Officer Blogs

Experience & Community Officer Blog

Hi I’m Sophie, your elected Activities & Community Officer. I came to Keele in 2020, from a little town called Solihull on the outskirts of Birmingham to study a dual honours in Forensic science and Psychology. However, at the end of ym first year I realised my heart was with forensics and so moved onto the Masters in Forensic and Analytical Sciences course. I first got involved in the SU when I joined craft, KRAP and American Football back in my second year, as my first year was spent in COVID.

I have been a part of 12 different clubs and societies during my time here. Outside of my role I am interested in music, from Taylor Swift to Bring Me The Horizon, and a bit of musical theatre here and there.  I’m also obsessed with my baby boy, Gizmo, who is a tiny chihuahua who will sometimes come and visit me on campus in my lunch break or after work, in his bumblebee harness.  

I ran for Experience and Community officer because I saw the impact I had in my many volunteer roles I had alongside studying, and really felt like I could have a positive impact doing this full time.  

My priorities: 

  • Give societies the representation they deserve and give clubs the support they need to flourish. 
  • Make an inclusive SU and build a strong supportive community. 
  • Ensure students feel prepared to apply for jobs, university should give them the skills they need to succeed. 

I love Keele because I love the close community feel. We might be one of the biggest campuses, but it feels like everyone knows everyone. 

The advice I’d give students this year is to push yourself! Do things you haven't done before, meet new people, study new things. But if there's things you feel you're only doing out of obligation or the words of others, let go, and do what's truly you, not what others say you should be.  

Talk to me about...  

  • Clubs  
  • Societies  
  • Careers and Employability 
  • International student issues 
  • Mature student issues 
  • Local student issues 
  • Commuter student issues 
  • Activities and Events 

Email me at su.communityofficer@keele.ac.uk

October UGM 2024

Posted on Wed 30 Oct 2024 at 15:38

Welcome to my first blog post as your Experince and Community Officer!!! 

So since I started back in July, I've spent the first two months in training, learning everything I can about university processes and different sections, and meeting lots of new people, some in very executive positions. September was mostly just spent preparing for Welcome Week, where we accepted 8 new societies, and had the club and society sign up fair, where each and every club and society got to showcase the awesome things they're planning to do this year.  

I gave several graduation ceremony speeches over summer for all of the 2024 graduates, including my own Forensic MSci peers. I also gave out several ‘Introduction to the SU’ talks, both visiting different introduction sessions in each subject, and giving talks to freshers who came to the SU. 

For welcome week and the first week of studies, I managed to get all students 40% off at Harper Collins, the book publishers, and our book club were able to extend that offer for the first month. They were also given the option of 30% off for any 'book of the month' which come from Harper Collins.  

In October, I have been working with each of the club captains/presidents to create one document with all information relating to how peoples gender identity and their sex assigned at birth affects which competitions and trainings they can attend. This document is specifically for trans and non-binary students so they can have all the information in one place, and they are not forced to possibly out themselves and hopefully avoid any conversation they may not want to have.  

There is now currently a space in The Hub where you can get free plates, bowls, cutlery, glasses, mugs, pans, and mostly other kitchen equipment bit also other bits and bobs for free. This is all under the great donate scheme where all the items have been donated by Keele students and staff who no longer need them. 

There have been multiple societies that have reached out to me about an issue with timetabling regarding the room booking confirmation. I have been in contact with timetabling, and this is something which is larger than just societies. However, there is now guidance as to what societies, and other student groups who wish to use a room can follow should this happen again, so that there is no detriment to students. 

We held diversity fest last week which was a great success and we managed to fill the whiteboard full of greetings from all over the world, plus we gave out 300 free noodle pots.  

Looking forward to an awesome November and December! 

Sophie 

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