Meet the students running for the Cambridge Student Union this year

Do they pass the vibe check though?

4 years ago | UPDATED 4 years ago

The SU elections have officially begun! I’m sure you’ve all been invited to like several of the candidate’s campaigns on Facebook by now, but if you haven’t gotten the chance to judge their vibes, The Tab spoke to this year’s candidates to get the downlow.

Here’s what they had to say about themselves (within the very strict word limits we gave them to keep things short and sweet):

President (UG)

Allison O’Malley Graham

(Image Credits: Allison O’Malley Graham)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Murray Edwards (“and have the rent to prove it”)

Subject: HSPS

Describe yourself in three words: “Groovy, groovy, groovy (in an Irish accent)”

What do you stand for in five words: “A more caring, equal Cambridge”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I have the experience to make change”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Stronger, fully funded welfare provision across the colleges, faculties, and University”

Amy Bottomley

(Image Credits: Amy Bottomley)

Pronouns: She/they

College: St John’s

Subject: English

Describe yourself in three words: “your next queerbridge”

What do you stand for in five words: “Elderly people on the bus”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I’ll spend my wages on a dog”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “transparency and standardisation of university procedures: all students deserve support.”

Ciara Aberdeen

(Image Credits: Ciara Aberdeen)

Pronouns: She/they

College: Trinity

Subject: Maths

Describe yourself in three words: “Angry and determined”

What do you stand for in five words: “Changes that actually help students”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Giving average students a voice in CamSU”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Survey student opinions on big issues e.g. strike, pandemic”

Zak Coleman

(Image Credits: Zak Coleman)

Pronouns: He/him

College: Jesus

Subject: HSPS (Sociology Track)

Describe yourself in three words: “Professional, affordable, TRESemmé”

What do you stand for in five words: “Concrete action on students’ priorities”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Prioritising student welfare, fairness and climate action”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Getting a week 5 reading week implemented by Michaelmas 2022”

President (PG)

Anjum Nahar

(Image Credits: Anjum Nahar)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Murray Edwards

Subject: MPhil English

Describe yourself in three words: “Friendly, motivated, determined”

What do you stand for in five words: “Happiness, well-being, justice, equality, assurance”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I will improve the postgraduate student experience”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Secure funding, implement living wages, and all colleges to divest!”

Jenny Ward George

(Image Credits: Jenny Ward George)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Peterhouse

Subject: PhD Engineering

Describe yourself in three words: “Proactive, experienced, committed”

What do you stand for in five words: “PHEW! Pandemic, Housing, Economics, Welfare”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Driven to enact meaningful change for postgraduates”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “New university resources for students who have suffered domestic abuse”

Liam Webb

Liam Webb is also running for this role.

Access, Education and Participation Officer (UG)

Alex Roberts

(Image Credits: Alex Roberts)

Pronouns: He/him

College: Magdalene

Subject: NatSci (Psychology)

Describe yourself in three words: “Big bloody bisexual”

What do you stand for in five words: “Bring advantage to the disadvantaged”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I’ll give you access to my heart”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Access for all and bi all, not just the lucky”

Zaynab Ahmed

(Image Credits: Zaynab Ahmed)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Newnham

Subject: Classicist

Describe yourself in three words: “The mum friend”

What do you stand for in five words: “Making Cambridge accessible and personal”

Why people should vote for you in seven seconds: “Think ABBA: Take a Chance on Me”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Making Faculties more accessible, both online and in real life”

Access, Education and Participation Officer (PG)

Amelia Jabry

(Image Credits: Amelia Jabry)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Lucy Cavendish

Subject: MPhil Sociology

Describe yourself in three words: “Scrap App fees!”

What do you stand for in five words: “Scrap the postgraduate application fee”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I will scrap the postgraduate application fee”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Scrap fees which are a barrier to postgraduate access”

BME Officer

Tara Choudhury

(Image Credits: Tara Choudhury)

Pronouns: She/her

College: Sidney Sussex

Subject: History and Politics

Describe yourself in three words: “Sexy, northern and formidable”

What do you stand for in five words: “Meaningful progress on our terms”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I know how to get shit done”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “A completely new system for how racism is handled here”

Disabled Students’ Officer

Robin Denham

(Image Credits: Robin Denham)

Pronouns: He/him

College: Corpus Christi

Subject: MML

Describe yourself in three words: “Friendly neighbourhood homosexual”

What do you stand for in five words: “Nothing about us without us!”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Experience, enthusiasm, and thorough plans to boot”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Making accessibility default University procedure – our needs aren’t an afterthought!”

Anna Ward

(Image Credits: Anna Ward)

Pronouns: They/them,

College: Emmanuel

Subject: MML (Italian and French)

Describe yourself in three words: “Funny, gay, disabled”

What do you stand for in five words: “Equal opportunity for all students!”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I’ll be a wheely good DSO”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Funding and restructuring the DRC for more efficient student support”

Peter Jonathan Lucas

Peter Jonathan Lucas is also running for this role. His manifesto can be found here.

Women’s Officer

Milo Eyre-Morgan

(Image Credits: Milo Eyre-Morgan)

Pronouns: They/He

College: Newnham

Subject: Natural Sciences

Describe yourself in three words: “Bad at Brevity”

What do you stand for in five words: “Improving welfare for marginalised students”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Be poggers. Vote Milo. also material change”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Consent workshop training for clubs and societies, and in Lent.”

Welfare and Community Officer

Ben Dalitz

(Image Credits: Ben Dalitz)

Pronouns: They/them

College: St John’s

Subject: MPhil Classics

Describe yourself in three words: “Dedicated, experienced, caring”

What do you stand for in five words: “Student welfare through systemic change”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Will listen to students and centre liberation work”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Access to competent, well-funded welfare services and material support”

Ewan Hawkins

(Image Credits: Ewan Hawkins)

Pronouns: He/him

College: King’s

Subject: HSPS

Describe yourself in three words: “Friendly, experienced, organiser”

What do you stand for in five words: “Structural change through campaigns and community”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Improved wellbeing for all by tackling structural issues”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Adequate funding for the DRC, UCS and all Cambridge colleges”

Double Time Officer

Elliot Aitken

Elliot Aitken is running for this role. His manifesto can be found here.

University Councillor

Charli Hendy

(Image Credits: Charli Hendy)

Pronouns: She/her

College: St John’s

Subject: Archaeology

Describe yourself in three words: “Efficient”

What do you stand for in five words: “Welfare, decolonisation, support, solutions, transparency”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “I’m experienced, vocal, organised, practical and dedicated”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Reading week – see, I told you I was efficient”

Freddie Poser

Image Credits: Freddie Poser)

Pronouns: He/him

College: Gonville and Caius

Subject: Computer Science

Describe yourself in three words: “Experienced, driven, approachable”

What do you stand for in five words: “Justice and fairness for students”

Why people should vote for you in seven words: “Experience and drive to hold leadership accountable”

What is the number one policy you would implement if elected: “Continue keeping the university honest on divestment, covid and complaints”

Peter Jonathan Lucas

Peter Jonathan Lucas is also running for this role. His manifesto can be found here.

So those are all your candidates for this year’s elections! Polls open at 9 am on Monday 1st March. The full manifestos and more information about the candidates can be found here.

Feature image credit: Cambridge SU