Students and Education, not Capital and Profit
In many ways, I feel there is an irony to my running for this position; my experience in education has always felt like a battle. I have gone to, left and been pushed out of many an institution, never having been properly supported with my chronic pain and fatigue disability. Constantly shouting into what felt like the vacuum about how deeply corrupt our curriculums are, rooted in a strong banking model that merely upholds the colonialist and classist legacy of this country. Left frustrated and hopeless, I always believed that higher education would never be a space that catered to me. To many of us who have had similar past experiences, Goldsmiths seemed to promise to be better.
However, Goldsmiths falsely promotes itself as a space that encourages radical change and critical thought. While organising on campus, it became instantly obvious that senior management will consistently ignore the student body and their demands, as evidenced by their treatment of Goldsmiths for Palestine and GARA (Goldsmiths Anti-Racist Action). Post-occupation, the University has failed to meet their demands. Continually refusing to divest from the ongoing genocide, starvation and blockade of Palestinians, and failing to address racism on campus. The university’s management does not care about the voices of the students who desperately want change.
Instead, its sole interest lies in creating profit; courses are cut, and staff are made redundant. During an ever increasing cost of living crisis, I know full well the struggles working-class students face on campus. I have been working in hospitality alongside studying since I was a 14 year old kitchen porter. Working 20-30 hours a week on top of education is significantly fatiguing, making it near impossible to focus and meet workloads. Disproportionately affecting students who work late into the night or the early morning and handle unpredictable shift patterns and zero-hour contracts. I will push for all campus jobs to pay London living wage, and ensure that all student employees have shift patterns that best reflect their needs.
Students who are struggling are told to simply work full-time over the summer to save up for the year to come. But the result is that students are also unable to gain experience in their desired field. University no longer pays off. I will pressure the SMT for more opportunities for students to gain positive practical experience during their time here. Accessibility support on campus is meagre to say the least and depends on a lengthy, taxing DSA application. Waiting lists for initial assessments are long and appointments hard to get. As an SU officer, I will advocate for better support for disabled students and others who are similarly disadvantaged. Additionally, make it clear that my door is always open to support any student with difficulties accessing education, help with filling out applications, make phone calls that often feel like no one is truly listening, and provide any other support someone may need.
Although misguided and hypocritical, I still hold a strong love for Goldsmiths. For the supportive tutors who work extremely hard and who I would not still be here without. And for the people I have met here, who I have learnt endlessly from and continue to both inspire and push me. With this in hand, I will fight and continue the push for radical and democratic education. One that is not solely motivated by wealth and profit, but creates the conditions for liberation through co-learning that actively challenges the hegemony of the colonialist canon. For an Education that is constituted by and for Goldsmiths students.