By: Melissa Limani
On Wednesday, 5th February, the LSE Students’ Union (SU) held an open forum titled ‘How can the SU better advocate for students of colour?’. The event, hosted by the sabbatical officers, provided a platform for discussion on the SU’s progress, students’ expectations, and a proposal to rename the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Officer role.
Education Officer Wajiha opened the forum by outlining key progress made this year, particularly in response to the Office for Students’ (OfS) requirement for universities to develop access and participation plans for students from marginalised backgrounds. She highlighted the creation of an Access and Participation Coordinator within the SU, who has played a key role in launching the BME Mentoring Scheme. The programme, which connects alumni mentors with current students, has already facilitated over 200 mentorship pairings.
The SU Executive Committee, which meets monthly to discuss pressing student concerns, recently focused on efforts to decolonise the curriculum. However, Wajiha noted that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives can often feel performative and suggested shifting the language used towards ‘representation.’
General Secretary Tito emphasised the role of the Race Equity Steering Group, where student perspectives are presented to university leadership. This year, the SU has pushed for discussions around pre-arrival experiences, leading to broader conversations about improving Welcome Week for students of colour. Tito also reflected on the successful Black History Month (BHM) celebrations held earlier in the year.
Looking ahead, Debbie and Aisha from the SU team are working on several initiatives:
- Culture Week 2025, aimed at celebrating diverse student backgrounds.
- Establishing a Decolonising Student Group.
- Collaborating with Residential Life to create a guide for Black students moving into LSE halls.
- Developing a bespoke programme to encourage Black student participation in sports.
One of the key discussions at the forum centred on the proposal to rename the BAME Officer position. Debbie shared insights from a recent student survey, revealing dissatisfaction with the term BAME and noted that even during her campaign, she had reservations about the title of the role she was running for.
A student at the event voiced concern that the term singles out Black and Asian students while grouping all other minority groups into an undefined category. Debbie announced that the proposed alternative — ‘Ethnic Minority Officer’ — was met with mixed reactions. As a result, attendees suggested organising another meeting where a broader and more diverse group of students could vote on the final name change.
The forum concluded with a call for wider participation, ensuring that any decision reflects the diverse voices of the LSE student body. The SU aims to hold another meeting with increased student engagement to finalise the name change in a way that is inclusive and representative.
