At University lots of people get involved in student life usually by either joining societies, sports clubs, or media groups. A role that people may not know about though is the Union's Equality Champions.
At University lots of people get involved in student life usually by either joining societies or sometimes even becoming a part of the Union. A role that people may not know about though at RGU for students is Equality Champions.
I’m the Women’s Champion so let’s find out a bit more about who we are and what we do!
The Students’ Union introduced Equality Champions in 2013/14. These are students who self-define into protected characteristics and minority groups, and act as ambassadors for their equality strands. The current Equality Champions at RGU are Kevinna Harrigan LGBT+ Champion, Carol Mapley Mature and LGBT+ Champion, Opeyemi Oladejo Faith and Belief Champion and finally there’s me, Anna MacIver Women’s Champion.
Our role is to contribute and provide challenge to the Equality and Diversity Advisory Group in the equality strand being championed, seek the engagement of employees and students in the work and activities of the Equality and Diversity Advisory Group, provide leadership in the University in the area championed, keep up to date on developments in the area championed and actively contribute to the implementation of the Equality and Diversity Annual Plan.
As an Equality Champion another part of our role is to also host liberation weeks where we will be leading campaigns and representing the views of various liberations groups at RGU to ensure that there is a vibrant and diverse culture at RGU, which is safe and free from discrimination and prejudice.
The liberation weeks so far have been the 22nd to the 26th February for LGBT+, 11th to the 15th April for Disability and 7th March to the 11th March for Women.
For this years Women’s Equality weeks I planned a range of events. There was a Safe Space meeting, Women in Leadership events and also a talk with SNP MP Kirsty Blackman.
As my role as an Equality Champion I want to continue to work with Yvonne Ofordu, RGU’s new part-time President of Education and Welfare, to organise Safe Spaces so students can come talk to us about any problems they’re facing and changes that they feel need to be made at the University and also to work with other societies such as the Feminist Society.
You can contact Anna by emailing womenschampion@rguunion.co.uk