Activities & Engagement Officer seeking re-election accused of breaching campaign rules
Aria Xingni Shi, pictured, is seeking re-election as the Activities & Engagement Officer. Photo courtesy of Students’ Union UCL
Aria Xingni Shi, the incumbent Activities & Engagement Officer who is seeking re-election, is alleged to have breached the Students’ Union election campaign rules after posters in Mandarin, endorsing her campaign, were distributed around campus without sufficient English translations.
According to the election rules, “if you are publishing campaign materials in another language, you must ensure an English translation is provided.” While some posters, written mainly in English, have also been distributed, the disproportionate number of posters in Mandarin has caused concern amongst students, with many feeling isolated by Aria’s near-exclusive Chinese campaign.
One student reported viewing “an entire wall” covered in Mandarin posters without any English translation. Another student was overheard saying “we’re a university in an English speaking country, it’s only fair that these things [campaigning] should be in English.”
The posters, spotted across campus and positioned in places such as the IOE, the Refectory and the South Cloisters, make reference to Aria’s election pledges. An English translation of these posters, obtained by Pi, reveals that these pledges include “£2 bubble tea” and a designated nap area for students.
Speaking to students on campus, several commented that these pledges seemed inconsistent with the challenges faced by students at UCL, including: staggeringly high tuition fees, poor quality accommodation and the cost of living crisis. Numerous students also expressed concern at Aria’s record over the past academic year, with some even failing to recognise her as a current SU sabbatical officer.
According to a spokesperson from the SU, a complaint, concerning the posters, “has already been received by the Deputy Returning Officer and a ruling made.” The ruling will be published imminently on the election complaints section of the SU website.
The problematic posters (pictured above) captured by students around campus. Photo courtesy of Elliott Hollingsbee and Conor Walsh.