interpreting here in Swansea.
As an athlete with several years of experience, I am excited to campaign for the position of Welfare Officer. My journey has taught me the importance of physical and mental well-being along with a sense of empathy, recognising the value of mutual support for a stronger community.
Being naturally drawn to people and finding joy in being a source of support for others, the role of Welfare officer is the one that resonates with me the most.
My experience as an international student and my year abroad taught me that having the right support can make a huge difference in your university experience. For this reason, as a welfare officer, I am eager to be someone students can rely on, ensuring everyone feels included, heard and supported while promoting an open dialogue between students.
I strongly value diverse perspectives through which I shaped my manifesto. My ears are open to your opinions so that together we can shape the future of welfare at Swansea.
MANIFESTO
Assisting students with the Cost-of-Living Crisis
· Establish “Donate to help a mate” initiative where students can deposit objects, kitchenware, furniture, allowing others to benefit from that at no cost.
· Maintain cost of the living crisis breakfast initiative.
Ensuring safety on campus
· Arrange University Buses providing safe transport to and from both campuses, especially during evenings, when buses are less frequent to ensure that students’ safety.
· Introduce a Bike Rental Scheme on campus offering flexible options for 3 months, 1 semester or a full year at friendly prices.
Supporting students' mental health
· Hosting weekly drop-in sessions in jcs, encouraging students to open up about their mental health concerns in a casual chat with us.
· Maintain Mental Health Awareness Week, organising workshops and events to promote understanding and support.
· De-stress week, providing activities for stress release and improve general students’ well being.
Promoting general Well-Being:
· Ensure that every sport society has a welfare officer; provide necessary training. The officer will be a point of contact for students facing issues within the sport society.
· Organise monthly workshops focusing on confidence building, stress release and anxiety management.
· Promote sport and outdoor activities through the Get Active initiative.
· Establish students' drop-in sessions where students can voice concerns or suggest improvements, ensuring that every voice is heard.
· Provide support for students on their year abroad, including a year abroad wellbeing officer and facilitate connections with experienced students for advice and guidance
Improving housing
· Establish a help desk to address house scams and landlord issues, offering the opportunity for students to engage with house agencies and potential landlords for more informed decision.
· Introduce workshops and reliable sources to help students plan and make more informed decisions on housing options, ensuring more transparency.
Promoting inclusivity
· Lead campaigns to increase visibility and promote the rights of minorities and people with disabilities.
· Support liberation and women’s officer and work together for the creation of events and workshops.