Jack Lydon

Who am I?

Hi, I’m Jack (They/Them) a third-year politics student, previous Pride society president and I’m currently the Students Unions LGBT+ student representative. I love films, swimming, playing guitar and rock climbing. I have helped write and direct university policy on drugs and alcohol as part of a destigmatised harm reduction approach. I want to bring my vast experience to the Welfare and communities officer role and embrace student engagement in decision making.

Why?

I think the Students Union is a tool to provide for students and create change in the University. As a politics student and organiser, I’ve been most passionate about Welfare and Communities. I care about the problems students face in their day to day lives, outside of just their academics. Students’ issues are more common that we think. Housing, safety, mental and bodily health are all our concerns. I think if elected, I can help the Students Union make great strides in improving students’ wellbeing.

How?

Housing

New developments are cropping up every year, rents are on the rise. Since I first moved to Belfast rents have increased so much and housing conditions haven’t improved! Students shouldn’t have to endure the stresses of poor quality, expensive housing on top of their studies. As a uniting body for students, the Union can work towards solutions with local Renters Unions as well as adopting other solutions such as Housing Co-operatives which have provided affordable landlord-free housing across the UK.

Women’s safety, on and off campus

Women’s safety has been a massive concern for a long time, highlighted by recent femicides in Northern Ireland. There has also been a steady rise in transmisogyny. The Students Union has the responsibility to look out for its members and women’s safety should be a top concern. I will like to support societies and groups that are already doing great work. I will continue to push for proper consent training for all incoming students. Provide drink tests in the SU to prevent spiking. Lobby for night busses to allow safe return from nights out. Overall, I will work with the university to foster a campus culture free from problematic attitudes and beliefs towards women.

Drug and alcohol Harm Reduction

For years, I have been learning and sharing information about Harm Reduction. Harm Reduction does not punish students for using drugs and alcohol but tries to guide them to take safer approaches. This looks like removing punishment for drug use, offering testing kits for students to test what they’re consuming, offering non-judgmental support for students having issues with their drug or alcohol use and generally reducing the stigma surrounding drugs. This approach has been shown to be a lot safer than zero tolerance policies and I have already been working with the Union on the Student steering group on the implementation of harm reduction policies. I will continue pushing for harm reduction policies and involve students in the decisions as they are the ones these policies affect.

Transport that works for students

Students in and out of Belfast are disadvantaged when it comes to transport access. Queens has no secure bike storage for students but does for staff. The lack of protected bike lanes makes cycling a dangerous task. A lot of students rely on parking that doesn’t exist. Busses are infrequent and often don’t show up on time. As mentioned in the women’s safety section, the lack of night busses affects not just the social life of students but the safety too. As student officer I will take it upon myself to lobby local government to work with the university and students’ union to create a plan, providing adequate and convenient transport for students.

Thanks for reading!

Please vote for me!