SU23 - Our questions to Campaigns and Engagement officer candidates
Questions to Campaigns and Engagement candidate, Preksha Jain
What’s your number one priority?
Preksha: I couldn’t prioritise anything more than bringing for all students a fair opportunity and exposure at Queen’s University. Between all the struggles of balancing academics, extra-curricular activities, clubs and societies, friends, family and other commitments, the struggles of managing expenses, being overcharged for things, facing discrimination, loneliness, struggling to understand a new country or a new university and struggling to get a part-time job, a placement or an internship really takes a toll. Especially if you have a one year postgraduate. Before you begin to get a hang of it, it’s slipped by.
My priority is to help the students get the right kick start so they have an equal opportunity and exposure through the course of the year.
What active steps will you take to improve student housing?
Preksha: 1) Provide dietary friendly housing opportunities in the existing accommodations keeping the allergens in mind such that the accommodation can be as inclusive as possible.
2) Give students a safe space to create action against landlords and agents upon issues like high rent, unresponsiveness, horrible housing and lying about the conditions, amongst others.
3) Provide free access to the gym for all students.
6 months after you start, in what tangible ways will clubs and societies be better supported?
Preksha: 1) Be it a sports club, an arts club or a club related to literature and academics, every club needs a kinesthetic experience with a chance to be a part of the magic in person. I will create the opportunity for every club to open one tour or trip to something that resonates to that particular society by lobbying grants specific to that cause.
2) Structuring better marketing platforms for societies and better social media and graphics training to reach the students in time such that neither the students nor the clubs miss out on opportunities.
How have your personal experiences shaped your manifesto?
Preksha: To spend a holiday in a foreign country with little to no friends and a struggle finding a job? It was so strenuous. That moment I knew that if I could I would help all students access a network of part time jobs and/or holiday clubs and ongoing events that they can always participate in.
Owing to frequent transfers in my father’s job, I have lived in various cities and have experienced being the “new girl” at every school. Over the years this helped me identify myself, and realize who I wanted to be as a person. This confidence broke down during the lockdown, my time was spent in being extremely anti-social, instead of tapping into online avenues to stay in touch with people, I slipped back into my cocoon. From being in that cocoon to coming into a foreign country and getting challenged at every step, it was a massive leap. It was that drive that shaped my manifesto.
And finally, what three items would you bring to a desert island to pass the time?
Preksha: To pass the time? Oh, what a privilege!
I love to read so my first instinct says a book, but I would probably finish it too quickly…Catch-22 finally perhaps? I would rather take my pen and a notebook so that I could finally complete my half-written book. And lastly something productive?...a multi-language dictionary or guide because as much as I love learning languages I don’t find enough time.
To see all the candidates running, visit the Queen’s SU website