2009 Lent (Spring) Elections

 

Click for the Nominations Form

 

The major round of elections for this year are on this term. Any student can run for each of the following positions:

 

1. Sabbatical officers

These are full-time, paid positions. Students take a year off during or after their studies to serve as full-time representatives. Those elected will serve from from July 2010 to July 2011.

Being a sabbatical officer is a rewarding experience. You lead and represent 9000 students to the university and wider community. If you want to maximise your impact at the LSE and gain valuable experience, and if you are up for the responsibility and leadership, run for a sabb position!

It is planned that the positions available will be:

General Secretary - Primary representative of LSE students to the School and the outside world, sitting on the main committees in the School. Takes a strategic overview of all activities and is ultimately responsible for the organisation’s actions. Equivalent to 'Student President' at most other universities.

Education Officer - The leading student voice on academic or education issues. Chair of the Education Assembly, and responsible for leading on academic affairs, teaching and learning, departments, national education issues (such as tuition fees) etc.

Community and Welfare Officer - Chair of the Welfare and Community Assembly, and lead in coordinating halls/accommodation issues, environment and ethics, healthy living, student support, community relations, citizenship, widening participation, societal campaigns, and so on.

Activities and Development Officer - Chair of the Activities Assembly, they would be responsible for developing student activities (societies, AU, Media Group, RAG, volunteering), developing volunteers and activists, peer-to-peer activities, developing the ‘University Community’.

If you would like to know more about what it is like to be a sabbatical officer, drop into the Kingsley Rooms in the East Building to talk to any of the current four sabbs, or email them.

A fifth position, Postgraduate Officer, is a part time paid position, and will be elected in October 2010.

 

2. Part-time executive officers.

The part-time officers sit on the Executive Committee and undertake responsibilities relevant to their area of responsibility. These are voluntary positions and students perform the role part-time while studying.

It is planned that the positions available will be:

Athletics Union (AU) President - takes the lead role in representing
the interests and members of the Athletics Union in the Union and the
School. Along with the Activities and Development Officer, develops and
strengthens sports at the LSE.
Anti-Racism Officer - runs campaigns and events aimed at eliminating
and countering all forms of discrimination based on race, religion or
nationality. Supports students who have been victimised by racism.
Disabled Students' Officer - represents the interests of students with disabilities,
wellbeing issues, or illness to the Union and the School. Works with the staff student
disabilities network. Plans awareness campaigns and events.
Environment and Ethics Officer - develops sustainability initiatives at the LSE,
and runs campaigns on issues of ecology, social justice, peace and solidarity. International Students' Officer - represents the views of International Students to the Students' Union and the School. Works with students and societies to promote events and campaigns with an international flavour.
LGBT Students’ Officer - coordinates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) campaign to tackle homophobia and defend,
extend and deepen the rights of LGBT students.
Women’s Officer - represents female students within the Union to ensure
equality. Runs campaigns on issues that are important to female students.

 

3. Positions on committees

Democracy Committee - (5 vacancies) This is a group of students who meet regularly and have final responsiblity for constitutional issues. They have a judicial function, being the final point of appeal in disputes within the Students' Union. These are elected every March and serve for one year. From October 2010, the chair of the UGM and The Returning Officer will come from the 5 students elected to the Democracy Committee.

This would appeal to any students interested in democracy and the rule of law.

 

Student members on the Board of Trustees - (3 vacancies) These will serve on the Board of Trustees. This board has a distinct function from the political aspects of the Students Union, and instead focuses on the long-term financial stability of the Union. This is a high-calibre role because it requires you to be ultimately responsible for staff and the financial health of the Union.

Each student member will serve for two years, or until you cease being a student.

 

To run for ANY position, you must submit a completed nomination form to Students' Union Reception (East Building, Houghton St) by 5pm on Monday February 22

Click for the Nominations Form

 

Key dates are:

• February 22 Nominations close
• February 25 Candidates' Question and Answer session at UGM
• February 25 Campaigning begins
• March 3 Voting opens
• March 4 Voting closes; results night in the Quad

 

If you have any questions about the elections, the positions or the process, please contact the Democracy Coordinator Hamish Oakley on 020 7107 5410 or h.w.oakley@lse.ac.uk