Meet your President candidates for the 2025-2026 sabbatical year

Name: Dani Owen 

 

About Dani : 

I am  Dani Owen, a third-year student,  and I am running to be your SU President for the upcoming academic year. You may know me from working in the libraries and Gateway Building, from being part of many societies, or maybe, just as one of the many friendly faces you see on campus. Over the past couple years, I’ve immersed myself into the Hope Community to try to understand the depths of the student experience. What does it mean to be a Hope student and what contributes to a rewarding student experience? Here at Hope we’re a community that prides itself on diversity and inclusivity.  I’m proud to be a part of it. This reputation is something I wish to uphold and develop while working to make  your Hope experience as outstanding as possible. Whether it be through asking about your weekend or how your assignments are going, I like to inspire a smile wherever I go. I believe that University should be a place where you are heard, valued and nurtured while enjoying this unique time of our lives. With this philosophy, I believe I am the right person to serve as your next Student Union President.

 

MANIFESTO:

 

As SU President I would like to:

1: Foster an Inspiring and Active Hope Community that celebrates Inclusivity and Diversity. I would like to pioneer a People of Hope campaign that celebrates the Students and Staff that make Hope the vibrant community it is. I want to be heavily involved with all of our societies and attend society events and socials.  I will consistently communicate with committees to gain ideas and insight.  I want to establish the university as a platform for Student-Led initiatives and causes

2: Improve your Academic, Professional and Social Support offered by the University. I would like to enhance the use of Social Media as a tool for Academic and Professional support and work closely with various Careers, Learning Support, and Academic teams on our Campuses. Additionally I would like to raise awareness of the numerous Support Systems available on campus. 

3: Enhance and channel the communication between the Student Body and University Administration. I would like to recognise the importance of the Student Voice Committee and Course Representatives as being the  primary reflection and embodiment of the Student Experience. Additionally I would demand transparency regarding any new changes in the University Administration that would potentially affect the Student Experience.

I would also like to recognise successes achieved by previous Student Union personnel and to continue some of their initiatives. 

 

Name: Oliver Reeves

About Oliver:

Hello! My name is Oliver, and I want to be your next SU President. I'm a third-year Law & Politics student, President of the Politics, History & International Relations Society, Deputy Senior Midshipman at the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) Liverpool, and former Young Greens Officer for the Wirral Green Party. My day to day is pretty average, having to balance a relationship and a social life with writing a dissertation and seemingly endless assignments. I’ve grown up around Liverpool, though unfortunately for me it was on the wrong side of the Mersey. I love everything about politics, being a member of the Green Party and regularly volunteering my time on the Wirral to help communities with litter picking, garden management, or even the odd bit of birdwatching. My time in the URNU has allowed me to develop my leadership skills, giving me the confidence to put my name forward, first for society president, and now for SU President.

 

MANIFESTO:

 

As a Society President, I understand the importance of societies and sports teams at Hope, and this is something I wish to focus on during my time as SU President. Hope is unique amongst the Liverpool universities. Being outside the city centre allows us to have our own pitches on campus. Yet our groups face constant financial problems, an issue that’s taken around 5 years off my hairline as my society has scrambled to find alternate ways of funding. I want to change how society and sports team funding works, giving them as many resources as possible to become competitive, able to stand toe-to-toe with the teams and societies from other universities. The average student knows barely anything about what the SU actually does, even I didn't know much about it before I became part of my society’s committee. I want to increase transparency between the SU and the students it represents. While the new office in the i3 Building has helped, more can still be done. Sabbatical Officers and other SU staff need to have a much larger presence around the University, all students should know who we are, where we are, and what we can do for them. Hope’s support services are among some of the best in the country. I know several people who have used and benefited from them, but they aren’t advertised enough. Students who are struggling with mental health often don’t know where they can go for support without going through the daunting task of asking a staff member. I will make sure our support services are properly advertised to ensure that all students know how to access them easily. I will also work with the university to expand the resources available to our support services so they can improve and provide even better care to our students. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the run-up to the election, and I hope you can all put your trust in me to become the next President of our Students' Union.

 

 

Name: Eliza Aoife Mill

About Eliza: 

The best thing about Liverpool Hope University is the many opportunities, but often university life flies by so quickly that it's difficult to know all that is available.

My name is Eliza, and I want to ensure you make the most of your time at Liverpool Hope University, experiencing as much as possible while succeeding, staying safe, and enjoying the social side of student life. I am excited to represent you in the decisions the university makes.

 

MANIFESTO:

 

Why me?

I have a broad range of experience, both in and out of university, that I can draw from when choosing the best actions in the interest of students. My experiences include partaking in the study abroad programme, which gave me insight into how other universities operate. I also completed a year in industry by successfully navigating the hiring process. I am currently completing my SALA and volunteering as a social secretary giving me insights into the planning and running of events.

Listening is essential for the role of president. Listening means not only taking notice of what others say but also acting on it. I already practice this as a course and student representative by listening to students and then presenting feedback to tutors, this has led to changes in lesson layouts.

I understand how the university works from various perspectives. As a student trustee, I have been involved in discussions about university management, as a student ambassador, I am familiar with what the university offers. Having used the services Hope provides, I know the student perspective on learning support, student engagement, and careers.

After nearly four years at Liverpool Hope University, I care about improving students’ employability after graduation, ensuring the safety of individuals while living in Liverpool, and enhancing the enjoyment of student life.

Success – Overall, I want to help students recognise the importance of gaining relevant experiences and participating in extracurricular activities to enhance their job applications. To do this, I will improve the promotion of available opportunities and work to provide students with experience in their field, e.g. develop a student newspaper. Furthermore, I want students to feel prepared for financial independence by providing financial packs with topical information.

Safety – I aim to raise awareness of health and safety services that the university and city of Liverpool provide and help students feel less alone with challenges they face. I will achieve this by creating an A-Z guide of support services, an "agony aunt" style series of posts and emphasising the importance of correct signposting by staff.

Social – I will continue celebrating inclusivity and the achievements of our sports teams while also increasing engagement with current events and providing more events for students. I will achieve this by improving the promotion of these events and making the SU website more accessible and relevant.

Side Quests – I will explore the possibility of extra water-fountains around campus and monthly clothes swaps to promote sustainability.

Thank you for reading! Vote Eliza for first choice :)

 

 

Elections Open 17th of March!