The Women's Campaign is a campaigning space for all women at the University of Cambridge. We work to push for material, institutional and cultural changes that will benefit our members. A key aspect of this is building networks of solidarity across all areas of University life, and providing a space within which all feel safe and welcome.
Committees
The Women's Campaign is led by an elected committee who are responsible for facilitating campaign projects and events each term. Our full-time Women's Officer supports the work of the committee and links campaign activities with pushing for changes at a University level. The Women's Officer and committee are guided by and accountable to members - anyone can get involved in the work of the campaign. Amongst our elected roles is a campaign Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and Media & Communications Officers. Students can also be elected into three Open-Portfolio campaign roles that guide the target focuses of the campaign each year. We also embed liberation at the heart of our committee functions through roles representing disabled, trans, non-binary, LGBT+, BME, and international students, alongside representatives for postgraduate and Class Act students.
This Year's Committee
SU Women's Officer (Full-time) | Rosie Freeman - rosie.freeman@cambridgesu.co.uk
Chair | Erin
Vice Chair | Hannah
Secretary | Anoushka
Zines Officers | Elise and Maddy (and sub-committee)
Treasurer | Maddy
Welfare Officer | Melanie
BAME Rep | Genevieve
NB Rep | Luce
International Students Rep | Rachel
PG rep (Vacant)
Open Portfolio Officer x3 (Vacant)
Trans Rep (Vacant)
LGBTQ+ rep (Vacant)
Class Act Rep (Vacant)
College Outreach Officer (Vacant)
Media/Comms | Amelia
Elections
The Women's Officer and the campaign committee are voted on annually in elections held at different points during the academic year. All undergraduate and postgraduate students who are women or have gender identities which include "woman" are eligible to to vote in all of our elections, although to vote for liberation roles you must self-identify with the relevant category.
The main committee elections take place annually during Easter term, and all roles are open for nominations. No previous experience on the Women's Campaign is necessary to run for elections, we are always open to new faces and ideas to feed into our work. Candidates will submit a manifesto setting out their ideas and passion for their chosen role. It may be the case that a role is not filled during the Easter Term elections, and so the campaign will hold by-elections throughout the academic year.
As one of the eight full-time sabbatical officers, the Women's Officer is elected during the Lent Term elections. These elections are covered by the student press and thousands of students usually turn out to vote, so they are a large part of the campaigns annual calendar.
Forums
The direction of the campaign and it's acitvities are shaped by decisions made at our campaign forum, which is held on a weekly basis throughout term. Forum functions as a space for discussion and consensus-building amongst our members on projects for initiating change throughout the University. Any member is able to add specific issues to the forum agenda, and to suggest how the campaign and it's committee can take action. Our forums are open to all womxn students (including those with gender identities which include 'woman') who wish to attend, and attendance at past forums isn't necessary for participating in our discussions; we always welcome new ideas and faces!
More importantly forum exists to build networks of solidarity amongst WomCam members. We meet to rant about misogyny, transmisogyny and sexism, racism, erasure, to reclaim our space, time and bodies in a University that doesn't prioritise our needs. Each forum begins and ends with a focus on collective care and checking in with each other’s welfare. If you've had a difficult week and just want to be in a caring and understanding environment, forum is here for that purpose. There are always access breaks and participation is voluntary - you can come simply to listen, and contribute as little or as much as you wish.