SU21 - The Scoop Meets Presidential Candidate, Callum Dann
The Scoop profiles Students’ Union presidential hopeful, Callum Dann.
History and Politics student Callum Dann decided to run for SU President after a number of encounters as work. As Residential Assistant, he became aware of student issues which had been repeatedly overlooked by Queen’s and the SU.
“I have dealt with people who feel like they just can’t go on and I have dealt with people who just want a hug. But what I always realise throughout my interactions, is that students are constantly being berated from everyone. It is constant, relentless. Someone has to stand up for us, someone has to tell the Uni they are getting it wrong.”
The 19-year-old was born in Carshalton, a small village in the outer ring of London known for a little church built over a pond. He and his older brother and sister were brought up by his mother in what he described as an “average” upbringing.
While attending a comprehensive school, Callum had a number of experiences which opened his eyes to the world of politics and a state of inequality which needed to be addressed.
He’s visited Kenya three times, bringing large bags of clothing and food to donate each time. He called the experience “a very hard-hitting lesson very early in my life. Be grateful for everything and help whenever you can.”
With long-term goals of becoming an admiralty barrister, Callum was advised to choose a degree in something he enjoyed before converting it. As a self-proclaimed history nerd and long-time debater, History and Politics was a natural choice. As for the decision to come to Queen’s, it was all about seeing the world.
“How could I not? I was fed up with England, I wanted to see more of the world and Queen’s is a world-renowned research university with a fantastic module choice for the course I wanted!”
Having met his two best friends in first year accommodation at BT1, Callum says the University experience is really about who you meet. Many a night has been spent in meeting new friends in classic nightlife spots.
However, beyond nights out at Kremlin, his experience at Queen’s hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. Like many, he has had to battle with lectures to get sufficient responses to questions and emails, going as far as to take the issue to the Head of School.
“Who was I to dare expect an email response from an educator? For an education I’m paying for…”
He was particularly disappointed to hear the introduction of the £250 fine and two-week suspension rule at the start of lockdown last year.
“It made me so incredibly mad. Who do they think they are? They are reporting the honest lot, those students who are having the worst times of their lives. Those students who need help, not fined. It is still crazy to me.”
As a Residential Assistant, Callum has been saturated in seeing inequality and struggle on campus. But one happier instance which stood out was during a check-in shift in Elms BT9.
Callum noticed someone staring at him and later found out that they had noticed the rainbow flag on his socks. After coming from a small village and seeing the socks so openly on display, he knew he was in a safe place. A place he could be himself and be open.
“Just from a pair of socks, I made someone feel that way? First impressions really do count and being inclusive is so frigging important!”
Through this work, Callum has been inspired by his fellow students who carry on with life and work despite suffering and difficulty.
“You don’t have to look far for inspiration. You just have to be willing to listen and I’m so grateful for my role as an RA. It has given me more inspiration than any other job.”
Callum has been balancing his campaign work with ongoing online lectures and 12-hour shifts volunteering in London. He said the campaign has been “awfully busy” but “fun”.
“I love being active, I love doing things. I’m really not a sit behind a desk kind of person – I hate staying in bed for any longer than I have to.”
As a second-year student, Callum is the only candidate running who is still a student. As such, he is passionate about taking control of the decisions which will impact his final year, as well as the students who are voting. He said that the decisions are beyond politics.
“It’s about the livelihood of us students, it’s about our futures. I could not be any more passionate about it.”
“It keeps me up at night thinking about how much injustice there is and how much we need to fight it. And it is that burning feeling that makes me think I’m right for the job, because I wholeheartedly believe I could be the change I want to see.”
And it’s with this passion that Callum hopes to get elected as the next president of Queen’s Students’ Union.
Amy Murray is Deputy Head of News at The Scoop.