Sana Irfan
Co-President Welfare and Liberation
Leads on welfare, liberation, campaigns, and the student support issues that shape daily life at SOAS.
Sana was elected by SOAS students in March 2026. Co-Presidents work full time for the union for one year.
Contact Sana
Email si2@soas.ac.uk
Manifesto
This is the manifesto Sana stood on in the March 2026 election.
Community spirit and student solidarity
Salaam all! I’m Sana, currently in third year studying Law. My uni experience has been shaped by my time in the Islamic Society; first in the role of Welfare Officer and this year as Vice President. My involvement in Isoc events has inspired my commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming SOAS that preserves individual identity and provides support for students to thrive.
In running for the Welfare and Liberation Co-President position, I intend to make a tangible difference to student experience in the following areas:
1. Proactive, accessible welfare support
I will focus on removing barriers to university support structures, allowing students to receive proactive care during their degrees. I propose the introduction of individually timetabled support slots, negating the need for students to initiate check-ins.
Ultimately, the University needs to meet students with grace, avoiding bureaucratic processes that lack compassion. I commit to improving the effectiveness of these support systems, and personally acting as an accessible point of contact to assist with students’ needs.
2. Cultivating a protective culture
The increased securitisation of our campus should correspond to prioritising the safety of students. The University must ensure the physical and psychological safety of every student, on and off campus.
We must strengthen the mechanisms behind university support for victims of violence and harassment, while reducing the number of incidents through effective training of both staff and students.
My focus will be on establishing a preventative structure through consistent workshops and clear messaging, from well before students set foot on campus for the first time. I will especially work towards the goal of eradicating gender-based violence, reiterating the values taught through Enough is Enough throughout the academic year and beyond the university space. Additionally, I will seek to minimise hostility towards minority groups through diverse representation encouraging a culture of solidarity.
We must create and follow through on a reputation as an institution that will not tolerate harassment or intimidation.
3. Empowering student expressions of identity
I am passionate about allowing SOAS to function as a space for community galvanisation, where students aren’t afraid of being penalised for political engagement or expressing their identities. Our degrees should serve as inspiration to make change in the world outside university.
I will advocate for timetables to take cultural and religious events into account, such as Jummah prayers and Ramadan, guaranteeing that no student needs to compromise their faith or values during their course of study.
As part of the Isoc, I’ve been involved in engaging with our wider community to ensure good relations between student groups on campus. Through sharing meals, collaborating on events and exchanging cultural experiences, I believe in the empowering effect of connection, and intend to foster this between all groups on campus.
As an elected student representative, I will prioritise direct engagement with the student body in order to voice their needs and make actionable, positive change. My hope is to deliver on these points and cultivate a spirit of solidarity within the community.
More about this role
Read the full Co-President role descriptions.