Plymouth Gazette are working with UPSU during this student election cycle to bring the candidates to you in their own words, unedited and unabridged to represent their true personalities and passion. These are Sushma Pandurangan’s answers to our questions. Sushma is running for VP Wellbeing and Diversity.
Why are you running for your role?
I’ve always abeen actively interested in politics – whether it was regional, national or international. I want to make positive changes to our student community in regards to wellbeing and diversity – two topics I’m incredibly passionate about and what can be a better way to implement this than becoming the vice president of wellbeing and diversity?
What makes you different to the other candidates running?
As a first-generation immigrant being authentic and upholding my identity is incredibly important to me. I understand the significance of diversity, inclusion and one’s wellbeing in a community and how pivotal it is in order for it to thrive. I already have experience dealing with issues relating to young people and running campaigns at a regional level when I was a board member for the National Citizen’s Service Regional Youth Board. I think that this sets me apart and differentiates me from other candidates as I believe I can understand the needs and wants of students from all walks of life, be able to communicate their voices and represent them at university level.
In what way will you improve the influence of the student voice on the way that the university and SU operates?
I’m very vocal about things that I am passionate about and I never shy down from a debate or an opportunity to make a positive change. I believe I am very approachable and untimately, I will work tirelessly to ensure that student’s voices are heard. As VP of Wellbeing and Diversity, I will endeavour to be the direct bridge that connects the students to the university and the SU.
If you could only pass through one of your policies this year, what would it be and why?
COVID-19 has made a negative monetary impact on the vast majority of students. I will work to ensure that the university experience is accessible regardless of socio-economic backgrounds to both our new students starting in September 2021, and to those returning to campus once again. Therefore, should I be elected as VP Wellbeing and Diversity, a policy that I would love to pass through and work on will be organising campaigns to raise awareness of class culture and destigmatising the apprehensions/conservations around money.
What approach are you going to take this year regarding working virtually and in person during your time in office?
I want to run an ‘open door policy clinic’ – whether it be having a conversation about any concerns students may have in person or letting it be widely known that they can contact me over email and social media at any time. I will dedicate my time to ensure that students experience a positive university life regardless of who they are as an individual and that they get the support that they need.
Do you think there should be more emphasis placed onto students to either get their work and research published in academic journals or to compete representing the university in their sports clubs/societies? Why?
As a current Biomedical Sciences student, I understand how imperative it is to get our work and research published in academic journals. It has shown to improve the chances of employment, gets the university recognised at international levels, enables students to connect to faculty members in a way that might not be possible within a lecture or laboratory setting and also helps students connect with other professionals and researchers within their field, thus providing new opportunities for collaboration and future study. Whilst I agree there is currently a good level of emphasis placed onto students in getting their work and research published within certain schools, I will liaise with the appropriate individuals and teams to ensure that this emphasis is placed at a university level irrespective of the faculty and ensure students are actively encouraged and educated about its benefits. In regards to sports clubs/societies – I believe that there is already sufficient emphasis placed onto students to represent the university and that this should be something that continues as it creates a sense of community within students whilst also improving inter-university relations and opportunities to network and socialise with students from other universities.
How will you improve the university services digitally and in person?
I want to be able to develop a way of ‘checking in’ to a particular service or faculty offices digitally (e.g., a tile in the university app/a link in the university website to show their place in a virtual queue showing an average wait time etc.). I believe this will improve communication between the university services and students, avoid frustrations and mass queuing during in-person assessment submissions and make way for effective responses as students can have an approximation of time in which their enquiry will be dealt with.
Students can vote from the 26/02 – 05/03 on the UPSU website