With campaigning season in full swing, it is time to put the student representative in the student representative council. If you are reading this article with the familiar question, “Wait… we have an SRC?” Then I fear I need to assign some required reading. Here is the link to Jessica’s wonderful article: What you need to know for the upcoming 2024 SRC Election—Gamamari.
With that out of the way, I am here to explain who runs for SRC. UNSW has multiple major political parties on the election ballot. Campaigners often unite over shared values and ideals within their ticket to maximise their campaign coverage and message. Below is the list of the central SRC Parties alphabetically, and their aims and values. I hope this helps you understand exactly what box you’ll be clicking on come election time.
EDGE
EDGE for UNSW SRC is an independent group fighting for a fairer and more transparent campus. Their aims are:
- Access: Overseas concessions and improved bus services
- Education: Abolishing ‘Fit to Sit’, as well as greater accessibility for academic scholarships
- Accountability: Disinvestment from weapons companies as well as publicising src meetings and voting records
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgeforsrc/following/
Left Action
Left Action is a coalition of left-wing activists running for SRC and fighting for student rights against university management. Their main aims, if elected, would be to:
- Weapons companies off-campus: Fighting to end the genocide of Palestinians through removing UNSW assistance with weapons companies
- Affordable Housing: Cutting student rent to $100/week for UNSW-owned housing
- Free Education for All: Aiming to subsidise education through cancelling student debt, supporting staff strikes and ending course cuts.
Facebook: Left Action for SRC and NUS
Instagram: Left Action – Free Palestine! 🇵🇸 (@leftaction.unsw) • Instagram photos and videos
Revive
Revive is an independent ticket on the UNSW ballot. Their experienced ticket brings a considered view to the SRC. Former Welfare Officer Annikka Burge is also their presidential candidate for the SRC. Their main aims are:
- Mental Health Services: Aiming to Re-invigorate UNSW mental health funding by making bookings 24/7 to provide students with the necessary support.
- International Concession Opal Cards: Providing international students with concession cards to ease the cost of living burden
- Paid work placements for UNSW students: Rejuvenating paid internships for all students, including medicine, social work and architecture.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551684836430
Instagram: Revive your SRC UNSW (@reviveunsw) • Instagram photos and videos
Spice Up
The Spice Up party aims to heat up UNSW as an academic-welfare-focused ticket. Their main goals are:
- Make 50% the maximum assessment weighting
- Generate more flexible learning
- Make all assessments due at 11:59pm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiceupunsw/
Together Again
Together Again for SRC is a Labor affiliated ticket to vote for tangible, practical, student-focused and socially conscious change. Their main aims are to:
- Improve Academic Experience
- Increase student support and student life
Instagram: Together for UNSW (@togetherforunsw) • Instagram photos and videos
365
UNSW’s 365 party is an independent ticket on the ballot. It is a party that commits to effective action 365 days of the year. Diya Sengupta, current Ethnocultural Officer, is their presidential candidate for the SRC.
Their main aims are to:
- Boycotting: calling for a change in the ARC constitution, asking UNSW to disclose its expenditures, and cutting ties with weapons manufacturers.
- Women’s Rights: Establishing an independent commission into sexual assault, expanding 2024’s menstrual and reproductive products campaign.
- Access for All Students: Ending the ‘Fit to Sit’ policy as they believe it fails vulnerable students.
Instagram: 365 for UNSW SRC (@365forsrc) • Instagram photos and videos
Voting
Regarding how UNSW students vote, online elections will be held via email in week 7, and the campaigning period officially started on Friday, 20th September. As always, if you notice any misconduct, report it to UNSW Security or the SRC Returning Officer (contact details are available in the Election Notice here). Time to get onto your Outlook email!