Hello Everyone! My name is Virajit Singh and I am from Bhopal, India. You have probably seen me at Pret for my caffeine fix between lectures. I am currently in my Second Year of an Undergraduate course in International Development, and I have decided to run for the Student Trustee position in this year’s Students’ Union Elections. 

The Student Trustee position is one of paramount importance to your experience as a student. The role itself involves the protection of students’ rights and making sure that the students’ experience is kept at the centre of every move taken by the Students’ Union. The role is also critical, in the sense that it is necessary not only to ensure that today’s students, but the cohorts from years to come, have the best possible experience at this University. As your prospective Student Trustee, it would be my responsibility to ensure that the present and future cohorts benefit from a university that is SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE and ACCESSIBLE.

As a part of my vision for this role, I believe that it is critical to make sure that the student's experience is kept at the centre of all decision making.  The main pillars of candidacy are JUST FUNDING, IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION, INCLUSION and ACCOUNTABILITY.

JUST FUNDING :

• An issue that is prominent is the DISPARITY IN FUNDING across societies in our university.Having experienced this firsthand, all university societies should have the necessary funds so that students can benefit from the perks of a well funded society.
• If Elected Student Trustee I aim to INCREASE THE FUNDING OF OUR SPORTS TEAMS as many of our sports teams even though they represent our university in London wide and national leagues struggle to stay afloat and have to self fund themselves which I find to be extremely disheartening  and it is often that the members of these teams have to end up self funding multiple expenses. I DO NOT THINK IT IS FAIR  FOR STUDENTS TO SELF FUND THEIR INTERESTS WHILE AT SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY.
• Coming from India and discovering a new passion in sports at Kings, I have felt the burden of disproportionate funding and the effects it has on a team’s ability to perform. As your Student trustee I WILL ENSURE THAT ALL SPORTS TEAMS HAVE ALL THE FUNDING THEY NEED and that FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED FAIRLY AND EQUALLY so that STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION.
• Another major problem is the COST OF LIVING CRISIS  which has made multiple societies inaccessible, as a student trustee I PROMISE TO COMBAT FINANCIAL INACCESSIBILITY so that ALL STUDENTS  CAN HAVE ACCESS  TO ALL SOCIETIES  at Kings REGARDLESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC PREDICAMENT.  

IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION :

• INDUSTRIAL ACTION  is a problem that plagues our  university and it is IMPERATIVE that our STUDENTS HAVE OPTIONS TO CONTEST FOR REFUNDS but IT IS next to IMPOSSIBLE due to ADMINISTRATIONAL  INEFFICIENCY and THE COMPLICATED REFUND SYSTEM. If elected trustee I aim to tackle this issue of inefficiency by working closely with the other members of the student union and  DEMAND THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION TO REFORM ITS WAYS.

• A SUBPAR ADMINISTRATION also presents  many hurdles to students and teachers as it can affect the QUALITY OF EDUCATION as it may lead to LACK OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT  for students or MISCOMMUNICATION by the faculty due to poor administration .  As a student trustee I aim to tackle this issue by bridging the gap between the students and faculty  by voicing your concerns to the Sabbatical officers so that your quality of education does not degrade.

• AS a Student trustee  I  Promise to  IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES at Kings by making the KING’S GP MORE ACCESSIBLE and ENSURE there is  ABUNDANT ACCESS to STUDENT COUNSELLING for those who need it so OUR FELLOW STUDENTS FEEL BEST SUPPORTED.

 

   INCLUSION :

• Our  student community is very rich in diversity so it is quintessential that all students may it be students of faith, students who come from an ethnic minority, international students, domestic students, undergraduates , postgraduates and disabled students all have a say in the working of the union and have a  union that will serve them to the best of its ability.If elected I will ensure that the student union FACTORS IN the NEEDS of EVERY STUDENT GROUP in its decision making. 

• If elected I promise to raise  awareness about the Student Union and its workings so that the student community can be more educated about the body that represents them so that no student feels DISENFRANCHISED. 

• I  PROMISE to be an IMPARTIAL TRUSTEE and that I will give equal importance to the concerns raised by each and every one of you.

ACCOUNTABILITY :

• The student union is a body that is elected by you to serve you , hence it is IMPERATIVE that the STUDENT UNION and ITS MEMBERS are HELD ACCOUNTABLE for all of the decisions they make.
• I will use the powers given to me in this position to SCRUTINISE THE UNION and HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE  and ENSURE that the decisions taken by the Trustee Board and its committee serve each and everyone of your needs.
• I aim to ensure that EVERY DECISION MADE BY THE UNION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE and that anyone can access the records of the student union  so that any student can raise questions to me and the Student Union about the decisions made by the union which affects them.

 Vote for someone who is built for the job. All of the skills I have acquired so far will be critical to this campaign and my prospective term as your KCL Student Trustee. My campaign is based on honesty and integrity. If elected, I will act in accordance as such.

Please feel free to contact me on my email - [email protected] or my instagram virajit4trustee if you have any questions or queries.I want to be as accessible as I can.