The role of Vice President Inclusion aims to tackle issues of equality, diversity and inclusion within our university by ensuring students from all backgrounds, in particular liberation groups, faith and culture societies, and marginalised students, are represented fairly. The VP works alongside the university and external agencies in order to make every student feel included during their time at Strathclyde.
There are three candidates running for the role of VP Inclusion this year: Nothando Thwala, Sanghmitra Singh and Rachel Cairns.
Nothando Thwala is a Masters student, working towards her degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. As a feminist and Managing Director of Women in Engineering Eswatini, Nothando wants to help marginalized students, and everyone else, feel more included within the university. She is passionate about bringing equality and inclusivity to Strathclyde by organising an International Diversity Fair and Culture Week, continuing the Black and Minority History Month celebrations and working on an anti-racism and reporting hate crime campaign. Nothando also plans on hosting a monthly Coffee Break to meet with students and discuss any concerns they may have.
Sanghmitra Singh is a Masters student of Criminal Justice and Penal justice at Strathclyde. During her time working as a human rights lawyer, she noticed there is systematic discrimination towards minority groups throughout the world. She wants the world’s diversity to be represented within the university and treated fairly.
Rachel Cairns is in third year studying English Literature. Her passion for literature is reflected in her position as Vice President of the Live Poets Society. She is also part of the university’s Feminist Society, which has helped her improve inclusion within some areas. As a candidate for VP Inclusion she wants to make a difference campus-wide by starting a Liberation Hub, a monthly drop-in event for groups to connect and promote events. Rachel would also organise the Own Voices Spotlight project, allowing minority students to showcase their creative works, as well as giving one student an Artist Spotlight, giving them an opportunity to promote their work on campus.
Voting opens at 10:00 am on Tuesday 5th March 2019.
By Elena Koleva
