The need for student autonomy

Raising their voices: Students protesting against a proposed amendment to Auku at the entrance of the Parliament building in 2010. The Act has gone through other amendments since then but some feel that it still inherently restricts student activities. — Filepic/The Star

WHILE pursuing my higher education here at Newcastle University, United Kingdom, I also won the elected role of Ethnic Diversity Officer at the Students’ Union, an equivalent of Malaysia’s student representative body (MPP, Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar).

I was responsible for representing the interests of all ethnically diverse students at Newcastle University for the past year, ranging from organising community events to holding roundtable discussions on opposing racism.