Bonolo Woracker Vice President Welfare
At Coventry University Students’ Union
Why I stood…..
Becoming the first ever member of my family to go to University was a privilege even though I knew full well it was a fundamental right. Studying Law and Politics at degree was the catalyst that helped me decide to run for the position. Representation and justice are areas that I was very interested in. I then turned to the students’ union which provided the opportunities for me to take my interests further on my campus. As a Black student I understood clearly the needs of students from widening participation backgrounds as they are the students that are most likely to face financial hardships, discrimination and lack of opportunities in their lives. Having struggled to self finance my studies for three years through various part time jobs, I considered myself to be in a more experienced position than others from similar backgrounds to run for a position on the union executive and so I did and went for the position of Vice President Welfare.
Now………..
As a Sabbatical Officer at Coventry University Students’ Union it has been my job to oversee the welfare and security provisions on campus for our diverse membership. I was elected Vice-President Welfare in 2007 and have been re-elected for a second term in my post carrying out campaigns, helping run a union and representing students at Coventry University.
As a Black Sabbatical Officer it has been very challenging in my role but I believe it has allowed me to positively influence my union and university on issues that affect all students and not just those from ethnic minorities. As a Sabbatical Officer I believe that I have brought more than just my educational, work and political experience to the role. I believe that my race has helped me bring a new dimension and opinion to the union which may have otherwise not existed.
Having to face frequent racism on the streets of Coventry was disappointing and shocking but I knew that I was not the only one in this position. Instead of working against the system I chose to push myself straight into the deep end and represent all students on campus facing problems. I have pushed forward policy in the union to make Black History Month an annual event and ran the very first BME Caucus at Coventry University. I have also run our annual One World Week which celebrates diversity and culture within our union. However it is clearly obvious that there is still a long way to go for Black and minority ethnic students here at Coventry.
Coventry University has the 11th largest population of BME students in the country however are poorly represented within the unions’ democratic structures. I was the only Black candidate in my first sabbatical elections out of a total of 15 candidates. I became the only Black student on the sabbatical team and the only Black person working full time in the Students Union. I am glad to say this has improved for the better over the last year. Our sports and societies are poorly represented in terms of BME students and to add to all of this our BME events are few and far between in our union. Hopefully the establishment of a BME officer on union council and greater representation within the union will prove to be a beneficial force in our union over the years to come. I am aware that the number of full time BME sabbatical officers nationwide is very low but I am glad to see this figure increasing albeit at a slow pace.
It is clear to see that Black students are continually underachieving, dropping out of courses at alarming rates, attaining lower grades at every level of education and are becoming more and more disengaged in politics. This should not be the case in 21st century Britain where opportunity should be given to everyone and not the elite few. I believe that the black community should be at the epicentre of the movement to tackle social and educational change for minorities. It is only the Black community that can recognise our failings, strengths and problems so it should be this community that should determine what is best for them. I believe that Black students are best placed to tackle educational and welfare issues that affect them which is why I back the NUS Black Students’ Union Campaign. This national campaign is highlighting injustices and promoting opportunities for BME students. NUS and individual Unions must work together in order to address the needs and concerns of this growing group of students. Engaging BME students is going to be even more difficult as we see the demographics of the student population change.
Where next?
There is still more to be done and I am proud to be at the forefront of our movement for better representation, campaigns and equality for all students, especially the students from widening participation backgrounds. I have been elected onto the Black Students’ Committee where I hope to take my experience nationwide and help students’ in my community. It is important that as a collective we remain united when confronted with racism, remain politically aware when socially suppressed and remain intellectually positive when educationally deprived.
I want to fight against ignorance and stereotypes by continuing to push representation, retention and participation of minorities onto the agenda at every level of education. Only through political activism and educational achievement, can equality be achieved. As Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. If we can influence the most powerful weapon (our education) then we, as a community can provide the spark that does indeed change the world.
