Leadership and Advocacy Initiatives at WGSU: Empowering Students for Positive Change
Explore the leadership and advocacy initiatives at WGSU focused on creating positive conversations about sexual consent, promoting awareness, safety, and welfare, and fostering inclusive attitudes while reducing discrimination. Meet the diverse group of student leaders driving transformational change through workshops, support groups, and campaigns. Discover how WGSU, separate from the university, empowers elected student officers to lead impactful campaigns and initiatives, emphasizing the importance of courage, character, and confidence in leadership.
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- NUS initiative - Students and staff can be facilitators. - A need to start creating positive, informed and inclusive conversations regarding sexual consent. - Workshops, focus groups, support groups to raise awareness.
Chancellor Ambassador for the University Board of Governors Vice-Chancellor (Chief Executive) WGSU Management Team Executive Board Academic Board Student Council Executive Team Chair and Vice Chair Student Union Officers Dean of Faculty Faculty Rep Associate Dean Course Rep Tutor/Personal Tutor Tell Glyn Student
What are we seeking to achieve? Awareness, Safety, Increased Welfare, Tools to Help Victims, Improve attitudes, and Reduce Discrimination Current Levels of Stakeholder Engagement WGSU, The Wrexham Glyndwr Student Union, is a separate company and charity to the university. Student Officers are elected by students through a democratic process. The Student Council consists of all Student Officers, Faculty Reps, and the Chair and Vice Chair Ultimately the Student Council decides which campaigns they will run.
Chair Sabbatical Officers Faculty Reps Union Officers Glyndwr University Student Council WGSU Management Team Representation and Democracy Manager International Students Officer Mature Students Officer Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender + (LGBT+) Campaigns Officer Equal Opportunities Campaigns Officer Welfare Campaigns Officer Sustainability Campaigns Officer Postgraduate Students Officer Welsh Language Campaigns Officer Regent Street Campus Officer Northop Campus Officer Women's Officer Student Union Officers Faculty Rep (x2) Student Voice Coordinator Course Rep President Vice-President Student Union Members Student Advisors (x2)
Characteristics of our leaders Well-being officers Facilitators - The 3 C s - Courage, character and confidence. Value Based Leadership Transformational Leadership - Transformational Leadership The Pull Strategy The 3 C s- Courage, character and confidence. - - - -
Structure Well-being Officers Well-being Officers Facilitators Facilitators Facilitators Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users
Structure Welfare Campaign Officer Women s Officer Course Reps Staff Volunteers Student Volunteers Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users Service Users
What the new management structure could implement. - - - - A Separate Tell Glen Type System An Extra Step before the complaints process. Walk in sessions for students. Have a campaign page on student union like no joke (mental health) and Black lives matter. Signpost to help and educational information on health relationships. Self defence classes, as part of the workshops. - -
Why is this necessary? - It is necessary as almost two thirds of students and graduates have experienced sexual violence at UK universities. Provides students with a dedicated officers that they can go to in confidence. An extra level of support to those who need it. Can signpost to relevant agencies and support services, eg SARC or police. Raises awareness and shows that glyndwr is at the forefront for students safety and wellbeing regarding sexual assault and domestic abuse. Creates a clear, confidential and supported pathway to the help and support they need, for which every avenue they decided to take forward. - - - - -
Examples of what other universities have put in place.
The Benefits - - - - - - - Students will feel confident and heard. Can be Anonymous, if this is what the student is more comfortable with. Makes it easier to find the correct information. Students know they have advocates within the university structure. Will hopefully make the perpetrator think twice about their actions. Making the subject of consent less taboo and opens up more of the conversations people need to hear.
Maintaining Motivation Students Facilitator University - - - Happier Safer More Confident - Skills gained through training can be added to CV Rewarding value of helping others. - Promotes activity within the SU Demonstrates that the university values the student s safety. - -
Course Reps need to be made aware Organise sessions at every campus Engagemen t Training is Key Fundraising Events Merchandise sold at the SU
Considerations - Some students may not feel safe walking around campus if they have had an incident. Having a wide range of people to carry out the sessions. Campaign needs to be pushed throughout the academic year. Some universities only recruit staff. - - -
To conclude. We are seeking to achieve awareness, safety, increased welfare, tools to help victim and reducing the stigma and discrimination surround consent.
References DMU, (2019). I heart consent week. [online] Available at: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/current-students/hot-topics/2019/january/i-heart- consent-week.aspx [Accessed 18/06/20]. Lafair, S. (2017) The 3 C s Of Effective Leadership [Online] Available at https://ceoptions.com/3-cs-effective-leaders/ [Accessed 28/06/2020] NUSconnect,. I heart consent. [online] Available at: https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/liberation/women-students/lad-culture/i-heart- consent [Accessed 18/06/20]. WGSU and Wrexham Glyndwr University, 2018. Student Charter. WGSU, 2019. Wrexham Glyndwr Students Union Bye Laws. WGSU and Wrexham Glyndwr University, 2016. Code of Practice for the Students Union. WGSU and Wrexham Glyndwr University, 2017. Terms of Reference for the Academic Board. Wrexham Glyndwr University, n.d. Management; Governance; Policies and Documents. [Online] Available at: glyndwr.ac.uk [Accessed June 2020] Wrigleys Solicitors LLP, n.d. Memorandum and Articles of Association of Wrexham Glyndwr Students Union Ltd. Leeds: s.n.
References Revolt Sexual Assault. (2018). Research - Revolt Sexual Assault. [online] Available at: https://revoltsexualassault.com/research/[Accessed 28/06/20] www.leeds.ac.uk. (n.d.). Reporting hate crime, sexual assault and online harassment | University of Leeds. [online] Available at: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/secretariat/reporting_hc_sa_oh.html [Accessed 28 Jun. 2020
