Union President Anam Choudhary was initially runner-up during the leadership race, but now finds herself at the pinnacle of the Students’ Union.
Her sudden rise follows the unexpected resignation of Scanlan.
Choudhary very quickly filled that position, stepping up to the challenge, and has now spoken to The Cheese Grater about her first few months in office, her priorities, and wider campus issues.
“I thought I was getting scammed”
These words encapsulate Choudhary’s initial reaction to becoming Union President, having not initially won the election.
Reflecting on receiving the call from the Union, she said, “My reaction was shock… I thought I was getting scammed.”
Despite her unorthodox victory, she appeared confident that she holds a mandate, claiming that her victory was “fair and square”. In relation to Scanlan, she argued, “I think our votes was not that different”.
In the final count, Choudhary initially had 1088 votes, to Scanlan’s 1317, but when the votes were recounted after his resignation, she won with 1128 votes.
Choudhary is taking the role in her stride: “I am really, really determined to get things done”.
“UCL has already been cheap”
We first spoke to Choudhary about her plans for affordable food, one of her landmark policies during the campaign.
It appears that since Choudhary has seen Union finances, she has already backtracked on the plans, telling us “to be honest, UCL has already been cheap.”
“If you compare it from other normal places like other student unions or maybe other supermarkets… we are actually going on the cheaper range”.
She highlighted the work the Union is doing to reduce their carbon footprint with their goal of producing 0% carbon emission coffee and introducing more food products with lower carbon footprints.
While she did not say outright that food prices will go down, Choudhary declared, “I am pretty sure things will change in the same direction as I said in my manifesto before… I am not saying all of the foods, but some of them.”
Fossil free UCL is “in the future”
Last year, the Union passed a policy to lobby UCL to ban fossil fuel companies from its careers scheme.
We asked Choudhary whether she will uphold this policy. She responded, “It’s in the future… previously we have been divested from Barclays so we are trying to be on the same path.”
We also asked Choudhary if she would use her position as a UCL Director to lobby the university. She told us: “I think so. I just need some… research consistency to fall in place.”
Choudhary highlighted that “[her] major priority in one of the sectors… is jobs because if we see that from the UK and the world, we are [ranked] top in seventh and fourth. But I just want to increase the employability rate.”
Choudhary asserted that the Union will be selective in their careers support regarding fossil fuels and arms companies; “We are selective so we are trying to see the ethical side of it as well. So we are not neglecting that part.”
“I cannot be neutral”
During the leadership race, Choudhary was endorsed by UCL Students for Justice in Palestine. She told us, “when I was endorsed by SJP I was quite happy, because I have worked with them before.”
Choudhary acknowledged that there are limitations to what she can say within her position, “Trustees and charities don’t have a political view”.
The Education Act 1994 stipulates that Student Unions must act in the best interest of “students as students” which restricts their ability to act outside the remits of charitable and educational aims.
However she protested, “I am elected here for my views and I cannot be neutral… we have hyperdiverse students and we are here to advocate their voices.”
“Anything that has to do with education and charitable purposes, I am on it.” Choudhary cited the Union’s recent statement supporting the incoming students from Gaza.
Choudhary said, “Gaza 40, it’s something that we really, really are working for… we are talking to the MPs, we are doing anything that’s in our remit and going beyond that.”
This article appeared in CG93
