Explore this year’s Candidates
The Students’ Union is here to represent every student at Surrey on the issues that matter most; it’s our mission as a charity to enrich students’ lives – whoever you are.
With this responsibility, it’s really important that all voters are able to make an informed choice about the team that will be representing you next year. On this page, you’ll find details provided by all candidates in this year’s election and the issues that they want to focus most on if elected. Two candidates are eligible in this election but did not provide a manifesto: Gayathri Bindu Karunakaran for VP Support and Tracey Madut for Voice Zone.
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About the Support Zone
The Support Zone leads on wellbeing, equality and diversity, and our advice services at the Students’ Union. It’s led by a full-time VP Support and 5 part-time student volunteers.
The Vice-President Support is the full-time officer who is responsible for Union support services, advocating for students to those who provide support services and ensuring that students are able to support those around them
The Support Zone operates within the areas as defined in the VP role description as well as broader support and campaign issues. Students with a passion for student wellbeing, campaigning and helping others should consider standing for the Support Zone.
About the Voice Zone
The Voice Zone leads on student opinion and democracy at the Students’ Union. It’s led by a full-time VP Voice and 5 part-time student volunteers.
The Vice-President Voice (VP Voice) is the full-time officer who takes responsibility for keeping democracy at the heart of the Students’ Union, working on student surveys and feedback, supporting student-led change campaigns and ensuring that students are represented on a local and national scale/level.
The Voice Zone operates within the areas as defined in the VP role description as well as broader Voice Zone and campaign issues, for example national demonstrations or consultations. Students with a passion for issues, campaigning, speaking up and fighting causes should consider standing for the Voice Zone.
About the Community Zone
The Community Zone leads on building a strong student community at Surrey, aswell as all our showcase events at the Students’ Union. It’s led by a full-time VP Community, a part-time Raising and Giving Chair, and 4 part-time student volunteers.
The Vice-President Community (VP Community) is the full-time lead officer for social activity & events that bring students together, and representing the views of students within the campus community and the local community. They are also the lead officer for sustainability projects within the Union.
The RAG (Raising and Giving) Chair is a part time Exec role responsible for leading the Union’s RAG activities and coordinating the fundraising of the Students’ Union, giving students the opportunity to raise money and awareness for causes that matter to them. The RAG Chair attends the Students’ Union Executive Committee as a voting member.
The Community Zone operates within the areas as defined in the VP role description as well as broader community and campaign issues, for example housing. Students with a passion for events, entertainment, building community relations and volunteering should consider standing for the Community Zone.
About the President
The Union President is the lead representative of the Students’ Union and as this is the lead officer position. This position is a combination of all four Zones and being the leader involves grasping important student issues, managing the Vice-Presidents, managing the Students’ Union CEO, Chairing the Students’ Union Board of Trustees and having a vision for the organisation. The President is also a trustee of the University, making this officer a voting member of University Council.
About the Union Chair
The Union Chair is the only full time student that is a trustee of the Union and a part time officer. This officer chairs the Union Executive Committee (Exec) and is the lead student representative – responsible for leading the conversation, holding elected officers to account and upholding the Union’s byelaws and policies.
About the Activity Zone
The Activity Zone leads on individual development, participation in activity, and supporting all the clubs and societies at the Students’ Union. It’s led by a full-time VP Activity, a part-time Surrey Societies Chair, a part-time Team Surrey Chair, and 3 part-time student volunteers.
The Vice-President Activity (VP Activity) is the full-time officer who leads on encouraging students to get involved in something extra-curricular of their studies, for their personal growth and individual development.
The Societies Chair is a part-time member of the Activity Zone and the Union Executive. As a member of the Activity Zone, the Societies Chair represents and promotes the interests of Union Society members within this zone, as well as co-represent the views of the Activity Zone in Union Executive meetings where they can vote on what should or shouldn’t be Union policy.
The Team Surrey Chair is a part-time member of the Activity Zone and the Union Executive. As a member of the Activity Zone, the Team Surrey Chair represents and promotes the interests of Sports Club members within this Zone, as well as co-representing the views of the Activity Zone in Union Executive meetings where they can vote on what should or shouldn’t be Union policy
There are three part time officer roles within the Activity Zone, who work with the team on the responsibilities of the Activity Zone. At the beginning of the year, the responsibilities within the Activity Zone will be distributed between Zone members by the VP Activity. Members of the Activity Zone will work together on the aims of the Zone.
