Student Life President

David James (he/him)

Student Life President

Your Student Life President is responsible for improving your experience at St Mary’s outside of your academic studies!

studentlifepresident@stmarys.ac.uk

My manifesto aims 👇

Help every student feel a sense of belonging

  • Created the St Mary’s ENERGY Society, focused on providing social experiences open to everyone.

  • Hosted 15+ events, including a Valentine’s Pub Quiz and 90’s Themed Party.

  • Supported the Student Pride Project and collaborated with the Cheerleading team on Game Day, enhancing school spirit with drums, smoke flares, and halftime displays.

  • Worked alongside the Education President, Shelley on World Week to celebrate the diverse nationalities and cultures at St Mary's.

  • Organised events like the Simmie Olympics, a World-Themed Pub Quiz, and gave away £50 Ryanair vouchers.

  • Created a digital world map in The 1850, displaying the nationalities of students to highlight the global community at St Mary’s.

In Progress

Help every student feel like they contribute to the big picture

  • Worked on campaigns like RAG Week to encourage student involvement and donations for good causes.

  • Participated in a 3-day verbal fast to raise awareness of Domestic Abuse and inspire donations to Refuge charity.

  • Organised collaborative events for Black History Month, World Week, and Valentine’s Day, where student groups ran joint activities - these initiatives allowed students to feel part of something meaningful and positively impact the university and community.

In Progress

Help students achieve their highest potential 

  • Created opportunities for creative students to get involved in media, graphic design, and event planning through the ENERGY Society.

  • Actively sought student contributions for events like the Black History Month Exhibition, World Week Exhibition, and Valentine’s Day Live Performances, allowing students to showcase their talents.

  • Planning Excellence Week for May, leading up to the SU Awards and end-of-year activities, to celebrate student achievements and honor peers' work.

In Progress

Help students feel at home

  • Reached out to local businesses to establish a discount scheme for students at the start of the year. The initial uptake was low so I am now revisiting the initiative for future collaboration and perks.

  • Working with Shelley on a President’s Guide to help new students navigate local life, covering travel, self-maintenance, and useful tips.

  • Planning to incorporate a community-focused event into Excellence Week to strengthen the connection between students and the local community.

In Progress

Help students feel physically, emotionally and mentally supported

  • Focused on student support, with an emphasis on safety, currently exploring a bus service for students returning from Pryzm on Wednesday nights.

  • Added a "Together All" banner to email signature to raise awareness of mental health and self-help services, encouraging more students to seek support.

In Progress

News & Updates