May Student Exec Update

This is your May Student Exec update!

It’s been a month since our last update, and behind the scenes at LUU, a huge amount has been happening! From Varsity to the Women’s Health Campaign, it’s been jam-packed!

Over the past month, our Student Exec ,Amara, Eden, Safi, Katrina, Lydia, and Shivani, have been working hard to improve student life at Leeds, strengthen student voices, and make a real impact locally and beyond.

Here’s what they’ve been up to!

What has Shivani been up to?

She featured on the award-winning podcast, The Sound of Politics, to discuss student loans.

She played a key role in the running of The Partnership Awards, making decisions on the central panel and planning for the evening itself, including the entertainment.

Shivani created a student finance and funding handover document for other SU’s.

She supported the making misogyny a hate crime work.

Last but not least, she worked on reducing the awarding gaps for students at Leeds and incorporating inclusive assessments institutionally.

What has Lydia been up to?

Selected award winners for several Celebration Week student awards ceremonies, recognising achievements and student contributions across the community.

Represented student interests at a Sport England event in London, advocating for increased opportunities for university students in sports leadership and development.

What has Amara been up to?

Supported the delivery of LeadLUU and the hosted Results Night, helping coordinate key student engagement activity.

Chaired her final LUU Board of Trustees meeting, overseeing governance, decision-making, and organisational accountability.

Collaborated with Sabbatical Officers from Liverpool and Newcastle Students’ Unions to progress the national “Making Misogyny a Hate Crime” campaign, which has now gained more than 100,000 petition signatures.

Recruited and established a Student Advisory Panel to help shape LUU’s new organisational strategy, embedding student voice into institutional priorities, direction, and decision-making.

What has Safiyah been up to?

Attended the Sanctuary Scholarship Steering Group.

Secured a major win: the University now accepts students inside Gaza for the Gaza Humanitarian Scholarship.

Organised and spoke at the Women’s Day rally. Speakers covered international, disabled, and racialised experiences of women on campus, alongside issues of safety, gender-based violence, and solidarity with women in Iran and Palestine.

Visited Cambridge for a decolonisation conference and to support the Gaza 40+ campaign, which aims to evacuate all offer-holder students in Gaza to their universities, regardless of scholarship status.

Helped organise the interfaith Orthodox Christian x Kehillah Society x Palestine Solidarity Group Iftar.

Set up fundraising points across LUU to raise money and awareness for Sudan.

Spoke at an International Women’s Day panel hosted by Ellerslie Accommodation.

What has Katrina been up to?

Visited several university Students’ Unions in China, including University of Leeds partner institutions, to strengthen international relationships and explore future opportunities.

Contributed ideas to Better Forums and supported students in developing and submitting their own proposals.

Met with Postgraduate Research (PGR) students through the PGR Forum to better understand current priorities, challenges, and areas of concern within the PGR community.