Choo choo, it's OUSA Exec quarterly reports again! Your shorthand for knowing what sort of work your almighty representatives are doing on your behalf (and on your dollar). Exec members must submit a report of their work for the quarter, and the rest of them scrutinise it to determine whether they ought to be paid their full honorarium (their pay, basically). Accountability – yay!
Let's see how they've been going as we are firmly in student burnout season. Regarding pay cuts, we think readers should bear in mind that last year, seven Exec members had their pay cut, sometimes several times. Most cuts last year were 10-15% of their honorarium (with a few exceptions). While the cuts this year are deeper, there have been much fewer overall.
The OUSA Exec was keen to emphasise there was no nasty business with these cuts, and wanted to distance themselves from last year's cuts, which they have described as a "write-off." President Daniel Leamy said that "These pay reductions reflect the Executive's commitment to collective accountability. We are constantly aware that, at the end of the day, we are paid with student money, and there are expectations that come with each Executive role. Pay decisions are not made lightly and demonstrate the Executive taking its responsibilities seriously in a fair and constructive way."
OUSA Exec members have to work their required hours "where practicable," and have general Exec responsibilities in addition to their portfolio-specific ones. Other circumstances, like sickness and family issues, were considered in the decisions.
THE FULL TIMER:
Daniel Leamy – President
Q3 Average Hours - 40.54/40
"Safe to say there has been a lot of media this quarter," Daniel wrote. Fronting up for at least sixteen OUSA and University committees, and appearing in Critic Te Ārohi and the Otago Daily Times about matters such as Hybrid Governance and the University Bookshop, Daniel Leamy has certainly been #visible this quarter.
Daniel writes that he hasn't given up on a student bar, even if it's more of a long-term aspiration. He also says there is a final proposal of student governance that will better serve students, if it's followed through. But looking forward to what little of the year we have left, his priorities will be around boosting student engagement and enrolment for the general election.
THE 20 HOUR BRIGADE:
Kamesha Jones – Administrative Vice President
Q3 Average Hours - 19.95/20 (27/20 if don't count mid-year break)
Kamesha Jones describes Administrative Vice President work as "the connective tissue," between OUSA Exec, staff, and "our purpose." She has a finger in every pie, worked roughly 27 hours a week during term-time, and made a contribution to every behind-the-scenes bit of work imaginable. As she was recently re-elected for 2027, Kamesha will have a second shot at the structural and administrative reforms that were sunk by an inquorate SGM.
It's been a rough quarter for Kamesha, who noted her heavy workload and frankly admitted that "pretty much all of my goals of AVP for the year have been completely sidetrack[ed], steamrolled, [or] quashed." Despite "the tragic SGM" and the need to remove herself from her studies, she is very happy with her work with the Education Action Group and their series of protests. Increasing and maintaining student engagement is Kamesha's headline priority moving forward.
Rihana Warsame – Welfare & Equity Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 10.7/20
While it's been a less busy quarter for Rihana this time round, there's been some important mahi nonetheless. The Otago Disabled Students' Association has been re-launched successfully, and there are high hopes it'll be in action from the start of next year. Rihana writes she has engaged more with the refugee student community, and tried to get free at-home HIV testing kits available around OUSA and campus. Her proposal for diversity equity and inclusion workshops in first-year halls of residence is dead in the water, though. Rihana noted limitations stemming from a lack of enthusiasm, and the need for the University to make a firm commitment.
Rihana averaged 10.7 hours of work per week this quarter. During quarter one, it was 15-17 hours; in the second quarter it was 18 hours. She noted in her report that she had gone home for some time, and admitted she didn't expect the impact that time difference would have on her ability to use email and Teams to make up for her physical absence. She received a 25% honorarium cut for the quarter – the smallest of the cuts.
Hansini Wijekoon – Academic Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 21.75/20
AI policy has been a big headache for Hansini. So while policy is developing slowly, the AI part remains sticky. Hansini is gathering up student feedback with Student Voice (aka class reps), to better inform various academic policies – like the Academic Integrity Policy. The proposal to split the Academic Rep role in two has also been a big focus last quarter, part of the SGM proposal. The reasoning, as expressed in Exec meetings, is that while the Academic Rep role is meant to do committee and advocacy work, committees suck up all the hours. The draft plan to split that work between two Exec members has been completed: it just needs the final tick of approval from the student body.
The rest of Hansini's time has been spent reviewing the Lecture Recording Policy. This is intertwined with the broader issue of declining lecture attendance. Hansini says that without better attendance, reforming the Recording Policy to cover more teaching formats is not happening any time soon. Sorry to any lectorial haters. So, Hansini has a message to students flunking lectures for no good reason: "GO TO THOSE LECTURES, I'M BEGGING."
Troy Gibbons – Finance & Strategy Officer
Q3 Average Hours - 21.77/20
Q3 has been a hectic one for President-elect Gibbons. He's attended Education Action Group protests, graduation ceremonies, and gotten the budget all ready for a (hopefully quorate) AGM.
Work was also done on a memorandum of understanding for UniQ, and thoughts on lessons learned has kept him optimistic, despite "a lot of disappointment" this year. The only thing that has him down is a proposed ACT Party policy which would make funding OUSA services voluntary for students. He writes twice that he is not optimistic on the future of student associations if the policy were to become law.
Troy reports that he, Kamesha, and Flynn have got OUSA's BDS posture to "90%." He is full of praise for Kamesha, who says they are "a dynamic duo," and for Flynn too, who he has been working with closely on all things general election. Troy has also kept busy behind the scenes this quarter, writing that he “helped Hybrid [Governance] sink, which is my greatest achievement this year."
THIS LOT WORK TEN HOURS:
Zoe Eckhoff – Residential Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 7.83/10
Busy bee then (Q2), busy bee now – Zoe wins the award for longest report. Last quarter was governance-focused, this time round it's been advocacy-centric. Her flatting info pamphlets continue to have praise heaped upon them, including from a director of Edinburgh Property Management. She has also been advocating for a flat with an awful case of mould (undoubtedly there’s many more out there).
Otherwise, Zoe's imagination is running wild with new campaign ideas (upgrade pamphlet to detailed document, commentary on free hours of power, flat care course) – but there is solid, tangible progress on the green sticker campaign. Students would slap one of those bad boys onto a flat to communicate whether they were over the moon, or just cool with a particular residential experience. The design deadline is November, so this is something to keep an eye on for next year.
This issue might be the last for Critic Te Ārohi this year, but the OUSA Exec still has a few months to go. Zoe aims to make headway on the green stickers, a long-form flatting guide, and a flat care course. Getting OUSA's Residential Committee off the ground remains a goal – and has been one for the whole year! Her re-election means she will have a second term as Residential Rep to finish the mahi started this year. But she's not done yet, keeping her diary full with meetings, such as with Dunedin's MP Rachel Brooking and Labour's housing spokesperson, Keiran McAnulty.
Flynn Nisbett – Political Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 9.14/10 (Yearly average 11.96/10)
Flynn writes that he has exceeded his 10 hours every week, and literally no one is surprised. Reflecting on the 3rd quarter, the Political Rep celebrates that the OUSA Leaders debate turned out 300 students, and they had a role in organising the two of largest student protests in nearly 30 years – with more on the way. OUSA has also enrolled over 500 students, which is less than VUSWA (hard to compete when you have a campus across the road from Parliament).
Some of Flynn's colleagues are singing his praises for his Political Rep mahi. "Flynn is definitely the wizard of social media," writes Kamesha, and Daniel credited him with organising a huge bulk of the OUSA leaders' debate. This quarter, he's met with 13 politicians, including the Ministry for Tertiary Education, and co-ordinated with four other student associations on how best to fight for fees-free, paid placements, and VSM. Not to mention those slick graphics on @ousaexec.
Fergus Parks – Postgraduate Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 5.32/10
Q3 for Fergus has involved dealing with postgraduate matters as they arise, and going strong on the committee front. Key highlights include prepping for the Supervisor of the Year Award. Meeting regularly with the Graduate Research School, and being the voice of old people everywhere, Fergus has also been supporting general OUSA happenings, when he finds the time on top of his Masters.
Fergus made his hours in Q1, before slipping to 7.96 in Q2. Now, he's been hit with a 30% pay cut for Q3. Fergus won't be returning next year, but writes that the proposed "repaint" of the postgrad role into the Academic Officer should still go ahead. The basic gist around that role change proposal was that postgrad concerns are primarily dealt with in-department, and not taken to the Postgrad Rep very often. With the disestablishment of the Society for Postgraduate Students (which struggled to build engagement), it was thought the Postgrad Rep should take some weight off the Academic Rep's stacked plate.
Ella-Mary Sangster – Clubs & Societies Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 4.31/10 (yearly average 8.48/10)
It’s been a busy quarter for Ella, as uni clubs always seem to be. Ella noted that some clubs have had "interpersonal issues", and making student support resources more appealing and accessible is an ongoing task. While Ella has moved around a few tasks due to medical reasons, she's delighted to have achieved an informal club calendar for club events (check it out on the OUSA website!)
The Clubs & Societies Representative will be reflecting on student support services, promoting the club calendar among affiliated clubs, and working to increase the flow of info between OUSA and clubs, as Q4 runs its course. Thanking the executive and Clubs & Socs staff for their support, she writes, "Concussions suck, but community is awesome. Yay!"
Irfaan Ariffin – Clubs & Societies Representative
Q3 Average Hours - 4.5/10
Irfaan has received a 40% pay cut for Q3 – the largest of any this quarter. The report is a little thin on general Exec duties. That aside, he has been working away on two big projects: advising on the Malam Malaysia event, and a dip at St. Clair to show the unity of international students in Aotearoa. He's hoping to get six to ten high-profile campus and community personalities to boost visibility on the fundraising dip event. Any BNOCs he should hit up?
Otherwise, Irfaan reports no major academic issues, no issues within the Exec, and no new international student club affiliations. His latest idea is bringing in sponsorships from local businesses in an event promoting the international student community in Dunedin.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
Sami Harrison Dunn & Jarna Flintoff – Te Rōpū Māori Tumuaki Takirua
The Tumuaki Takirua of Te Rōpū Māori (TRM) haven't gotten less busy, as suggested by their only recommendation being "better preservation of self to prevent burnout." A big reason was running and organizing of Te Huinga Tauira, the national Māori students’ conference, which was "the most stressful undertaking of our time in office," but a lot of fun. TRM came third in the kapa haka competition, but won hearts and minds. Also contributing to stress has been some issues with Te Mana Ākonga (the national Māori student association body) over communication and organisation.
TRM has got their Grant Policy running this quarter, and so far the Policy Kōmiti has not met, owing to the demands of Te Huinga Tauira. A big milestone was signing Te Kawenata Honoka with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, which they hope will become a sustainable living document that stands the test of time.
Adeleine Eli – Pacific Islands Students’ Association President
Heaps of engagement with member clubs of the Pacific Islands Students’ Association (UOPISA) drove home a productive quarter two. Adeline's still admin-ing away, and the re-signing of OUSA and UOPISA’s memorandum of understanding just needs some little financial gaps from previous years ironed out. UOPISA put in the work, went through the admin and money trenches, and put on its annual Pacific Awards Night to great success.
A meeting with other Pacific Island Student Associations around the motu to sign a memorandum of understanding is still a work in progress, and Adeleine remains optimistic the outcome will be connections lasting years to come. Another highlight was Pacific Week, which saw social, sports, paint, and tote bag making events hosted by component associations of UOPISA all around campus.
This is just a brief summary of over ten thousand words of reports, and over a thousand hours of work. If you’re feeling nerdy, full Q3 reports can be read on the OUSA website.
