The Beaver (TB): What is your diagnosis of LSE’s welfare problem?
Afrah Hyder (AH): I don’t think that welfare considerations play the central role they need to. The big
issue I’m talking about is mental health. I’m talking about the lack of universal mental health policy and the abysmal counseling service and also the lack of any other options apart from counseling. What I really want to do is lobby to school to more funding into mental health services.
TB: Why do you think that the mental health services are so dismal?
AH: I don’t think it is a money issue as LSE is pretty loaded, right? I think it is a question of pushing the students and professors to get LSE to channel more funds towards mental health.
TB: If elected what is the first thing that you will want to address?
AH: Perhaps focusing on incoming students in September, things like more inclusive events during freshers as well as better advertising of SU services like advice and financial support, both of which exist, but people don’t know about. I want all students to know that these services exist and that they’re there for people to use.
TB: How can we improve disability inclusion at LSE?
AH: We need to work with the school to have more training for academics so that they know what to do when presented with an inclusion plan. Most inclusion plans are quite generic. They don’t really guide academics on how to support students who have inclusion plans. Having an inclusion plan is not solving anything in itself. Teachers don’t know what help they can offer, so I guess showing teachers what kind of adjustments are available is important as well as letting students know what kind of things are available.
TB: How can you foster a co- herent sense of community at LSE whilst protecting vulnerable com- munities?
AH: Everyone is a bit far apart and everyone feel disconnected at the moment, so making sure that there are more social spaces and making sure that the events that do happen are easy to put on is key. What I keep hearing is that there are so many things that societies want to do, but that a four week waiting period to submit proposals just puts people off. So, I really think that it’s a question of supporting anything that will bring people together whilst ensuring that we do all that we can to make sure that we have a safe and hate free environment.
TB: How are you going to win?
AH: Haha, well, I think my poli- cies and manifesto are, you know, pretty convincing – but I’d say that, wouldn’t I? I think that many people who have seen my manifesto have really resonated with it… you know mental health, making it easier for societies to put on things. I’ve also been involved with a lot of things at LSE, so I’m also hoping to make use of the networks that I have built up during my time here.
