The Trans & Non-binary Students’ Officer is responsible for ‘represent[ing] and campaign[ing] for inclusivity and equal rights of trans and non-binary students at UoB and the Guild.’ They also sit on the Welfare and Liberation Committee.

The following candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

 

Nathan Callanan (he/him) 

Nathan Callanan is running for Trans and Non-binary Students’ Officer. Callanan studies Philosophy and this is his first time running for a Guild of Students position. 

He said that ‘the main issue people are having right now is on Canvas with pronouns […] there’s been some issues with not allowing multiple [sets of] pronouns like she/they.’ To combat this Callanan wants to ‘make sure there is a freeform pronoun box where people can put in custom pronouns.’ 

the main issue people are having right now is on Canvas with pronouns

He also wants ‘to make sure [… ] any systems involving names and pronouns are changed in the easiest way possible for students and making sure they’re being respected. So if a professor refused to change someone’s name and pronouns […] I’d deal with that on a case by case basis.’ 

Callanan also plans to ‘work in close contact with trans and nonbinary students so I know what events people want me to organise, what individual issues people have had that I can help solve.’ 

Finally, in order to represent trans students of all identities Callanan will ‘contact other student associations to do with disabilities or people of colour or any other intersection that would be involved and see if we can put events together or if there’s any individual issues working together on that. I would keep that in mind though because it is very important.’

 

Robin Hayward (they/them)

Robin is running for Trans and Nonbinary Officer. They study Computer Science and are currently Social Secretary for the LGBTQ+ Association. 

Their main policy is to ‘have a type in your own option’ for pronouns Canvas which would ‘best cover anyone [who] uses any other kind of pronouns other than he/she/they but also allow people to choose more than one of those options.’ 

making sure people are aware that they can come to me with any issues, however small

Hayward also said they want to be ‘open to ideas, making sure that people can come to me because obviously I am one person, I am not the entire community, there will be things that I am not aware of. So, making sure people are aware that they can come to me with any issues, however small.’ 

Finally, one of their aims is to ‘be open to hearing their [trans students with intersectional identities] experiences, obviously where they feel comfortable speaking to me about them.’

 

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