President’s Column

Representation: I spend more of my time on this than anything else, but what does it mean? To me, it means I have to figure out what 15,000 students at Durham from over a hundred different countries and an array backgrounds think.

Sometimes this is quite straightforward, such as last week when I represented Durham students by complaining on their behalf to the council about their failure to grit busy pavements and footpaths leading to some nasty accidents and many delays. I am fairly certain that we can all agree that this is something that needs improving.

However, what view should I take if something were to happen that would benefit some students at the expense of others? What if (to make clear this is a hypothetical example and not actually going to happen) Collingwood were going to take over Grey’s tennis courts. Would I have to support Collingwood as they are bigger and therefore represent the majority opinion or Grey as they would be a disadvantaged minority? Answers to this one on a postcard to Dunelm house!

Sometimes opportunities to represent students come to me, such as the drafting of the University’s new strategic plans. I have been making sure that students and their needs feature in it. Other times, students come to me with issues they want to be represented on, such as international students having concerns over the new government laws on immigration.

If you have any worries, concerns or issues you think I should be working on please let me know. You can email me (dsu.president@durham.ac.uk) or come and see me in my office on the top floor of Dunelm house. It is my job to represent you.

While I am here, thanks to everyone who voted in the NUS elections, the results are now online on the DSU website and I hope you all have a relaxing Christmas holiday.