Freddie Poser (Computer Science 2018) has been re-elected by Cambridge students to the role of University Councillor.

Freddie describes his role as independent of Cambridge Students’ Union, sitting as he does as one of three student representatives on the University Council, the Governing Body of the University. The SU Presidents are the other student representatives.

He says: “I see it as a role about scrutiny and holding the University to account. University Council has broad powers, and a lot of decisions come before University Council for final approval. It’s much more about making sure the University is on the right track.

“It’s a role that benefits from experience, because the University is such a complicated beast. I’m a lot better about it eight months into the role and, given I intend to be here next year, I wanted to stand again.

“One thing I’ve been pleased to see since being elected is how much University leadership really care. A lot of the time it is portrayed across as ‘us versus them’, but Professor Toope and Professor Virgo (the Vice-Chancellor or Pro Vice Chancellor for Education) do care about student issues. I’ve been incredibly impressed by that.”

Freddie, pictured above, who is also chair of the Cambridge University Liberal Association, decided to get involved in the Students’ Union, rather than the Gonville & Caius Students’ Union, because he felt he had more to offer at a University level.

“The GCSU has been doing a fantastic job and I didn’t have as much to offer there,” he adds.

“A lot of the time the role has been about raising issues that are important for students which may not have come to their attention. One time I raised a college’s response to returning to Cambridge, back in September, and a lot of the time the communication around Covid-19 has been disconnected and some central leadership would help reduce the difference between the colleges.”