Esther Inekuku: Candidate for Commuter Rep

By Julie Capkova

As the whole campus prepares to vote in the upcoming student elections, The Print has interviewed a number of candidates standing for representative and executive positions. All candidates were invited to participate. Those who did not respond are not included. Other candidates are available and students can see all of them on qmsu.org/elections. Anything mentioned in the text reflects the candidates’ opinions, not The Print’s. The length of the interviews does not imply preferences for a candidate, but instead ensures that we are factually reporting on their interviews. 

Esther Inekuku, who is in her first year at QMUL, decided to run for the Commuter Rep position, because she doesn't believe there is enough support and opportunities for students who commute to get to classes.‘There aren’t a lot of things for commuters to do, rather than for people who stay on the campus,’ she says. Esther specifically addresses that many events are held late in the evening, stretching into the night and making it inconvenient for commuter students to then get back home. ‘I do not think it is reasonable to be returning in the middle of the night, especially as a female student,’ she adds, reflecting on the issue many female students face when it comes to safety and safety measures.  

She also addresses her relative inexperience as she is a first year student at the university. She however believes that it might be an advantage when it comes to bringing new ideas. ‘I am still new so I think I have more ideas about what there is to do rather than people who have been used to this,’ she states and continues by saying ‘I could be a voice for everybody who is a commuter as well.’ 

In her campaign, Esther focuses on clearer communication, and better support for commuter students. One specific proposal she highlights is creating a group chat, which would create a shared space for everyone who is a commuter. She believes this would improve their experience at university by bringing people together and connecting them. She would further like to focus on holding events designed specifically for commuters. Recognising that London is a huge city, Esther suggests hosting events that could take place in different areas of London. This would ensure that commuter students feel included in the university life and that their experience does not only include classes and commuting. 

Another issue that Esther believes troubles commuters are the timetables, especially classes scheduled early in the morning. She plans to address this issue by bringing it to the school board’s attention. ‘They should be able to change it. But that’s only if they are willing to.’ While admitting that this could be a rather difficult task, she adds ‘I think there is no harm in trying.’ If elected, she would also like to focus on feedback forms and being seen, stating that the current office holder has not been ‘that visible.’ She would like to change this by sending out regular emails, creating a group chat, or having stalls on campus for sales and raising money for events. She believes this would make people more aware of her and the help and support her position could provide. 

Further, Esther identifies traffic and transport as one of the biggest issues students face, especially when it comes to train delays and cancellations. She links this back to the timetabling issues: ‘One of the first things would be changing the times of the lectures,’ highlighting the inconvenience of early lectures and seminars. 

Esther concludes by saying that for her success would mean: ‘Making a lot more people comfortable at uni. Increasing student work life, making it more beneficial and enjoyable.’ She wants to ensure that ‘people have actually enjoyed themselves during my term rather than it has all been the same from last year.’ 

Voting runs from 23 to 26 March 2026.