Hello! I’m Fatima, a final year MSc Law and Professional Practice student (and cat enthusiast!) running to serve as your next Vice President of Welfare and Community. I’ve been a volunteer Welfare Lead here at Kings for the past two years and have become well acquainted with the struggles student face both in residences and in our academic journeys. I believe in the power of collective change-making to help make King’s a safer, more welcoming and more inclusive space for all members of our community.

Student Protest Safety and Freedom of Expression

• Campaign for increased safety measures to allow students to exercise their democratic right to protest and express their opinions freely.
  • Student Safety Protocols:
    • Push for University-Backed Protest Safety Measures: Demand that KCL commits to clear protections for student activists, ensuring that peaceful demonstrations are not met with unnecessary disciplinary action or external intimidation.
    • Protection from External Harassment: Work with KCL to strengthen safeguards against doxxing, online harassment, and media intimidation targeting student voices.
  • Freedom of Expression
    • Enforce KCL’s Policy on Unauthorised Recordings: Campaign for strict consequences for individuals who secretly record students and misuse content to harass, dox, or defame them.
    • Confidentiality in Seminars: Push for seminar spaces to be designated private, ensuring students can engage freely in discussions without fear of being secretly filmed and taken out of context.

Campaign for Effective Use of KCL Spaces

• More study spaces on campus:
  • The recent closure of the 7th & 8th Floor study spaces in BH has taken away a beloved and much needed student space on campus. Whilst a new option has been offered in the arcade, there remains a great need for study spaces on Strand Campus.
    • Strand Campus Expansion: Advocate for the creation of new study zones on Strand Campus by repurposing unused or poorly designed areas.
    • Pop-Up Study Spaces: Introduce seasonal study areas in spaces like the Great Hall during peak study periods.
    • Student Consultation on Space Use: Establish a Student Space Working Group to provide direct input on how King’s spaces are used, ensuring decisions reflect real needs.
• Investigate unused residences such as Champion Hill
  • Full Audit of Empty Residences: Call for a student-involved review of unused or under-capacity accommodations like Champion Hill- why are they empty, and how can they be repurposed?

Women’s Safety on Campus and in Residences

• Campaign for single-sex flat options in residences
  • Choice for All: Expanding Accommodation Options
    • Advocate for guaranteed single-sex flats in King’s residences for those who request them.
    • Work with KCL Residences to ensure clear policies around flatmate conduct and accountability.
• Women’s only events/ spaces
  • Regular Women centred Socials & Networking Events: Providing a secure space for women to build connections and support systems.
  • A Women’s Safety Hub at KCLSU: A physical and online space for women to access resources, report concerns, and find support.
• Increased awareness on inappropriate behaviour towards women
  • Bystander Intervention Training: Equipping students with tools to safely intervene when they witness harassment.
  • Zero-Tolerance Policy Promotion: Clearer reporting mechanisms and awareness campaigns on unacceptable behaviour.
  • More Visible Reporting Channels: QR codes across campus and halls linking to the Report and Support tool.

Academic Support for Disabled Students and Students with Chronic Conditions:

• Enhance the Student Voice:
  • Establish regular service user groups where students can directly share concerns with King’s Disability Services.
  • Create feedback loops to track changes, ensuring student voices result in real improvements to support services.
  • Ensure students with disabilities are consulted before major policy changes at KCL that affect accessibility.
• Disability and Chronic Condition Specific Changes:
  • Create a Specific MCF for Disabled Students with Chronic Conditions: Ensure students don’t have to reapply repeatedly for MCFs for conditions that may flare up.
  • Reduce Medical Evidence Burden: Campaign to remove the requirement for excessive medical documentation every time a student with a chronic condition requests support.