Page 68 - Future Leaders Magazine

AWARENESS

STAY

WOKE!

Future Leader Oluwaseun Matiluko shares three

ways to become more politically active at university

T SCHOOL, I was shy and my university; be on the NUS Black Students’
retiring. I was academic but not Committee or even provide the impetus for
very outgoing. I would see things my university’s Law School to create a module
A going on in my community, and on Race on Law, I would have laughed at you.
the injustices happening in the world, and think Although it may not seem like it, we can create
that I couldn’t do anything to make a change. If an impact. During my academic career I have
you had told me last year that I would organise become more and more politically active, and
a Black Lives Matter vigil for 500 people in my these are the three things I have found myself
community; increase diverse representations at doing to become this way.

Don’t be afraid to put strengthen your original views or gain new
1 yourself out there ones. Having people to bounce ideas off of is
invaluable.
Moreover, it may be worth thinking
Coming to university was a massive culture more about how the outside world affects
shock for me. It was extremely daunting what you’re studying. How will Brexit affect
to come from a very small school, to the law? How will the privatisation
a campus of more than 20,000 of the NHS affect you as a
students. I came across many medical student? How will
students who were politically the economic crisis affect
active. Lots of students in my the future of banking, Join networks/societies
year group were so passionate business or management? 2 at your university
about hot-button issues, that Anything you study can be
I felt the need to educate impacted by politics, and
myself further so that I could it’s very worthwhile to Joining a political student group, e.g. Labour
have an opinion on things. pose questions to your Students, will bring you to the forefront of
University is a melting pot of tutors to get a better the student politics movement. The more you
different ideas and beliefs, understanding of how go to events run by these groups, the more
and the more you politics shapes politically active you will become, especially
put yourself out your world. The as many of these groups campaign for issues
there and talk to more you throughout the year.
people around understand, These groups often host campaigns,
you, the more the more debates and panel discussions with a wide
likely it is active you variety of famous speakers. For example,
that you will can be. when I headed up the BME Network, I invited
Akala to give a keynote speech on the history