This is the first time in over 15 years that a Bristol SU representative has been elected to a full-time NUS position.
Vieru was elected by a margin of 122 votes. In her manifesto, she promised to extend access by developing hardship funds in students’ unions, and develop student-led alternative education spaces.
Addressing the conference, Vieru began her election speech by telling delegates about her journey into higher education as a Romanian migrant at the age of 16 and recalled of her personal experiences, saying students like her are often confronted with ‘sexism, with a side helping of xenophobia’.
She added that ‘even if the cost of living or access to education wasn’t an issue the structural system of higher education needs to be reimagined’ and concluded by rejecting ‘the idea that you cannot be both practical and principled’.
Read more about this story on the Epigram website.