Jessica Wing will make an uncontested run to become CUSU’s inaugural sabbatical Disabled Students’ Officer (DSO), as the only candidate nominated for the role ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Wing is currently head of the Disabled Students’ Campaign, and previously was Disabled Rep for WomCam, CUSU’s women’s liberation campaign.

She will campaign on policies including increases to funding for the University Counselling Service and the Disablity Resource Centre, as well as striving to fight national cuts to the Disabled Student Allowance. If elected, she will from June become CUSU’s sixth paid sabbatical officer, following the postponement of the by-election for Coordinator.

The creation of the DSO post was approved by an overwhelming majority in a referendum held in February, with more than 90 per cent of votes cast in favour of the new sabbatical role, and just 336 votes in opposition. The turnout for the DSO referendum, 21.4 per cent, was the highest for a CUSU referendum in six years.

The DSO will be responsible for providing support for members of the Disabled Students’ Campaign, providing training for disabled students’ officers at a college level, and representing the Disabled Students’ Campaign at CUSU council.

Speaking to Varsity, Wing said “From the referendum results that allowed this position to be created, it's overwhelmingly obvious that issues surrounding disability and mental health are a concern for a large proportion of the student body,” adding that she has a “clear vision of what the role needs to address”.

She described University Counselling Service wait times as “completely unacceptable”, and said she will “campaign to increase its funding” if elected.

Wing also spoke out against issue she perceived within the intermission process, in which students are permitted an extended break from study.

“It's also unacceptable that rules pertaining to intermission vary wildly across colleges,” she said, “with some colleges depriving students of their support network, and even, in some extreme cases, disallowing them from returning to study. My aim is to make intermission a standardised procedure – but this can't be done without improved tutor training and staff accountability procedures.”

Students will be given the option of voting for Wing, or to re-open nominations (RON) – which would force CUSU to advertise again for candidates. A victory for RON previously occurred in 2010, where the sole candidate for the soon-to-be-defunct CUSU Coordinator position was narrowly defeated.

According to last year’s Equality & Diversity Information Report, disabled students currently make up 8.1 per cent of undergraduates, and 5.9 per cent of graduates, a proportion which is increasing.

Voting, which is open to those who self-define as disabled, will open at midnight on the morning of Monday 17th May, and close at 7pm on Wednesday 18th.