The Students’ Union constantly works, often behind the scenes, to bring everyone at Sussex the student experience they deserve. Sometimes thought of as just Falmer Bar, the SU does far more than just serve pints (though that part is equally as important). To begin with, they fund this very newspaper. They also finance all of our societies and sports, support student campaigns, and offer important guidance.
A lot of what goes on within the SU is driven by the elected officers. They are elected by students to run the Union, provide services for students and represent them in their dealings with the University, and to campaign on issues affecting students. This year, they’ve been working on a range of projects that speak to the core of student life here.
Lewis, the Education and Employability Officer, has been “lobbying the University, Brighton & Hove council, and B&H buses to reduce bus fares and to bring back the 25X (the express service that links campus and town directly!)”. He has also been “pushing for a student workers union on campus so that students can organise and better fight for their employment rights”. Continuing his work on enabling students to access excellent work and education, he has secured the chance for students to change seminar groups if they have work at the same time as their education. He has also “started a review on continuation fees which negatively, and disproportionately, impact disabled and working-class students more than any other groups!”.
The Wellbeing Officer, Naina, has spent most of their time this year “working with your Disabled Students Officers, Lyds and Yanna, and the University, to thoroughly review the policy and processes around reasonable adjustments for students”, aiming to “come up with something new that works better for students, to ensure you feel supported during your time at Sussex”. This will be implemented ready for September 2025. They also created and chaired the Student Wellbeing committee, and ran the Nightlife Safety Forum, which “was a space for students to come together and share how they felt going out in Brighton, and what steps the Union, the University, local venues and the Council could take to ensure students feel safe going out in Brighton”.
With regard to sports, societies, and events, Ardi has been working on developing positive culture training for all sports teams, and also developing a “non-intrusive hardship fund that supports students in joining and sticking with sports and societies throughout their studies”. This mainly helps students with their society membership fees, which for some sports is about £100 for a years membership. He has also achieved his aim to “Get students cycling, increase safe storage on campus and draw attention to biking as a cost effective, sustainable mode of transport” by developing bike repair space on campus.
Jada, the Diversity, Access and Participation officer has spent the year working towards finding career opportunities and career preparation for students. She has also been on the company board, making important decisions about how best to run our favourite: falmer bar. Alongside this, she helped work towards ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion practices are relevant and a priority in the Students’ Union, helping make it a more open and inclusive place for everyone.
The Student Living and Sustainability Officer has been working alongside Ardi to develop and create the bike storage, shop and repair area to help more students cycle to and from university, which is both more cost effective and also better for the environment. She has also worked to develop and bring to life the swap shop: an area by the entrance to Falmer Bar to donate whatever you want, and take anything you wish in return.
Esther, the International Students’ Officer, has worked over the last year to secure more commitment for funding and career support from the University, and increase the provision of mental health and other support services for students. She also worked to focus on the reasonable adjustments review to ensure students are able to access the reasonable adjustments they need, and aimed to “harmonise the international student community”.
Another article you may enjoy: https://thebadgeronline.com/2025/07/charged-for-change-sussex-racings-green-drive-into-formula-student/
