YORK STUDENT Maddy Kirkman will stand for the NUS Disabled Students’ Officer position this Spring. Kirkman is an active member of the Disabled Student Network at York and has decided to go for the national role.
“After much daydreaming, deliberation and conversations with other activists, I have decided to stand,” Kirkman told Vision. “This is one of the most exciting and daunting challenges I’ve ever taken on, but that’s because this is such a crucial moment for the disabled students’ movement. I believe I have the right ideas and skills to take the campaign forward in a year in which disabled students are facing more problems than ever.”
Nominations close on February 5th and the election takes place at NUS Disabled Students’ Conference in the first week of March. If elected, Maddy Kirkman would assume the full-time sabbatical position at the NUS on July 1st.
Support from YUSU has poured in. President Kallum Taylor commented, “Maddie will be a fantastic candidate for this position and YUSU back her all the way. She’s been an effective member of our Disabled Students’ Network for some time now, plays an active role in YUSU’s wider work and carries with her a passion, conviction and expertise to do disabled students across the UK justice.”
Thomas Ron, DSN Officer, added, “We have been enormously fortunate to have her at Network and it is clear she is appreciated for her work on the NUS Committee. I hope that she has a good run and we will be looking to formally nominate her next meeting.”