Gabriela Martinez: Candidate for VP Welfare

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. 

Gabriela Martinez is a candidate for the VP Welfare position. She decided to run mostly because of her experience with being an international student. She draws on her ‘frustration in terms of what is accessible to international students,’ passion about injustice and activism, and her attempts to combine creativity and activism. ‘I want to be the person that people see and trust, and not the person who does this for an ulterior motive.’  

Gabriela also said that she has tried to interact with many people all across campus to learn about the issues they face and changes they would like to see implemented. She believes that this, together with her background in studying politics, and being slightly older than the other candidates, makes her a strong candidate for this position. 

In her manifesto, Gabriela addresses several issues, including the diversification of opportunities, the signposting of available opportunities, course feedback, and more creative projects on campus. 

‘As an international student, I’m aware that the internship and work opportunities existing at QMUL aren’t always inclusive to international students. As international students we are only allowed 20hrs part time work and if an internship is voluntary it takes away payable hours for us. So my goal is to diversify these opportunities to make them more accessible and equitable for all.’ She specifically suggests creating more programmes or projects that would allow students to develop different skills, while getting a certification at its end. She would also like to see workplacements within courses as well, reflecting on their end during the pandemic, when the funding was cut and never reintroduced. Overall, these ideas relate mostly to her ‘passion for advocacy’ for international students. ‘I would like to give the international students, in this political time in the UK, a fighting chance at succeeding here [...] Generally people want to get an education to change their lives.’ 

She would further like to address the course feedback. She says that it feels that the feedback is intended more for next year students, which ‘feels frustrating, because you want to have a hand in what you have invested in.’ 

Gabriela would also like to see more collaboration across different societies. ‘I would love to see collaborations that would really shift things,’ reflecting back on her passion about diversity and inclusivity. 

Furthermore, Gabriela states: ‘the financial aspect of living in London as a student is probably the hardest thing we face. And the pressure of finding a job that pays it off in a way.’ She then draws on her own experience with juggling loans, attempts at finding a job, and anxieties around the cost of living, many students, especially in London, face. 

When asked what she would do differently from this year’s executives, she mostly expressed her admiration for them and their achievements, especially because ‘changes are never simple as they require tons of advocating.’ She would like to continue on the baselines they have established, continue the free food services, and continue with the same level of ‘compassion and professionalism.’ ‘I can only commend these people for trying their hardest.’

When it comes to representing the whole diverse student body at QMUL, she says: ‘I am drawn to people who disagree with me.’ She believes that most of the time, the root of the conflict is miscommunication and that generally most students crave similar things and similar outcomes. 

In the end, Gabriela mentions three specific parts that, if achieved, would mean success for her. ‘I would love to see a mural here. I would love to have the least expected collaborations within the societies, like STEM society with the art society, or something that you would never expect. And I would love to work with the Career Services to find solutions for equitable experiences for the students. If I can get any of those three, I’d be pretty happy.’ 

She then concludes by addressing the students directly and saying: ‘I’d like the students to know that I’ve come to this opportunity with the best intentions in mind, that it’s inherent in me to be passionate about these types of issues, and that diversity and inclusivity have always been a part of who I am.’ 

Voting runs from 23 to 26 March 2026.