SU Spring Elections 2025 Interviews: Summer Jones, VP Welfare & Campaigns

In the run-up to the Warwick Students’ Union (SU) Spring Elections, The Boar and RAW 1251AM collaborated to offer all Full-Time Officer (FTO) candidates the opportunity to be interviewed.

Summer Jones, one of seven candidates running for the position of Vice President for Welfare & Campaigns, spoke to RAW 1251AM to discuss their platform. The interview covered their key manifesto pledges, plans for improving mental health support, and strategies to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Firstly, what are your key priorities?

Jones outlined their two primary focuses as “affordability on campus” and “health and wellbeing.” Reflecting on the financial challenges students face, they explained that, “Life on campus can be really expensive,” and sought to focus on access to affordable food and transport options.

On health and wellbeing, Jones was particularly concerned with mental health provisions. Drawing from personal experience with long waiting lists, they stated, “people need to have adequate mental health support” and stressed the importance of increasing resources and funding in this area. Additionally, Jones proposed introducing sexual and reproductive health testing on campus.

“Empowering students” was another priority for the candidate, who plans to run “Know Your Rights” workshops with the goal of helping students “challenge abuses of power”. They also aimed to increase funding for student campaigns, whilst ensuring that student feedback is central to decision-making.

Finally, Jones highlighted their commitment to liberation and ethical practices, stating that they want to collaborate with part-time officers to champion campaigns important to diverse communities. They also plan to lobby the SU and university to commit to “ethical investments” and partnerships.

How will you seek to improve mental health and wellbeing provision on campus?

Highlighting the closure of the Nightline Association, Jones described “lobbying for more funding and resources” as a “really important” step for the SU. “That’s a wonderful volunteer-led thing,” Jones continued, “but we do have institutional infrastructure” similarly in need of help.

They also argued that it is often already “marginalised communities” left behind by such under-resourcing; “They don’t feel like the people there are knowledgeable enough on the issues that affect them.”

Specifically, Jones expressed that the University needs “more sexual violence advisors and even independent advisors that people feel like they can really open up to”. The candidate also found inspiration for student welfare schemes at other universities, pointing to trans wellbeing program “integrated” into UCL’s mental health infrastructure.

Are there any ways you think the End Period Poverty campaign could be further improved or enhanced?

Jones firstly commended the SU’s End Period Poverty campaign as “really useful”. Tasked with enhancing its existing work, they suggested the inclusion of more sustainable menstrual products.

“I was running a stall at the sexual health and guidance festival recently, and all the reusable products that they had had run out, so there’s definitely an interest in that,” the candidate explained.

They also proposed the widening of locations where menstrual products are available with regard to inclusion of trans students, highlighting their absence in some accessible toilets and buildings without gender-neutral toilets.

The student also considered widening the scope of the SU’s campaign to push for “more guidance and testing” on campus for “sexual and reproductive health” issues.

How would you ensure the welfare of students that may be suffering through the current cost-of-living crisis?

Jones posited that mental health challenges tied to financial stress were unable to be solved through services alone. Instead, they proposed changes to what they described as “structural issues” to “alleviate that stress” on students.

Responding to rising concerns about food affordability for students, Jones advocated for the creation of a “community food bank – fridges around campus that could have surplus food”. They also plan to lobby for lower public transport fares and a freeze on rent increases for on-campus accommodations, aiming to reduce the financial strain on students.

Along similar lines, the candidate also suggested replacing Rootes Grocery Store with “an actually affordable supermarket” on campus in an effort to provide students with better access to reasonably-priced food options.

Their plans also aimed to reduce Federation fees – recognising the cost of extracurricular activities at Warwick – and expanding free sports sessions, which would make it easier for students to participate in activities that “help with [their] mental health”.

Are there any ways by which student safety could be further improved or prioritised by the SU?

Jones believed student safety could be further improved by fostering a more comprehensive approach across campus. “I think it’s more than the Students’ Union, but it needs to be all around,” they explained, emphasising the importance of community-wide efforts and institutional cooperation in developing safety measures.

One key issue Jones raised was the way security handles sensitive welfare concerns at SU events. They argued the two roles should be separate, stressing that there needs to be a “level of care” and “a certain demeanour” in responding to student welfare matters. They also called for better welfare provisions at club nights on campus.

The candidate also suggested that many students feel more policed than protected by current security efforts. “Community Safety doesn’t really make them feel safe. They more feel policed by it.” They proposed a shift towards a system of “pastoral care around campus, but not in a securitising way” to ensure students feel supported rather than surveilled.

Jones pointed to transport safety, particularly for students traveling late at night, referring to the recent removal of the West Midlands Bus on Demand service: “I think safety of students getting home is something to work on.” They also gestured to student support for the rollout of the SafeZone app on campus.

What campaigns would you seek to run over the next year?

Jones established their intention for campaigns to focus primarily on “affordability on campus” as well as “mental health support – especially for marginalised groups”. They also suggested that SU campaigns should ensure they are “accessible [to] disabled students” as well as ensuring students “know their rights”.

The candidate emphasised their desire to listen to feedback from students, in order to “be pushing forward those motions that are backed by the student body,” noting student-led campaigns on ethical partnerships and a right to food.

Finally, what makes you stand out from other Welfare Officer candidates?

“I think I have a really diverse experience,” Jones argued, pointing to their experience as this year’s LGBTQUA+ Officer, one of Warwick SU’s part-time positions. They suggested this has already equipped them with the skills to “come together for workshops” and hear people’s feedback, in addition to working with societies.

They also highlighted the influence of their own “lived experience” and understanding of different communities in shaping their choice of campaigns in “mental health, neurodiversity and accessibility.”

This interview, along with all other interviews for Vice President positions, can be watched in full using the link here, courtesy of RAW 1251AM.

Read Summer Jones’ manifesto here.