Last Wednesday, all 48 sabbatical candidates were invited to speak to UCL’s student media about their campaign at a Union-organised press event.
Only three of the eight candidates running for Union President were in attendance. The Cheese Grater took this opportunity to get a better understanding of their priorities and their vision for the Students’ Union.
In the interest of balance, we also wrote to other candidates and asked the same questions that we asked the three candidates who turned up to the media day. All but one candidate, Anam Choudhary, responded by press time.
Ben Scanlan
Fourth-year History student and incumbent Accommodation and Housing Officer Ben Scanlan wants to freeze prices across the Union’s commercial outlets and pledged to “bring back advocacy”.
His campaign to “Make UCL Cheap Again” pledges a freeze on prices in Union bars, cafes and shops and a reduction in prices on “as many things as possible.”
Asked how he would fund these proposals and whether it was a long-term solution to the student cost-of-living crisis, Scanlan suggested a levy on non-UCL customers could work in conjunction with increased Union subsidies on prices, alongside a crackdown on what he sees as “unproductive” expenditure, citing last year’s promotional Ferris wheel, llama visits, and ice cream van hires.
Even as finance documents show all but one of the Union’s bars have been consistently losing money for years, Scanlan insists his plans are sustainable, adding: “Even as loss-making enterprises, I believe that our SU bars are vital social spaces that deserve protection.”
Scanlan reassured voters that he would not “DOGE the Student Union,” in reference to Elon Musk’s cost-cutting role in President Trump’s cabinet.
When questioned on his role as Accommodation and Housing Officer, Scanlan argued that the “Union could be doing so much more as an advocacy body to pressure UCL.” Scanlan claimed that his greatest achievements in the role were securing a 15% refund on catering fees for Ramsey Hall students and launching a mass group claim for students at 109 Camden Road.
We wrapped up the interview by asking Scanlan his thoughts on the current state of the Union in which he was critical of current Sabbs and their use of air travel for union duties, arguing that “If you can’t get there by train, you can skype, you can zoom”
Scanlan showed his comedic side when arguing that his policies are deliverable, stating that “when there’s a will, there’s a way – and I have a massive will.”
Leon McNulty
Final-year geography student Leon McNulty wants to see ethical banking within the Union, affordable meals for students on campus, support for working students and sustainable career fairs.
The purpose of the Union, he said, is to provide “the essential things for students,” such as hot meals. He criticised the difference in food pricing by UCL’s private caterer Gather and Gather between halls canteens and the Refectory, where prices are much higher.
He is determined to decrease food prices on campus to match prices in accommodations as students because “what students miss out on is not really well-priced snacks, but a proper meal.”
When asked about the financial viability of this policy, he did not provide any specific strategies and instead cited other unnamed initiatives that “are also not making the union any money.” He did not rule out switching providers and added: “Why should this not be provided at a cost, for the benefit of the students?”
His flagship policy calls for a review of the Union’s banking arrangements with Barclays Bank, named the largest funder of oil and gas in Europe for eight years running. He said it was “antithetical” to the Union’s sustainability commitments and promised a review of these arrangements, unaware that this is set to happen this week at the Union’s Trustee Board already.
McNulty refused to comment on whether the Union was failing in its sustainability commitments. He later said in writing that the Union was “dragging their feet on the issue [for] almost a year and a half”, but added: “It is very easy for candidates to say that everything is wrong with the Union, but what I’m interested in is having concrete policies.”
Jay Sharma
Mrityunjay (Jay) Sharma is a Masters Student in Entrepreneurial Studies at the UCL School of Management.
Sharma’s entrepreneurial background is reflected in his career-oriented policies, prioritising career support, a placement accelerator to help students get headhunted quickly and an International Careers Desk to simplify visas and placements for “world-class” talent.
His main policy concerning career support is implementing on-campus placement weeks for final-year students to alleviate the stress of job applications that “hampers their education and student experience.” This scheme would allow companies to recruit directly from each graduating class similar to the current yearly NHS recruitment program for medical students.
Despite his strong corporate stance, Sharma is adamant against the Union’s collaboration with fossil-fuel companies, but only in sponsorship events. His recruitment scheme does not exclude these companies from recruiting students from UCL as, according to his in-depth experience with the energy sector in India, “these engineers are actually important in making those companies carbon neutral.”
In the same spirit, he does not plan on personally regulating any companies taking part in his recruitment initiative, stating that he is merely an “enabler,” not a “gatekeeper.” While he may not support the ethical practices of certain companies, he holds firmly to the testament: “We are not with you, but we cant be against you right now.”
The Union’s main purpose, according to Sharma, is to “help students connect with each other… not to provide a service.”
His vision for the SU includes emphasis on presence at Canary Wharf and UCL East. Sharma argues that students at these campuses lack a “good student experience compared to the people on the Bloomsbury campus.” Although, he did not mention any specific policies for providing this better experience.
Presidential candidates who did not attend the media day but responded to a written request for comment
Sam Cao
First-year econ student Sam Cao pledges to amplify the student voice, foster inclusivity, and enhance career and academic support.
He plans to implement feedback channels, increased social events, mental health resources and mentorship programs respectively, to achieve these goals. He envisions a Union which is “transparent and proactive in delivering real improvements.”
He assures voters that his experiences as an international economics student qualify him for the role, and reiterates that he is “not running for the title,” arguing that “responsibility ranks over title” and he intends to “make [student] voices heard.”
Xueren Lyu
“Student safety” is first-year international student Xueren Lyu’s top priority as the president hopeful pledges to establish a “zero-politics” campus to eliminate “security hazards from protests”.
Lyu’s controversial bid to ban protests may be against UK law. When asked for clarification, he responded saying: “I am only banning violent protests, protests that are organised by social communities… as well as protests that weren’t applied and informed in advance.”
Improved security measures to combat theft around campus and updating the study space booking system are also among his goals. Lyu cites his past role as High School Vice President as his qualification, giving him an understanding of “student leadership at various levels.”
Deepali Mahesh Desai
Deepali Desai is a Finance Student currently doing her Masters at the School of Management. Her proposals focus on “expanding mentorship, internships, and networking opportunities for students.”
She is committed to “fostering collaboration” between the Canary Wharf and Bloomsbury campus through shared events, and advocating for postgraduate student representation in Union decision-making.
Despite Desai’s campaign policies appearing catered towards the postgraduate experience, she chose to run for President over the Postgraduate position, she argued “running for union President allows me to advocate for these changes on a broader scale.”
James Brown Scopas
Expanding mental health services, implementing mentorship programs and expanding study spaces are among James Brown Scopas’ policies to “create a stronger, more supportive UCL community where everyone thrives.”
His policies focus on student advocacy through accessible feedback channels and improving the Union’s sustainability, suggesting a “rideshare program” which would see the university partner with “eco-friendly transport providers like Uber.”
Scopas cites his previous leadership roles in societies and campus event organization as qualification for this role, and vouches to promote transparency between students and the SU in his role as President.
Presidential candidates who did not engage with media at all
Anam Choudhary
Management student Anam Eijaz Ahmed Choudhary wants “affordable food, better spaces, and a real student community at UCL”.
Her headline policies include creating a “Student Hub” for society events and socialization, working with UCL Estates to upgrade campus facilities, and initiating an Interfaith Awareness Module to “promote dialogue and an equitable …for UCL’s diverse student body.”
She also plans to make food prices “affordable and inclusive” to “make UCL a place where we don’t just study—we belong”
Choudhary says she knows how “to lead, organise, and fight for what matters.” However, she was the only candidate who did not respond to a request for comment by The Cheese Grater. On the campaign trail, she said she refused to respond because journalists would “twist [her] words” anyway.
