Each year in February, students put themselves forward to run for a full-time, paid position as a Student Leader. They campaign for votes and every Essex student will have an equal chance to 'vote like a student' and choose who they want to be elected into each of the 6 roles. This is the SU Leadership Election.

Manifesto

Candidate for the position of Union Chair - all campuses

KIERAN PHILLIPS

Less SU, more S-YOU

I’m back and running again to continue improving the SU student parliament for YOU.

We have all had difficult challenges to face this year both at university with strikes and Covid and in personal lives but two things continue to unite us, the experience of being an Essex uni student and our determination to be heard and demand better for each and every one of us. Progress has been made this year, but it is too slow, and I am not ready to give up that easily.

So what will you get if you vote for me? A hardworking, passionate chair who wants to continue listening and learning from you guys. This year I've been on campus a lot attending events and chatting with reps and students to see what more we can do to better represent you. I am very passionate about the SU and ensuring we represent the students and demand better from the university to help you. Above all, if I am elected to serve once again then parliaments’ voice must be your voice and no-one else's. If you ever see me around campus (most likely in Buffalo Joes) I am always happy for you to come and tell me what we can improve because only by hearing what is not working can I ensure that parliament and the SU works for us all.

If re-elected, I will continue to focus on and work harder than ever to improve parliament through the channels I've learnt to use this year and the constructive relationships that I have built with senior members of the University. I want to carry on my work in ensuring we represent student’s interests and ONLY student’s interests. I would carry on my work with reps and officers to improve how they reach out to communities because we have to stop thinking we know all the problems and instead find out the problems from you throughout the year. I would work to ensure parliament produces action instead of statements because, as students, we need to see progress not just hear about it as actions speak louder than words. Re-electing me means allowing me to carry on making sure parliament is better known because reps cannot be held accountable if you do not know who they are. How can reps and officers represent you if they don’t even speak to you! Finally, we have made great progress this year within the SU but more work is needed especially with the university and so if I am re-elected the excuses will stop with me but the accountability and fight for students needs will continue until I get the answers YOU deserve.

If you want a chair who listens, who cares, who will fight for what YOU want, then vote Kieran Phillips for union chair because we need to be less SU and more S – YOU. Make the right choice and I’ll keep fighting for YOUR voice.