Who are we?
The Ethical Affairs Campaign is the SU's campaign for social and environmental justice. Specifically, we focus on campaigning around the ways that the practices of Cambridge University adversely affect students, staff, and communities around the world. In the past that has meant campaigning for the university to stop collaborating with arms companies complicit in human rights abuses, to stop promoting careers in the fossil fuel industry to students, and to pay its cleaning and catering staff the Real Living Wage. What else do you think we should be campaigning on?
What do we do?
First, throughout the year we run social justice related events, including speaker events, and skillshares. This culminates in our Michaelmas Political Freshers Week, aimed at educating freshers and other years about how they can get involved in activism in Cambridge.
Secondly, we're elected student representatives to the University on social and environmental justice issues. This means that we have a space on university committees like ESSC (Environmental Sustainability Strategy Committee) and the Transport Working Group. We also get seats on the SU Executive Committee and SU Council.
Finally, we support grassroots student activism. We act as a central coordinating point for different student activist groups to strategise and share knowledge, and we support them in their goals. For example, we have held joint rallies with Cambridge Climate Justice on Fossil Free Research, produced a joint report with Demilitarise Cambridge on the University's ties to the arms trade, and worked together on coordinating student support for lecturer strikes with Cambridge Defend Education.
How can I get involved?
Come along to our open meetings! They're usually held every two weeks and open to all students. See our Instagram @ethicalaffairs for dates and times etc.
Get in contact with us! DM our Instagram or email ethical-affairs@cambridgesu.co.uk if you have a campaign idea, want our support on something, or have any questions.
Become a committee member! Elections for all roles will be happening at the end of Lent term, and no experience at all is required. Get in contact if you want to know more about the roles!