Time sure does fly when you’re having fun – how can it be quarterly report time already? In order for the OUSA Exec to get paid their honorariums (their equivalent of wages), each member must write a report of everything they’ve gotten up to in the last three months. The Exec will then approve these reports and decide whether each member has earnt their keep or not. Imagine if your co-workers had to give the final tick on your pay.
Here is Critic Te Ārohi’s summary of each report. Bear in mind that each report ranges from 1000-3000 words, so we can’t squeeze in every little detail. The full reports are uploaded to the OUSA website, so feel free to have a nosy if you’re a stickler for the details.
THE FULL TIMER:
Daniel Leamy – President
“It’s fair to say that it has been an incredibly busy three months to now for the whole Exec,” Daniel wrote. Sitting on a whopping seventeen OUSA and University committees, he might hold the current student record for most meetings attended. If you think you’re having a busy day, at least you aren’t Daniel.
His key achievements for the last quarter include being the spokesperson for OUSA (which included being interviewed as a monkey on Hyde Street), planning advocacy with other student associations, and working on both the Dunedin by-election and upcoming general election. Looking ahead to the future, Daniel’s planning to increase his advocacy work, and take a closer look at the Executive’s governance structure.
20 HOUR ROLES:
Kamesha Jones – Administrative Vice President
As Administrative Vice President, Kamesha really is a jack of all trades. Picture many, many huis with fellow Exec members and University staff. Behind the scenes, proposals are being – for lack of a better word – proposed on the Executive’s structure, and Kamesha has had a big hand in consulting with current Exec members as they are developed, working closely with Daniel on the matter.
In the advocacy space, Kamesha noted that the cutting of the Fees-Free scheme has sprung OUSA into action, seen with last week’s protest spearheaded by the Education Action Group. Other work includes championing women’s safety on campus, where work is being done to strengthen the OUSA Clubs and Socs Sexual Misconduct Reporting Policy. As with many other Exec members, the OUSA election will bring even more focus on student advocacy and engagement as it draws nearer.
Troy Gibbons – Finance & Strategy Officer
Finance and Strategy Officer Troy had a stacked second quarter, getting involved in lots of different avenues. The ‘Gig for Gaza’, held in May, had a good turnout and raised an impressive $1400. Troy also helped organise an election debate for the Dunedin City Council by-election. Troy plans to work closely with Political Rep Flynn as the general election draws closer, trying to get as many students enrolled to vote as they can, and plan for the general election leader’s debate.
Looking ahead to the future, work is underway on various goals. Securing a student bar is still in the works, but is a long, long process involving OUSA, the University, and finding the golden-ticket venue. While work is also being done to try and repeal Voluntary Student Membership, Troy noted that it “seems to be here to stay, which sucks”. Troy also wants to push for more OUSA transparency, and plans to use the Exec column in Critic to do that. You heard it here first!
Hansini Wijekoon – Academic Representative
Some “epic papers” may be dropping soon, as Hansini hinted in her report, which is exciting news for students looking to spice up their degrees. Hansini has also been working closely with Student Voice (AKA class reps), trying to increase engagement with University policy around paper or course changes and proposals.
In the background, Hansini has also been chipping away with proposed changes to the University Assessment Policy, as well as improving its clarity and consistency. She wants the policy to incorporate the realities of education in this AI-era, and is paying particular attention to how assessments are changing in light of AI, noting the rise of group work in some papers. #Endgroupwork. An AI usage survey with 180 respondents was also undertaken, and the plan is to bring the proposal to the University senate in August or September.
Rihana Warsame – Welfare & Equity Representative
It’s been a busy quarter for Rihana as well, focused on advocating for an equitable and enjoyable university experience for all students. For quarter two, a big goal was trying to establish diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops in residential colleges. Meeting with key staff, Rihana noted it’s likely to be a “years-long process”, but she is aiming to set up a blueprint for Exec members in the next few years. Meetings with students and staff to understand hall experiences are also in the works for the next quarter.
Another key goal was re-establishing ODSA, the Otago Disabled Student Association. The ball is rolling on this, with funding to be finalised, but a first event and establishing an executive has been figured out. Rihana has also been getting feedback on the recent Lecture Recordings Policy, and developing clearer action points for the Welfare and Equity Committee.
TEN HOUR ROLES:
Fergus Parks – Postgraduate Representative
Quarter two has meant wrapping up the final remains of the defunct Society for Postgraduate Students, which was shut down earlier this year as it didn’t get enough traction. Fergus has a new lease on life, focusing instead on liaising with postgraduate students directly.
Meeting regularly with the head of the Graduate Research School, as well as being present on many University academic committees, Fergus has been busy advocating for our unc students. Big priorities at the moment are voicing OUSA’s disapproval toward government cuts to university funding, and increasing advocacy for international postgraduate students.
Irfaan Ariffin – International Representative
Irfaan has two big projects on the go, planning for both the Multicultural Ball and the semester two international student’s orientation. Irfaan also made an appearance on the Connecting Cultures radio show, highlighting OUSA’s work advocating for international students around visas.
Irfaan’s also brainstorming an international student podcast and increasing the Otago International Student Association’s outreach, as well as trying to bring back the International Cultural Expo with the University.
Ella-Mary Sangster – Clubs & Societies Representative
Quarter two has seen a major bump in engagement with OUSA’s many, many affiliated clubs and societies. While Ella noted that there were lots of “tricky” club affiliations in quarter two, this hasn’t stopped the grind for all things student club executives. She’s helped organise the Earth Day Market Day with environmental clubs, and Clubs Week money workshops to round off a busy quarter.
Looking ahead to the next quarter, plans are well underway to develop a shared clubs calendar to promote events in a singular place. How-to guides are in development around club elections, fundraising and events as well. Another affiliated clubs meeting is being planned (like a UN Summit but for OUSA clubs and societies), and Critic hopes that Ella orders hot chippies.
Flynn Nisbett – Political Representative
Flynn is the guy who has been spearheading the Exec’s social media presence, and they’ve certainly been putting out some content recently! Outside of this, he’s been busy in his role of Political Representative, especially with an election this year. A big effort has been sussing the general election leader’s debate, which will hopefully feature politicians from parties right across the political spectrum arguing in a room together. Another big organisational drive was toward the Student Strike last week – you might have spotted him in the Debt Monster outfit. God knows when that thing last went to the dry cleaners.
Behind the scenes, Flynn has been working to finalise OUSA’s BDS strategy, which is set to be presented to committees and the wider Exec in the near future. Flynn has also met with six MPs, been in touch with five more, and met with eleven of the fifteen Dunedin City Council councillors.
Zoe Eckhoff – Residential Representative
Zoe’s been a very busy bee, and admitted that she felt like she’d been doing more governance work than advocacy. Highlights have included a warmly received “pamphlet campaign”, distributing key tenancy/residential information to those in the student quarter. DCC councillors, property management agencies and students provided entirely positive feedback, and the pamphlets even found their way to a local MP’s office. Zoe’s also helped MBIE with organising ready-to-rent informative videos, and had consistent contact with the ODT to help bring media attention to tenancy-related issues.
Looking ahead to the rest of the year, a big goal is to get OUSA’s Residential Committee off the ground. This combines key groups around flatting, residential colleges and student voices to make living near campus the best experience it can possibly be. She’s also keen on a green sticker campaign, where tenants could place a green sticker on their door as an indicator of a positive flatting experience, visible for potential future tenants when flat viewing. Like many other exec members, the upcoming election will also be a big priority, with housing-related issues front of mind for many student voters.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
Sami Harrison Dunn & Jarna Flintoff – Te Rōpū Māori Tumuaki Takirua
The Tumuaki Takirua of Te Rōpū Māori (TRM) have had a busy quarter, continuing to “build a great relationship” with the Exec. Key events for the quarter include showing up at over fifteen kaupapa, engaging with University committees and organisational efforts for the upcoming Te Huinga Tauira (the National Māori Students' Conference).
During the quarter, TRM also established a Policy Kōmiti to review their policies. So far, the Investment and Dispute Resolution policies have been approved, with plans for the Grants Policy next quarter.
Adeleine Dunn – Pacific Islands Students’ Association President
Heaps of engagement with member clubs of the Pacific Islands Students’ Association (UOPISA) drove home a productive quarter two. On the admin side of things, Adeleine’s been sussing the re-signing of OUSA and UOPISA’s memorandum of understanding. Extra information and funding matters have made it more complicated than expected, but plans are already in place to make the process easier in the future.
Another memorandum is in the works with the Pasifika Tertiary Network, an organisation that incorporates Pacific voices across all of New Zealand’s tertiary education institutions. As well as this, highlights for Q2 included the TRM x UOPISA Market Day, and many meetings with University staff aiming for better engagement between Pacific students and student services.
