By Athira Liyana ABD Latiff
GOMBAK, 27 May 2022: Ain Khalid, a candidate who is contesting for the Deputy President III seat in the IIUM Student Union (IIUMSU) 2022 student union election, expressed her worries about the lack of representation and friendly-user facilities for disabled students on campus.
She stressed the need for the student union to play a bigger role to create awareness among the university’s management.
A third-year student from the Kulliyyah of Languages and Management (KLM), Pagoh campus, Ain aims to represent the minority groups of students whereby she instills the legacy, morals, and empowerment of student’s union identity “For the students, By the students”.
In an interview with IIUMToday, Ain shared that Pagoh does not have disabled students, “but we do not know for the coming years disabled students may further their education in IIUM Pagoh campus.”
She also stressed that mental disabilities tend to be overlooked as they aren’t physically seen by the eyes. Hence, Ain established her manifesto founded on the basis of providing for the needs of students – regardless of their physical or mental capabilities
She, therefore, proposed four aspects of her manifesto that focus specifically on the welfare of the IIUM Pagoh campus including the improvement of student welfare, students’ inclusivity, and university management as follows:
Raising awareness for and supporting “Equality Champions”
“Equality Champions”, as defined by Ain, are groups of minority students consisting of disabled students, international students, and students who face daily issues. Ain aims to raise awareness and represent the minority groups as oftentimes their existence goes unacknowledged. In order to provide a friendly-environment for minority students to smoothly go through their study years, the SU “must instill the spirit of unionism among the students as it is important for this minority groups to be heard and feel visibly appreciated” Ain shared during the interview.
Accountability and democratic governance among the students and the union members
In order to successfully execute the plans for improved facilities and utilities for all students, particularly disabled students, Ain stressed that “there must be a good check and balance in ensuring that everyone is doing their job democratically without having any hidden agenda provided by their political stance.” This means that SU members and management officers must work with ethics and “bring together the aspiration, agenda, and mission in the name of student union – For the Students By the Student” Ain further shared in the interview.
Hence, with all the promises and aspirations, the SU is responsible for the promises made and the needs of the students. It is crucial for the members of SU to practice accountability with their tasks, delegation of tasks, and “most importantly, does it satisfy the students’ needs?” Ain highlighted. She also noted that students have the right to exercise their own needs to demand and hold the members accountable should the promises be unsatisfactory. Thus, it is important for union members to acknowledge and be inclusive of everyone, and not just exclusively for certain people.
“Again, For the Students By the Students,” stressed Ain.
To improve the quality of services for students
Ain believes that to facilitate the students’ needs, the SU must provide all services such as the condition of living, transportation, entertainment, a safe campus environment, and nutritional meals served in IIUM. Considering that the Pagoh campus is relatively new, basic necessities such as water filters, transportation, and operating cafes are a shortage.
“If I were to win this election, I plan to bring in food vendors that will operate alongside the cafeteria, operate a bus system for students to commute regularly, and provide water filters for every block,” Ain shared.
Increase student feedback and input through hotlines
Influenced by the previous’ tenure SU who utilized hotlines regarding the students’ concerns, Ain aims to continue and enhance the usage of hotlines regarding the students’ concerns. Hence, there is a need to prioritize the necessities of the students as the hotlines serve as a rapid form of communication between the students and SU.
“By receiving students’ constructive feedback and input, SU members must work together with the university’s management as alliance partners in improving the institution,” Ain highlighted.
Ain hopes that IIUM students acknowledge the relevance and continue the legacy of the student body in maintaining and improving not only the students’ concerts but also the institution as a whole.
She calls on the students to their rights to come forward if there is a lack from the side of the student union, and most importantly, exercise their democratic rights to vote for leaders that represent students’ inclusivity and unionism. ***