Kavya Nair - Vice President Communities

Encouraging collaboration between new societies and established ones

I have been able to enjoy my time at university because of the societies I joined and the lifelong community I found with people who shared similar interests as me. I would like to be someone who helps new and current students  have a better experience in this new stage of their lives. If I am elected, I will work towards bringing to the spotlight minority societies that do not receive as much recognition as other established societies. I plan on achieving this goal by encouraging smaller societies to collaborate with other well-known societies by creating opportunities for events to make collaborating a reality. My hope for this collaboration is that it will create an environment where individuals can connect with people they may not usually have an opportunity to interact with. In my experience, I have found that socialising with people who have different interests help broaden my perspectives and increase my curiosity in various aspects of life that I may never have experienced if not for those interactions.

Improving Perception of students in the local area

Students tend to get a bad reputation in the local community, sometimes through no fault of their own. I aim to work towards challenging this preconceived notion by organising community events like Clean-ups and Charity Drives where students can volunteer in the local community to contribute to its functioning. I would like to collaborate with local communities so that we can work together to change the narrative of students being disruptive to the community as we are an integral part of it here in Southampton.

Promoting mental health and wellbeing

Adjusting to university is a challenging experience for many including me. Promoting mental health and wellbeing is extremely important to me as someone who has struggled with mental health issues in my life before. I aim to organise events, like coffee mornings or craft evenings that can be a safe space for those who find the change university brings difficult.

Tackling isolation in student housing

Another aspect of uni life that can be distressing is the isolation someone may feel in halls. I was extremely lonely in my time at halls and I wish to tackle this issue by working closely with the ResLife team to organise more inclusive and low pressure events for students in accommodation.

Championing Diversity through Awareness Campaigns and Inclusive Events

As a queer woman of colour, I want to continue and build on the work that SUSU has already been doing. I have had the wonderful chance to learn about myself through the inclusivity that is woven into the fabric of SUSU’s values. I hope to work with the Vice President Inclusion to hold more events that celebrate our differences as humans and I would like to help the continued awareness campaigns that SUSU runs. These would include cross-cultural events, in collaboration with student societies. I would consider students’ opinions to better represent the student body as a whole.