The nominations for SU Officers and Reps have closed and it won’t be long before campaigning and voting gets underway.  Last year, Student Wellbeing and Accessible Learning Drop-in spoke to many students about the challenges and impact of this endeavour.  It was decided it would be worthwhile sharing information in the early stages of the campaigns so students can be aware and take steps to avoid potential stressors.

During the 2024 elections, students attended Drop-in to speak to us about disagreements within and outside campaign teams, feeling personally attacked, being the victim of rumours; and the time, pressure and energy of running.

Being an election candidate is a vulnerable position.  You are putting yourself, your face and your values on display for people to judge.  It doesn’t come without reward however.  The opportunity to make a difference, build confidence, improve skills and gain experience are among the benefits.

Amy is the current Student Officer for Postgraduate Education.  She spoke to us about her experience of campaigning as well as the the benefits and challenges of running.  Her main advice was for candidates to know what to expect.  This means attending the clinics, speaking to Officers about the reality of the roles and taking the advice of the SU Voice team.  Amy gave us the following tips:

• Choose a good team with a mixed skillset.  This can be made of friends or people who you don’t know but agree with your policies.  They can cover places you can’t or activities suited more to their skillsets than your own.
• Expect to burn the candle at both ends, especially during voting week.  Remember it is temporary.  Consider what other commitments you can put on the backburner for those few days.
• Know your strengths and your limitations.  It helps to do what you are good at and you can delegate or adapt situations that cause discomfort. 
• When things get tough, remember why you are running.  Usually, people want to make a difference and shape policies.
• Find out the needs of a diverse range of students and engage with them.
• You don’t have to follow all the campaigning suggestions.  Some people struggle with walking up to strangers to talk to them for example.  Be creative with how you engage with people.
• Just because there are aspects of campaigning you may not like, does not mean that you wouldn’t be good at the job.
• Maintain a positive relationship with the competition.  There may be times you can help each other out.
• Don’t take things personally.  If someone disagrees with your opinion, that has no bearing on your value as a person.
• Follow the rules!  There are rules for running in the SU Election and they are worth knowing.  Speak to the SU Voice team if unsure about this.

Not everyone can win an election.  Amy’s advice if you are unsuccessful is to focus on the learning from the experience.  This can be used to run again next year or for a position that may suit better.  The leadership and teamwork skills involved in campaigning are valuable for CV and interviews with employers. Students running in the full-time officer elections are also eligible for a Future Ready Award. The confidence gained from operating outside your comfort zone can’t be taken away. 

Tips for wellbeing:

• Focus on what you can control- unfortunately that does not include people’s reactions to you or your policies.  You can control your own behaviour, your message and how well you look after yourself. 
• Recognise the energy you are using and ensure you are allowing time for activities that recharge you, whether that be exercise, hobbies, etc.
• Use your support system- family and friends.  Talk about the challenges and the positives.  You would do it for them.
• Sleep.  Make sure you prioritise your sleep routine.  It is hard to be productive and sociable when you are exhausted.  Your tolerance to stressors also reduces when tired.
• Self compassion.  What you are doing is not easy.  It is not meant to be.  Give yourself some grace for this.

Finally, if things are not going to plan or you have concerns while running for the SU election, the SU Voice team can help or signpost you. They can also provide a quiet space for a break and a casual chat if needed.  See the resource section for further information, including rules and making a complaint.

Breakfast Drop-in will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the SU Anne Maguire Room for full-time candidates on Election week. Contact SU Voice for more information.

Good luck!

Thank you to Postgraduate Education Officer Amy for contributing to this blog.

SU Elections | QSU

Making a complaint- Complaints

Election Rules | QSU

For support for harassment, bullying or hate crime- Report and Support: Report – Report + Support – Queen’s University Belfast (qub.ac.uk) 

Stress Control NI- HSCNI Stress Control online classes/webinars – Home – Stress Control 

Self Compassion: Self-Compassion | Action for Happiness