Nominations have opened for the SU Women’s Officer by-election after Milo-Eyre Morgan formally left his post on the 18th of January.

Milo’s is the first resignation of an SU sabbatical officer since Jess O’Brien resigned as Disabled Students’ Officer over allegations of harassment and bullying in Lent 2020. However, this resignation did not trigger a by-election as it occurred after the regular Lent SU elections.

The last Cambridge SU, then known as CUSU, by-election happened in 2014 after the then CUSU coordinator resigned from their post only weeks after assuming it. The by-election was marred by controversy after it was alleged that one of the candidates, James Mottram, had misled students over his political leanings.

Mottram was a former chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) but neglected to mention his previous relationship with the Association in his manifesto despite claiming “political neutrality” to be a priority. He later withdrew his candidacy.

It is hoped that this by-election will be less controversial, with voting opening on the 31st of January and votes closing on the 3rd of February. The successful candidate’s tenure will last until the new sabbatical team starts in July 2020.

According to the SU’s website, any student may run for office if “woman” forms a part of their gender identity. The job itself entails leading the SU’s Women’s Campaign, along with representing women and non-binary students on some University committees.

Like all sabbatical officer roles, Women’s Officer is a full-time job, requiring successful candidates to take a year out of their studies. Officers are expected to work 35 hours per week with an annual salary of around £21,800.

Zak Coleman, the current SU president, encouraged anyone interested to run, saying:

“This position is perfect for anyone with a passion for representing women students and students for whom “woman” forms part of their identity on the University-level. If you’re even slightly interested and want to hear more, don’t hesitate to contact one of the current SU officers to chat about the role. I’ve loved my time at the SU so far and am really excited to hear candidates’ ideas for how they would approach the role and welcome a new member to the team!”