Some of Selwyn’s best-known and longest-serving staff were praised in the House of Commons by Labour MP – and Selwyn alumnus – Wes Streeting. He was speaking in a debate about the Higher Education Bill, and he argued that non-academic staff were sometimes undervalued in terms of their representation within the university sector. He cited his own time at Selwyn as an example of the role staff can play:
"...Staff are absolutely crucial to the success of our higher education sector, whether they are academic staff directly engaged in teaching and learning or the wide range of support staff, whose contribution to the student experience is often unheralded. Thinking back to my student experience, the first member of staff I spoke to at my university was not an academic; it was Gina Vivian-Neal in the admissions office. When I was at university, I spoke to staff such as Bill Simmonett, who was involved in catering and conferencing, because of my role as the students union entertainments officer. When I had a particularly small room in my second year and a larger one became available, Sue Jeffries made a substantial difference to my learning environment. Margaret Hay, who, I believe, recently retired from her role in the tutorial office, was absolutely central to the experience and welfare and care of students..."
Mr Streeting (SE 2001) is a former JCR president at Selwyn, and he went on to become president of CUSU and president of the National Union of Students. He has been the MP for Ilford North since the 2015 general election.
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