Features

Finance and Services Officer

Lucy Gaudin

Hello fellow scarfies. For those of you who enjoy the BYO scene, you may recognise me as the poor waitress at India Gardens who you may have mooned or amused with your drunken antics. After doing my tenure on Hyde Street this year, I feel I’m now scarfy enough to join the ranks of OUSA and give the boys a little bit of hell. Why should you vote for me? As a third year accountancy student, I feel I will bring plenty of knowledge and skills to the position of Finance and Services Officer. For the past year I have had experience working with small clubs and societies through my volunteer work at Dunedin Community Accounting. This summer I will be undertaking an internship at one of the Big 4 accountancy firms which will give me some real world experience to bring to the position. I am looking forward to the challenge of stepping up and becoming more involved but to do that I need you to vote. So please, vote Lucy, especially those of you who have vomited at your BYO and left me to clean it up! I think you owe me.

Administration Vice President

Mat Jordan

Hi guys, I’m a 4th year student, trying a bit of Law, Psychology, and Management. I believe I have the skills and drive to represent students and ensure your hard work gets the best degree possible. With the time I have spent on two OUSA committees, I believe I can assist OUSA to a sustainable future, working closely with the president and a new executive. I believe that I can assist OUSA to a sustainable future, working closely with whoever is elected president and the executive. My goals are to improve student representation with all education matters. I have the experience to do this at OUSA, University, and National levels. This includes lobbying the government against issues such as the proposed Student Allowance changes, and keeping the University honest with decisions affecting us. The quality of university internet is a big issue with students. This network constantly underperforms and this affects our ability to access and use information. This will impact your degree one way, or the other. If you elect me, I will do my best to make sure we get the most bang for our buck. Vote Mat Jordan for better broadband, representation, better grades, and a better OUSA.

Zac Gawn

See Zac’s blurb here

Colleges Officer

Pippa Benson

Hello everyone, my name is Pippa. I am a former member of the Colleges Committee in 2011, and I am hoping to return to the Committee as Colleges Officer for next year. Having been a fresher at UniCol, I have firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to be a resident, and the kinds of challenges that residents in colleges face. I will also be integrated into residential life once more as I return to UniCol next year as a Residential Assistant. My previous experience of living in a residence will give me the ability to hit the ground running next year with the policies below.

If elected, I will:
- Work to bring more interhall competitions
- Provide more support for students in halls
- Integrate not in hall first years into OUSA better
- Work to develop a framework for engaging with foundation year students
- Work to bring the voices of residents to those running the halls

I hope to be given the chance to make a difference next year. Vote Pippa for Colleges Officer.

Campagins Officer

Ruby Ann
Sycamore-Smith

Otago University, well known for our couch burning student life and freezing in your flat with a tin of baked beans.

That’s all good for shits and giggles, but what if we focused more on becoming the university that was well known for its unbelievable events? The university where everyone is actively involved and eager to make a difference!

I’m Ruby Sycamore-Smith and in my second year of my B.A degree, majoring in Communications and Minoring in marketing. I’m focused, determined and passionate about making Otago University that much better.

As your campaign officer I plan to drive not only for an incredible O-week, but more events where you as the students feel free to have your say and also to become more excited and involved about the many groups and activities that OUSA has to offer.

I also want to push Critic T.V. next year. Having some experience in broadcasting already, I think that this is an amazing outlet that we students can use to promote our own ideas or just tell everyone about what’s important.
Vote Ruby, for an unforgettable 2013.

Recreation Officer

Blake Luff

Blake is my name recreation at otago is my game! For 2012 I have been the OUSA recreation officer on the executive. I have a proven track record and feel I still have a lot to offer the OUSA and otago community. Utilizing my skills from a physical education degree I feel I am the right person to steer OUSAs recreation in the right direction for another year.
Cheers, Blake

International Students Officer

Kamil Saifuddin

Kia Ora. Apa Khabar
My name is Kamil Ebrahim Saifuddin. I am fondly known as Kam (Cam) or Kamil. I am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently I am in my 3rd year studying a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business. Previously I was once the President of Hayward College Student Association and was also recently the President of the Otago Malaysian Students’ Association.

I have a passion in art, fashion and architecture. And I intend to showcase this through the delivery of my work. Having a vast experience and involvement with the international student community gives me the advantage of knowing their needs. I aspire to represent the voice of all international students and I believe this can be accomplished with me being the International Student Officer.

I believe in the notion that no matter what you look like or where you come from, you can make it if you try. “I always wanted to be somebody but I realise that I need to be more specific”. Henceforth, I am running for the International Student Officer post.
Vote for me! Xoxo

Education Officer

Jordan Taylor

Kia Ora,
I’m Jordan and I’m running for Education. I believe the most important issue for Education is the ability for students to receive equal access to it - particularly for disadvantaged and minority students.

For international students, there are issues such as the lack of payment for health professional students taking part in the trainee internship programme despite the fact that they do equal work to kiwi students.

For Pacific and Maori students, there are cultural and socio-economic issues that prevent all Maori and Pacific children from achieving their full potential.
The changes to the loans and allowances scheme unfairly disadvantage medical students, parents and postgraduates. OUSA must proactively work to stop any further attacks and reverse the current changes.

Finally, I’d like to work on cost-of-living and quality-of-life issues such as the price of food on campus and better housing.

I am currently the Pacific Island Rep on the Welfare committee. Through this role I have learnt how to deal with managing budgets, organising campaigns and events and how to represent my constituents forcefully at a political level. This year, I fought to have an autonomous Pacific Committee with broad representation.

For a fresh perspective and commitment on issues that matter to students. Vote Jordan for Education.

Mat Jordan

See Mat's Blurb under Admin VP

Dan Stride

See Dan’s blurb here

Welfare Officer

Francisco Hernandez

See Francisco’s blurb here