SU21 - Bethany Moore for Welfare Officer

Hi, I’m Bethany Moore and I’m running to be your next Welfare Officer at Queen’s Students’ Union!

I’m running because I’ve experienced first-hand how our institution fails us. During my time at university I’ve struggled with anxiety, grief, increasing debt, dodgy landlords, and even dodgier housing.

Alongside this, I’ve completed 50 per cent of my degree during a pandemic. I know I’m not alone in my experience. For too long, student issues have been ignored and I want to ensure no student has to face these problems again.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us to a crisis point. Throughout the past year students have experienced extreme financial concerns, mental health issues, inadequate housing, academic pressures, excessive policing and fines, alongside scapegoating at the hands of the public and the press.

As Welfare Officer I want to ensure all students feel not only supported but empowered. It’s time our university is reminded that students are essential to their survival, so they need to deliver for us. Next year, I’d like to focus on fighting for better housing, advancing mental health services, improving access to the hardship fund and reforming exceptional circumstances.

Whether it’s dealing with dishonest landlords, illegal letting fees or extortionate accommodation rates: housing is one of the most prominent issues students face. I will continue the work of the Student Renter’s Group, inform students of their rights as tenants, and lobby the university to reduce their prices for university-owned accommodation. I also want to remove the Off-Campus Disciple policy, host a student survey to voice their opinion on accommodation security and re-train them where necessary. A student’s right to private life must be respected during their time at Queen’s.

In terms of mental health services, Queen’s has increased their awareness but not their actions. One in three students experience mental health issues for which they need professional help. For those students, a maximum of six counselling sessions per semester is unacceptable. I will oversee that all Course and School Representatives, personal tutors and other staff are trained in mental health first aid, as well as continuing the OMNI reports for accurate information on student mental health and lobbying for increased funding for services.

Despite the fact exceptional circumstances is there to help students, the current process at our university is difficult to navigate and increases student anxiety even further. The university needs to keep its new and increased self-certification timeline in place and provide further training for Course Representatives on how the procedure works. I also want to make the process more visible, through an online system where students will receive updates on their application and its progress.

Another priority of mine is getting Queen’s to make the hardship fund more accessible. It’s not good enough that 80 per cent of students are struggling financially and 45 per cent cannot cover their basic living expenses. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of applications to the hardship fund increased, but the amount the university accepted only rose by 0.4 percent. I will fight to increase funding to the hardship fund, hold regular sessions for students to explain the process and hold weekly “drop-in” sessions for students who are struggling with their finances and need someone to speak to.

Some other things I would like to achieve as Welfare Officer include creating an online student well-being resource centre, establishing a prominent campus community on the weekends, and increasing the sexual health drop-in clinic from one day to two.

I believe you should vote for me because, as we move forward together through this pandemic, students need a strong voice. I am a seasoned campaigner and prominent activist, who has recently been on the frontline of the Students Deserve Better campaign. I want to continue to advocate for you and the university experience you deserve.

If elected, I would ensure the days of unattainable mental health services, inaccessible financial support and unacceptable housing conditions are a thing of the past. We have a great opportunity to reform our well-being services, and I am ready to deliver better standards for all students.

From March 1 to 4, please vote Bethany Moore #1 for Welfare at qubsu.org. Let’s re-think student well-being, our way!

To see all the candidates running for this position, visit the QUB SU Website.