Preferenda Portfolio Part-Time Officers

In the first term of each year, there will be an open call out to students to enable them to submit the roles that they would like to see. We want as many students as possible to submit ideas about what they think is important and needs changing at SOAS. These ideas could relate to any aspect of student life, ranging from securitisation on campus, to the cost-of-living, to mental health and anything in between!

These ideas are discussed and refined at a Union Forum where students are able to debate and discuss the ideas that have been submitted. 

A preferendum allows all students to vote for which roles they would like to see be adopted. During a preferenda, students can vote in order of preference. There are three preferenda per year, with the first being used to decide the remits of the Preferenda Portfolio Officer roles. As there are 8 positions to be filled, we encourage students to vote for as many of the options as they like. By voting for multiple preferences their vote is worth more!

The remaining two referendums – one held in the spring term and one in the summer term – will decide the priorities that the SU will campaign on. You can find out more information about this here. 

During a preferendum there is an opportunity for students to campaign for a particular idea/solution, they can do this by asking their friends to vote for a specific option. There will also be an opportunity for students to submit a manifesto, a document outlining why students should vote for one of the solutions. These manifestos will then be published for students to view when deciding which option to vote for. 

Preferenda's are regulated by the Preferenda Rules, these are published prior to a Preferenda taking place and are overseen by the Governance Sub-Committee and Union Deputy Returning Officer. 

After the preferenda has finished the 8 ideas with the highest number of votes will become the roles for that year. The next step is to elect students to these roles. Nominations will open and current students will be able to put themselves forward. After this, there will be a cross-campus ballot where students will be able to vote for the candidate that they want to see be elected. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be elected!

Elections are regulated by the Elections Rules, these are published prior to the election taking place and are overseen by the Union's Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer. You can find out more about elections here!

The 2023 Election dates for the Portfolio Officers will be announced shortly.

Preferendum Notice

Preferenda Question: Which eight proposals should be adopted as the Preferenda Portfolio Part-Time Officer Roles for the 2022/23 Academic Year?

Each year student members of SOAS SU have an opportunity to decide the remit of eight Preferenda Portfolio Part-Time Officer roles. These roles become part of the Executive and will work to represent students and campaign on their behalf.  

Students are able to vote in order of preference. As there are eight roles available, we recommend that students vote for at least eight roles to ensure that they are making the most of their vote. The count for this Preferenda will be conducted using STV and there shall be eight ‘seats’ available.  

1. Sustainability Officer – Proposed by Yara Derbas 

2. Anti-Racism Action Officer – Proposed by Yara Derbas 

3. Mental Health Awareness Officer – Proposed by Yara Derbas 

4. Sports Officer – Proposed by Parwana Haydar 

5. Arts and Culture Officer – Proposed by Parwana Haydar 

6. Cost of Living Campaign Officer – Proposed by Sushant Singh 

7. International Students Officer – Proposed by Sushant Singh 

8. Mature Students Officer – Proposed by Sushant Singh 

9. Alumni Officer – Proposed by Sushant Singh 

10. Distance Learning Officer – Proposed by Aleksander Steinvoll 

11. SASS (SOAS Against Securitisation and Surveillance) Officer – Proposed by Anonymous SOAS Student

12. Afrikan Studies Officer – Proposed by Tueurora Kaatahi