News

Shonelle Eastwood – Women’s Rep.
Eager beaver Shonelle was the first to get her report in this time around. Shonelle has maintained good relationships with a variety of women’s community groups, and organised a balloon launch in memory of survivors of violence and sexual abuse. To determine whether there is a need for the women’s group to exist, Shonelle intends to ask her female friends for their opinion (surely a questionable research technique). The other Execcies were all smiles, thanking Shonelle for her willingness to help and support other members, as demonstrated by a respectable list of general Exec activites. Many of Shonelle’s major goals, including the running of Women’s Week, are yet to come to fruition.
4/5
 
Claire – Welfare Officer
Claire has had a number of stellar flatting-related ideas, including a “flat swap” to aid escape from unfortunate flatting situations, and a flat rating system before flats are allowed on the OUSA flat list. She is planning a cookbook campaign for this semester, and is looking into highlighting the vomit comet (a car to help those on the wrong side of drunk). Claire has also been involved in an impressive number of campaigns including the exam packs and bottle buy-back. 
4.5/5
 
Travis – Post Grad Rep
Travis was commended for his speed in whipping out a report a mere three weeks after taking on his role. He is in the process of redecorating the Gazebo Lounge, which now has catering and candlestick mood lighting. Obviously his efforts are effective, as Gazebo saw its busiest day of the year under Travis’ watch. More social events are on the horizon, and Travis hopes to allow ex-Post Grad Rep Amith’s sub-committee structure to succeed. Unfortunately, the otherwise competent Travis used a variety of font sizes, leaving much to be desired in the area of presentation.
3.5/5
 
Ros – Queer Rep
All in all, Ros appears to have done a rather amazing job both engaging with and representing the interests of queer students. She helped organise the Queerest Tea Party, held a queer film screening, organised a queer-themed quiz, ran a poster campaign to discourage bigotry towards queer students, and is working towards achieving uni-sex toilets. In addition, she is part of the ‘Fair Trade My Uni’ steering committee and the governance working party. Thumbs up.
4.5/5
 
Harriet Geoghegan – President
Perhaps the best thing President Harriet has done is open up communication, whether it be with the university, the students, the public, or the Exec itself. Wizened Execcies who had been part of the previous regime congratulated Harriet on her comparative openness. As it happens, communication is one of Harriet’s goals, along with fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency, both of which she has attempted to address with the change in constitutional structure. From the look of it, Harriet has been involved in activities left, right, and centre, from her more figurehead positions (guest starring as a mace bearer at graduation) to her serious work (organising a rugby match with Canterbury, co-ordinating with people about the Gardies closure). Harriet also promised that she hasn’t been misspending, and has nobly refrained from purchasing lobsters and porn on the OUSA credit card.
4.5/5
 
Katie Bryant – Commerce Rep
Last semester, Exec members jealously told Katie to stop spending time with her commerce buddies so much, and have some OUSA quality time. It seems that Katie has taken heed of their comments, and has struck a healthy balance between OCOM fanaticism and OUSA commitments. She has been a supportive Commerce Rep, co-ordinating with the students, running Networking 101, and attending all EDUCOM meetings to represent the needs of commerce students. She has also been involved with a number of OUSA activities. Most importantly, however, Katie brings the OUSA website the most hits from Google.
4/5
 
Art – International Rep
After a faultless report in the first semester, Art’s report appears to have slipped into frightening grammar (culminating in “through” being spelt “thru”), and a disappointingly low word count. Let’s not dwell on the superficial, however: what has he done? Art’s main (sole?) focus appears to have been the international food festival, and little else. He claims to be achieving his goal to stabilise the International Cultural Council, although very little was mentioned about this. Art was also involved with the foundation of the Malaysian Students award, and writing the agenda for the NZUSA International caucus.
2/5
 
Ariana – Te Roopu Maori Rep
Ariana seems to have done a great job representing and supporting Maori students this semester. She has established a bi-annual newsletter, Kia Kotahi Ai, to be distributed through the Maori centre, and is currently working to have a Maori student roopu in the humanities division. Although Ariana had only one sentence describing her general activities for OUSA, her report made it clear she has been involved in various events, including assisting OUSA’s resident BBQ master Ros. Like Michael and Walker, Ariana is yet to spend any of her budget, although this doesn’t reflect a lack of work. She intends to use her budget for the upcoming Maori Language Week, along with other events.
 
 4.5/5