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Vote 07: Nel Richards - Women's Officer

16th March 2007

Nel told us that she was surprised, but very happy to win the post of Women's Officer, in a close run race of four rounds. She felt that her most popular policy was her focus on self-esteem, which is the campaign she holds closest to her heart. Nel feels passionately that "No woman should have to conform to a stereotype."

Nel hopes to bring a refreshing approach to the role and hopes to work with businesses such as Lush to sponsor her special 'indulgence days' which she hopes will de-stress female students, and provide self-defence classes to further boost the self-esteem of female students.

Part of her manifesto was a policy to fight domestic violence. Nel believes that domestic violence is more prevalent amongst students than might often be thought, and reminded us that not only can domestic violence be mental or verbal, as well as physical, but that it is not only a problem women face from men - she has personally encountered male students who have been abused by female partners.

Although she plans to continue the hard fought battle for lighting in the park as a long term campaign, she also wants to be proactive and try to work with local taxi firms in the meantime to provide taxis when needed so women do not feel tempted to walk home alone rather than wait for a taxi.

Nel feels that she probably gained from a male vote, as she wants boys to get involved in so-called 'girls' issues. Nel feels that guys can sometimes be made to feel inferior by women's empowerment and isolated from their problems, when actually boys are affected by women's issues through sisters, mother and girlfriends. She wants them to get feel part of her campaigns too, as she says, "If not for them, then for their female friends."

Nel will replace outgoing sabbatical officer Emma Bartlett for the next academic year.

Charlie Duff