Hey everyone,

Some of you might be aware and some of you may not, but we have completely changed the way we do democracy at Huddersfield SU!  

This means that we are now running something called The Big Ideas Group which is kind of like Jury Service. We’ve been asking you guys as students what you think the SU should be doing to make student life better and support you through your studies. 🙌

Some of those topics will then be sent to a referendum which opens the question out from the students at the Group that month, to the whole student population, so all 20,000 of you can have the opportunity to vote and tell us what you think. We want to know what you guys really think and what you want us as an SU to do for you.

I know some of you are probably wondering what a referendum is - well it’s simple, it’s when we ask you a question and we want your honest answers. It’s a quick yes or no question on sometimes quite large topics. For example, the whole country had a referendum about our membership of the European Union earlier this year.

We will be launching this year’s very first referendum at 10:00am Monday 12^th December and we need you guys to get involved. Make sure you have your say and vote on different topics – the topics at this referendum will include...

1. Should there be a Students' Union Bar on campus?

"I think that the Students’ Union Bar should be in the Students’ Union or on the main campus. It should be ran and owned by the SU. This way all profit goes to the SU and it isn’t open to the public. There could maybe also be a SU nightclub. The SU bar would give students job opportunities, cheaper drinks prices, and maybe a place to get some food and socialise with friends."

2. Should the Faith Centre be redecorated?

"The Faith Centre needs a revamp – it’s a portacabin off of Queen Street South that could do with a lick of paint and new artwork. The area isn’t welcoming to new people who want to use the space, and it could do with a bit more colour being added. There are many creative students at Huddersfield who could come up with neutral (non-denominational) artwork that underpins the key aspects of any religion – love, peace, compassion etc. This will encourage more students to use the area as a quiet space to reflect or do work. It’s worth saying that the faith centre is also used as a space where students can access Counselling."

3. Should menstrual products be free and available in women's and gender neutral toilets across campus and in the SU Shop?

"Accessing menstrual health products is an issue on a global scale and exists in Western society. Many girls are afraid of purchasing sanitary products due to stigma and this can be very different depending on ethnic and religious backgrounds. Besides this, menstruating is a natural process, whereby girls and women bare the biological function with no option to opt out. Surely, if there is toilet paper readily available for men and women, then there should be a sanitary dispenser that will allow female students to access menstrual health products free from a cost. Not just the physical aspect of paying money, but ensuring that no girl or woman is alienated from a highly socialised space and, more importantly, their education due to a completely natural, beautiful process."

 

Not only are we calling for you to VOTE NOW but we are also wanting you guys to run some ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns if you feel particularly passionate about a certain question and the implications that it may have on the student population at Huddersfield!

If you want to run a campaign it’s super simple, and we can provide you with:

• Posters
• Flyers
• A £10 budget to buy whatever other materials you think you might need to run a successful and fun campaign that will capture student’s attention! 

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me (su.comms@hud.ac.uk)!

Emma Denny
Comms Officer