The Otago University Students’ Association is holding a very exciting by-election to fill up the four empty spots on the Executive. From Admin Vice President through to Colleges Officer, spots are up for grabs. Critic sat down en masse with the 11 nominees to discuss their backgrounds, their plans, and why on earth they would want to sacrifice a year of their lives on the pyre of student politics.
The spots up for grabs are:
And, drum roll please, the candidates are…
Shane Corrigan is a fourth-year marketing student from the State of New York, here to spread democracy to the people of Dunedin. Corrigan has lived in New Zealand for a year, and has enjoyed a quintessential Kiwi experience. Now he’s looking to give something back to the community and help international students have a great time.
“Last semester I had a great time, got to see a lot of New Zealand and also party here in Dunedin. So this semester I’d like to help international students here, show them a good time with social events and help them travel around New Zealand, because that’s what they’re here for. They come here for university but a big part of it is seeing the country and meeting people.”
If elected, Corrigan plans to have an “open door policy”, helping mentor international students and advising them on how to navigate the New Zealand environment. He intends to organise social events to “get all the international students together”, as well as travel opportunities such as OUSA-sponsored bus trips to Queenstown.
“I’ll show them a good time. I think I’d be good at setting up those events and making them happen.”
Dickens is a second-year student studying politics and law. Todd’s running for Campaigns Officer in an effort to improve the communication OUSA has with students. He is concerned that many students are not well enough informed about OUSA’s current campaigns and wants to improve visibility on these sorts of topic.
Todd took part in a community problem-solving competition where he identified and implemented a plan through his local school to reverse the effects of heart disease. His team’s initiative placed first in New Zealand and then, after upping their game even more, went on to be placed first at an international level. If elected, Todd hopes to initiate campaigns that would allow students to get more bang for their buck by making the most out of their service fees. When it comes to campaigns, Todd has worked with a few political parties, and has always found his experiences enjoyable and successful.
Todd loves throwing events – he’s a scarfie after all – but really he “wants to listen to students to keep [OUSA] afloat.”
Given a last word, Todd said, “Vote Todd Dickens for campaigns. And don’t forget to check out my Facebook event!”
Diesing might be a fifth-year Masters student (she’s doing an MA in politics), but she actually really does like freshers. “I actually really do like freshers,” she says.
She has been working at Unipol for the past few years. She recently got to organise the O-Week sports day, and relished the opportunity. “I think it would be awesome to organise events like this again, and not just sports, but all sorts of events for first years.”
“I think it’s really important that OUSA engages with the first years, and ensure that we are talking to them about the type of events and support that they want and need.” She says that she wants to directly engage with students, by meeting with them in their halls, and by holding regular catch ups with RAs to stay in the loop on what’s going on.
And as Diesing reiterated as Critic was finishing the interview, “I do actually really like freshers.”
Ding Yi Ding is in the second semester of her accounting degree, having started halfway through last year. She’s from the Anhui Province of China, which, she tells us, is also the home of the country’s President. Having come from a place so far away, she feels comfortable that she knows what international students “need, what we can provide, and how to get them out there into the community.”
In her short time at uni, she has volunteered at the Rugby World Cup, and seen nearly all there is to see of Kiwi culture. She considers it important to get the international students out there in the deep water, “making Kiwi friends and not just staying within their own community.” Divide and conquer. As an international mentor, she already knows many of the inner workings of the international office, and is sure that the students “aren’t aware of all the resources available”.
She considers this role to be an excellent opportunity for both her and other international students to get the most out of Uni, and to “get connected with Kiwi culture.”
Maddie Harris is an energetic and enthusiastic second-year studying a BCom double major in economics and marketing. Maddie wants to be Colleges Officer to ensure that inter-college competitions are run a lot more effectively and see greater participation.
Only a year out of “fresher life”, Maddie states her feelings about freshers – “Umm … last year I thought they were the bees’ knees but this year, as long as they’re not vomiting or coma-ed or walking around with maps, they’re alright.”
Maddie plans to create an Otago University Colleges’ Shield with a winner announced at the end of the year, “kind of like Hogwarts”. However, her main aspiration is to organise a three-legged race up Baldwin Street.
She aspires to introduce an inter-college competition to raise money for charities such as World Vision which “could make college life that much more awesome.”
Maddie is also environmentally aware. She would like to organise a carbon footprint programme and have each hall strive to reduce their footprint. “It would help especially for those going into flatting and looking into sustainable living.”
With hopes of creating more interaction with other halls it will enhance “healthy competition”. She also plans on creating a Critic spread with updates on the College Shield competition that “would be bigger and better than ‘Bouncing Off the Halls’.”
Matthew is a fourth-year student studying a BCom in management and a BA in psychology. Mat is a passionate and organized guy. His main priority in running for AVP is to support Logan, who is “doing a sweet job”, in his attempts to run OUSA. He thinks “promoting our student community and representing our Scarfie culture in a progressive way” is of the utmost importance.
Mat is a down-to-earth guy who has a great idea of how the general public functions after the sun sets, through his experiences as a security guard and bouncer. Matthew is a business- and law-orientated kind of guy who, having worked for OUSA as a volunteer, knows just how OUSA policies ought to be maintained.
Matthew has a clear idea of what he plans to do in the role if elected. Having met with David Cull, who is in agreement, Matthew is keen for students to have a greater role in the Forsyth Barr Stadium. He sees it as a way that students can get involved in the running of the city and give back to the community.
Matthew also wants to provide support to the postgraduate and international culture at Otago. Being a single dad, he can see the need to provide more support for parents on campus and to postgraduate students who may be suffering from the battle of the books.
Scott Lee is a third-year finance and economics student, and a man of few words. Campaign slogan – “Come on, I’m a nice guy.” Why is he running for Campaigns Officer? “Looks good on the CV.” What about Colleges Officer? “I like fresh meat.” What skills would he bring to the roles? “New ideas.” This isn’t ruthless editing, this if the full transcript of the interview.
When asked if he actually liked freshers, he replied “Only for one night.” If elected as Colleges Officer, he plans to “make halls less PC.” If elected as Campaigns Officer, he wants “more sports events.” But in the end, Lee will be “happy so long as the guy wearing sneans doesn’t win, I think his name was Dan or something.”
Angus, a fourth-year physio student and Gore escapee, wants to throw you a party, a really big one.
Angus is part of the “OUSA Dream Team” which, after realising that using “OUSA” in their name was a breach of the election rules, became just “the Dream Team”.
“OUSA has a larger budget this year, and I am really interested in getting the acts that students want to see down to Otago,” says Angus.
“I don’t have anything specific in mind that I would campaign against, but anything that goes against student interests would be in my sights.” In particukar, Angus is opposed to the DCC’s proposed liquor ban.
Angus is already a high achiever – he’s representing New Zealand at the World Triathlon Champs for age group level in October.
He isn’t thinking about a long-term career in politics – yet. But his physio interests mean he’s quite interested in health policy … so maybe. He’s certainly got that wholesome down-on-the-farm vibe.
He’s already sitting on the Physio exec as sports rep.
As a fifth-year politics honours and law student, Jono believes he can smooth the way OUSA operates. A team player with experience on SOULS (Society of Otago University Law Students) and the University Council, he considers himself to be the right man for the job.
“My experience is important in a post-VSM environment because there’s a key role between the Uni and the OUSA now. I think I can build that relationship straight away.”
Jono considers himself to have great people skills, to be a team player who has coached and played sports through out high school. These characteristics are a key part of the way he interacts with people. “I’m not afraid to speak my own mind and what I believe in. At the same time, I am prepared to listen to other people’s views.” These skills are what he thinks will show his ability to tie in the OUSA with the University.
If elected, Jono plans to build on the strong relationship between the OUSA and the University. “There is already great feedback from the Vice Chancellor about how happy with the way it is working this year and I would like to be apart of this.” He would also like to help Logan Edgar and the rest of the executive make OUSA more relevant to students.
After being at the University for over four years, he has a sound understanding of how it operates. “I think I’d do a great job for students. I would like to make sure the executives are kept on their toes and are efficiently working as a team.”
Derwin Smith is in his “fifteenth or so year” at Otago University, and is two papers away from finishing a BA in Sociology. He’s been involved in campaigns, protests and activism for most of that time, usually against fee rises. As a member of the International Socialists and the Mana Party, he feels that he is “undoubtedly the best person for the job”. He wants to bring a new perspective into play – one that’s more militant and engages more students. He’s sure he can be the one to rebuild student focus, unlike the current OUSA, which is apparently “sitting on its laurels”.
If elected, Derwin will campaign with a primary goal of zero fee increases. His next move would be to undertake research into rent increases, as “anecdotal evidence” suggests that rent has doubled in the past ten years. He’d also like to campaign against cutbacks, mergers and casual contracts in the Uni departments, as well as instigating a $15 minimum wage across-the-board on campus.
He believes the position should be “building a movement that includes students, workers at university, and the Dunedin community to fight fees, landlords’ rent, and to make the Uni a nicer place to work.”
Daniel Stride is back again, continuing in his quest to gain a seat on the Exec after his close defeat for the Finances and Services position at last year’s election. The 29-year-old third-year law student (who already holds Honours degrees in Maths and History, and a BSC in Comp Sci) is concerned that OUSA faces big challenges, especially in maintaining its independence from the University with the new Service Level Agreement.
He feels that his wealth of institutional knowledge, after spending two and a half years on the Exec, is part of the reason he should be back on board. “OUSA is still threatened by VSM. And it needs to make sure that it is never going to lose its independence.”
Stride was asked to, and did, resign from the 2011 executive after taking a police diversion, “I screwed up. I paid the price. Surely OUSA believes in rehabilitation.”
Stride isn’t embarrassed about how much he loves policy and paperwork
He is also concerned about issues of representation on the Exec. “There were very few women who ran for the Exec at the last election. Maybe it is time that we looked at bringing back the Women’s Rep, and possibly other divisional reps.”
The spots up for grabs are:
- Admin Vice President: Second only to big daddy Edgar, this position is the dogs body of the Exec. Chasing up paperwork, and slaving away writing policy, it’s not in the limelight, but it’s pretty bloody important.
- Campaigns Officer: A pretty diverse gig, this position covers everything from running campaigns to sussing out market day. Down at the grass roots, this one requires a lot of working with people and organisation.
- International Officer: Pretty much all in the name really isn’t it. The IO reps international students affairs to the OUSA, and vice versa. Takes lots of energy, but the person usually makes a big difference amongst the international community.
- Colleges Officer: This lucky person gets to represent first years, both local and in halls, to the Executive, as well as organising events for the those lucky freshers.
And, drum roll please, the candidates are…
Shane Corrigan
Candidate for International OfficerShane Corrigan is a fourth-year marketing student from the State of New York, here to spread democracy to the people of Dunedin. Corrigan has lived in New Zealand for a year, and has enjoyed a quintessential Kiwi experience. Now he’s looking to give something back to the community and help international students have a great time.
“Last semester I had a great time, got to see a lot of New Zealand and also party here in Dunedin. So this semester I’d like to help international students here, show them a good time with social events and help them travel around New Zealand, because that’s what they’re here for. They come here for university but a big part of it is seeing the country and meeting people.”
If elected, Corrigan plans to have an “open door policy”, helping mentor international students and advising them on how to navigate the New Zealand environment. He intends to organise social events to “get all the international students together”, as well as travel opportunities such as OUSA-sponsored bus trips to Queenstown.
“I’ll show them a good time. I think I’d be good at setting up those events and making them happen.”
Todd Dickens
Candidate for Campaigns OfficerDickens is a second-year student studying politics and law. Todd’s running for Campaigns Officer in an effort to improve the communication OUSA has with students. He is concerned that many students are not well enough informed about OUSA’s current campaigns and wants to improve visibility on these sorts of topic.
Todd took part in a community problem-solving competition where he identified and implemented a plan through his local school to reverse the effects of heart disease. His team’s initiative placed first in New Zealand and then, after upping their game even more, went on to be placed first at an international level. If elected, Todd hopes to initiate campaigns that would allow students to get more bang for their buck by making the most out of their service fees. When it comes to campaigns, Todd has worked with a few political parties, and has always found his experiences enjoyable and successful.
Todd loves throwing events – he’s a scarfie after all – but really he “wants to listen to students to keep [OUSA] afloat.”
Given a last word, Todd said, “Vote Todd Dickens for campaigns. And don’t forget to check out my Facebook event!”
Juana Diesing
Candidate for Colleges OfficerDiesing might be a fifth-year Masters student (she’s doing an MA in politics), but she actually really does like freshers. “I actually really do like freshers,” she says.
She has been working at Unipol for the past few years. She recently got to organise the O-Week sports day, and relished the opportunity. “I think it would be awesome to organise events like this again, and not just sports, but all sorts of events for first years.”
“I think it’s really important that OUSA engages with the first years, and ensure that we are talking to them about the type of events and support that they want and need.” She says that she wants to directly engage with students, by meeting with them in their halls, and by holding regular catch ups with RAs to stay in the loop on what’s going on.
And as Diesing reiterated as Critic was finishing the interview, “I do actually really like freshers.”
Ding (Yi) Ding
Candidate for International OfficerDing Yi Ding is in the second semester of her accounting degree, having started halfway through last year. She’s from the Anhui Province of China, which, she tells us, is also the home of the country’s President. Having come from a place so far away, she feels comfortable that she knows what international students “need, what we can provide, and how to get them out there into the community.”
In her short time at uni, she has volunteered at the Rugby World Cup, and seen nearly all there is to see of Kiwi culture. She considers it important to get the international students out there in the deep water, “making Kiwi friends and not just staying within their own community.” Divide and conquer. As an international mentor, she already knows many of the inner workings of the international office, and is sure that the students “aren’t aware of all the resources available”.
She considers this role to be an excellent opportunity for both her and other international students to get the most out of Uni, and to “get connected with Kiwi culture.”
Maddie Harris
Candidate for Colleges OfficerMaddie Harris is an energetic and enthusiastic second-year studying a BCom double major in economics and marketing. Maddie wants to be Colleges Officer to ensure that inter-college competitions are run a lot more effectively and see greater participation.
Only a year out of “fresher life”, Maddie states her feelings about freshers – “Umm … last year I thought they were the bees’ knees but this year, as long as they’re not vomiting or coma-ed or walking around with maps, they’re alright.”
Maddie plans to create an Otago University Colleges’ Shield with a winner announced at the end of the year, “kind of like Hogwarts”. However, her main aspiration is to organise a three-legged race up Baldwin Street.
She aspires to introduce an inter-college competition to raise money for charities such as World Vision which “could make college life that much more awesome.”
Maddie is also environmentally aware. She would like to organise a carbon footprint programme and have each hall strive to reduce their footprint. “It would help especially for those going into flatting and looking into sustainable living.”
With hopes of creating more interaction with other halls it will enhance “healthy competition”. She also plans on creating a Critic spread with updates on the College Shield competition that “would be bigger and better than ‘Bouncing Off the Halls’.”
Matthew Jordan
Candidate for Administrative Vice PresidentMatthew is a fourth-year student studying a BCom in management and a BA in psychology. Mat is a passionate and organized guy. His main priority in running for AVP is to support Logan, who is “doing a sweet job”, in his attempts to run OUSA. He thinks “promoting our student community and representing our Scarfie culture in a progressive way” is of the utmost importance.
Mat is a down-to-earth guy who has a great idea of how the general public functions after the sun sets, through his experiences as a security guard and bouncer. Matthew is a business- and law-orientated kind of guy who, having worked for OUSA as a volunteer, knows just how OUSA policies ought to be maintained.
Matthew has a clear idea of what he plans to do in the role if elected. Having met with David Cull, who is in agreement, Matthew is keen for students to have a greater role in the Forsyth Barr Stadium. He sees it as a way that students can get involved in the running of the city and give back to the community.
Matthew also wants to provide support to the postgraduate and international culture at Otago. Being a single dad, he can see the need to provide more support for parents on campus and to postgraduate students who may be suffering from the battle of the books.
Scott Lee
Candidate for Campaigns Officer & Colleges OfficerScott Lee is a third-year finance and economics student, and a man of few words. Campaign slogan – “Come on, I’m a nice guy.” Why is he running for Campaigns Officer? “Looks good on the CV.” What about Colleges Officer? “I like fresh meat.” What skills would he bring to the roles? “New ideas.” This isn’t ruthless editing, this if the full transcript of the interview.
When asked if he actually liked freshers, he replied “Only for one night.” If elected as Colleges Officer, he plans to “make halls less PC.” If elected as Campaigns Officer, he wants “more sports events.” But in the end, Lee will be “happy so long as the guy wearing sneans doesn’t win, I think his name was Dan or something.”
Angus MacDonald
Candidate for Campaigns OfficerAngus, a fourth-year physio student and Gore escapee, wants to throw you a party, a really big one.
Angus is part of the “OUSA Dream Team” which, after realising that using “OUSA” in their name was a breach of the election rules, became just “the Dream Team”.
“OUSA has a larger budget this year, and I am really interested in getting the acts that students want to see down to Otago,” says Angus.
“I don’t have anything specific in mind that I would campaign against, but anything that goes against student interests would be in my sights.” In particukar, Angus is opposed to the DCC’s proposed liquor ban.
Angus is already a high achiever – he’s representing New Zealand at the World Triathlon Champs for age group level in October.
He isn’t thinking about a long-term career in politics – yet. But his physio interests mean he’s quite interested in health policy … so maybe. He’s certainly got that wholesome down-on-the-farm vibe.
He’s already sitting on the Physio exec as sports rep.
Jono Rowe
Candidate for Administrative Vice PresidentAs a fifth-year politics honours and law student, Jono believes he can smooth the way OUSA operates. A team player with experience on SOULS (Society of Otago University Law Students) and the University Council, he considers himself to be the right man for the job.
“My experience is important in a post-VSM environment because there’s a key role between the Uni and the OUSA now. I think I can build that relationship straight away.”
Jono considers himself to have great people skills, to be a team player who has coached and played sports through out high school. These characteristics are a key part of the way he interacts with people. “I’m not afraid to speak my own mind and what I believe in. At the same time, I am prepared to listen to other people’s views.” These skills are what he thinks will show his ability to tie in the OUSA with the University.
If elected, Jono plans to build on the strong relationship between the OUSA and the University. “There is already great feedback from the Vice Chancellor about how happy with the way it is working this year and I would like to be apart of this.” He would also like to help Logan Edgar and the rest of the executive make OUSA more relevant to students.
After being at the University for over four years, he has a sound understanding of how it operates. “I think I’d do a great job for students. I would like to make sure the executives are kept on their toes and are efficiently working as a team.”
Derwin Smith
Candidate for Campaigns OfficerDerwin Smith is in his “fifteenth or so year” at Otago University, and is two papers away from finishing a BA in Sociology. He’s been involved in campaigns, protests and activism for most of that time, usually against fee rises. As a member of the International Socialists and the Mana Party, he feels that he is “undoubtedly the best person for the job”. He wants to bring a new perspective into play – one that’s more militant and engages more students. He’s sure he can be the one to rebuild student focus, unlike the current OUSA, which is apparently “sitting on its laurels”.
If elected, Derwin will campaign with a primary goal of zero fee increases. His next move would be to undertake research into rent increases, as “anecdotal evidence” suggests that rent has doubled in the past ten years. He’d also like to campaign against cutbacks, mergers and casual contracts in the Uni departments, as well as instigating a $15 minimum wage across-the-board on campus.
He believes the position should be “building a movement that includes students, workers at university, and the Dunedin community to fight fees, landlords’ rent, and to make the Uni a nicer place to work.”
Daniel Stride
Candidate for Administrative Vice PresidentDaniel Stride is back again, continuing in his quest to gain a seat on the Exec after his close defeat for the Finances and Services position at last year’s election. The 29-year-old third-year law student (who already holds Honours degrees in Maths and History, and a BSC in Comp Sci) is concerned that OUSA faces big challenges, especially in maintaining its independence from the University with the new Service Level Agreement.
He feels that his wealth of institutional knowledge, after spending two and a half years on the Exec, is part of the reason he should be back on board. “OUSA is still threatened by VSM. And it needs to make sure that it is never going to lose its independence.”
Stride was asked to, and did, resign from the 2011 executive after taking a police diversion, “I screwed up. I paid the price. Surely OUSA believes in rehabilitation.”
Stride isn’t embarrassed about how much he loves policy and paperwork
He is also concerned about issues of representation on the Exec. “There were very few women who ran for the Exec at the last election. Maybe it is time that we looked at bringing back the Women’s Rep, and possibly other divisional reps.”