The Better Staffs forum is a way to hold your Student Officers to account, while suggesting things that you think need to be changed at Staffordshire University. Any student can submit an idea online at any time. The forum is open to all students where a discussion and eventual vote will be held surrounding the new ideas. You can get involved this Thursday 13th at 12 noon, by coming to the Union Space above the Ember Lounge.
Many of you have been suggesting things that need to be discussed to help shape the future of Staffordshire University, which is amazing. Getting involved and potentially benefitting not only yourself but thousands of students in the future is something to really be proud of. Here are some of the suggestions you have made:
Trans Liberation Network – Fiona Wood
Fiona is pushing towards having a Trans Liberation Network here at Staffs, to accompany our other Networks such as the Disabled Students Network, the LBG Network, the Women’s Network and the Multi-Cultural Network.
Our students’ union was the first to have a trans officer, president and member of the NUS, while also being the first trans student to lead and work with the university to write policy for them. Fiona believes we need to be at the forefront again by being the first to bring in a Trans Liberation Network.
There is a difference between gender and sexuality, and Fiona believes that this is the reason that the Trans Network needs to be created rather than being with the LGB Network, who if created, the Trans Network will work very closely with.
Food Pantries on campus – Alex Dyas
Alex believes that it would be a good idea to create a couple of food pantries on around the campus to be used by our students.
Food pantries are owned and managed by the community, in this case the University and partners of it. The food will be available 24 hours a day, to anyone that needs it.
When the system works, it really improves a community and reduces anxiety surrounding food.
Market Research surrounding food options – Fiona Wood
After witnessing a vegan student be stumped by not having much choice in one of the Union eateries, Fiona feels that now is the time to ask the Students’ Union to do some market research to see whether the food on offer on campus is viable for students of any diet.
This means that, if needs be, there will potentially be more food on offer for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores throughout the university campus to make sure that dietary needs are met.
More Parking, More Information – Callum Holland
Callum believes that more parking should be available for students, and that information on where student’s cars can be kept and the type of permits on offer/needed should be available much sooner. He also suggests the possibility of allocated parking spaces.
He believes that providing students with more information will help them decide whether to bring a car with them, and will lessen the worry of not being able to park on or near campus and having to find a space for your car that is not monitored by the university.
Borrow DVDs for longer than one day – Sam Pillow
The library has a vast array of DVDs, Blu-Rays and boxsets available to loan out. Sam believes that it would be great if the loan time could be increased so that items can be kept for longer than one day.
The selection within the library is surprisingly broad, and Sam believes that more people will use the entertainment section of it much more if they know they can keep the item for longer than a day.
To get involved go to www.staffsunion.com/betterstaffs