Demographics

One of the inadequacies of the current officer structure is that responsibility for mature student representation does not sit in any officer role, but is allocated at the beginning of the year. This year it fell to me.

Generally I haven't pushed the issue as much as it should be pushed but last week there was a forum for mature students to come and share their concerns about the union and the university. It was a mixed success but I did have a good conversation with several people including Nelson, who is the mature students rep on Union Council. The man is an inspiration.

As well as his full-time law degree he also works full-time hours at the post office, is in training to become a driving instructor, is a husband and father and he still has put time into coming to Students Union Council meetings. He told me he had got up at 3am the previous two nights so that he could do his coursework. Now that is dedication.

The demographics of university are changing, with more local students, mature students, postgraduate students and international students. This presents challenges to students' unions in terms of engaging this broader membership and we should look at this carefully to make sure our democratic structures, activities and commercial services all cater for the needs of a diverse group of students and that we are acting in the interests of all student groups when representing the needs of students to the university and to other bodies. Whilst it is a challenge it is also really positive, however, because the different views and life experiences that come as a result really enrich the university community.