Exclusive interview: Matt Rogers

**When did you decide to go for the Societies position?**

I decided term one year one because societies were the thing that attracted me to Warwick: they’re the best part of University life in my opinion and it’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. It makes perfect sense.
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Do you think that Warwick is good for societies compared to most other universities?**

In terms of societies we’ve got such a great choice. I’m really looking forward to see new societies grow, protect the existing ones and I’m really looking to students to support me in my role in protecting societies because I think it’s vital for the future of the student population.

**Is it a good time for societies right now, in terms of societies succeeding and failing?**

It’s probably going to be a difficult year. I know that a few societies had to close down this year due to lack of membership.

**Like Hommous society?**

I’ll be honest; I don’t know the ins and outs of every society, but I’ll make that my job to do so over the next year.
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What about people who feel that they’re if they’re not particularly good at something then they can’t join the society?**

That’s the last thing they should be thinking. I can vaguely participate in a few but I’m never any good. The societies should cater for everybody.

**How do you feel about winning the most competitive category after President? Are you surprised it’s the most competitive category?**

I would have thought there’d be more candidates going for it to be honest because it’s a wonderful honour, really, to have the position.

**Though it’s very rare to do anything in a professional capacity?**

I don’t really think of it as a career move because it’s not that well paid and you’ve really got to do it, you’ve got to do it because you love it. My main concern is winning the approval of students because, after all, they are my employers. I’ll be working my hardest to fulfil that role.

**In your manifesto you mention that you want to be a ‘visible’ Societies Officer. Is that a reflection on your opinions on the previous societies officer?**

That’s not a reflection on Andy at all. I spoke to Andy quite a lot over my campaign. He’s a very nice guy.

**Do you think he did a good job?**

Yeah, I think he did a good job. I hope to improve on some of the things he’s been trying to do because obviously there are some things that take time: particularly he’s been lobbying food outlets, the University to have RaW played. Student societies and fighting their cause is important to me. I feel that this particular Students’ Union currently lacks a student feel and I want to change that because we should feel like this is our home, not a corporate environment.

**On the subject of the upcoming sponsorship referendum: what is your opinion? Do you think that societies should be dictated centrally?**

I deliberately, perhaps noticeably, left that out of my manifesto because I believe it’s up to students to tell me what they want, regardless of my personal preference. I’ll be respecting it and I’ll be fighting my hardest, whichever way it goes. I’ll be encouraging whichever way it goes.

**Why do you think you won in particular?**

I tried to get talking to people and my manifesto ideas were quite simple and achievable. What I fear is not being able to fulfil my promises. I’ll be working very hard to keep them. My biggest concern is freezing the costs of joining societies. I’ll be fighting as hard as possible to do that. As you can see in my manifesto, I’ve got various solutions; there’s an absolute necessity for the fees to go up, for there to be more revenue from a societies angle. I think that societies are so important and that affordability is key in encouraging people to join societies. I’ll be fighting tooth and nail to keep that and I hope that, if there is a bit of a battle on, that students will support me in that. I will be asking for students’ help.

**Which part of the campaign did you enjoy the most?**

Abseiling off library bridge.
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This interview was transcribed by Katherine Price._