Is it that time already? OUSA second quarterly reports are in (most of them), and we’re here to give you an insight into what our student dictators have been doing/not doing in the time you’ve been pilfering snacks from your parents' pantry. Buckle up for a rootin’ tootin’ ride down the roller coaster of bureaucracy which Critic Te Ārohi has painstakingly suffered through to give you these summaries (less is more, Liam).
Te Rōpū Māori Tumuaki Gemella sent her apologies for her report being late, and Finance and Strategy Officer Abi’s report was nowhere to be seen, having apparently fallen off the edge of the earth. Since student reps are elected roles, and paid through honorariums that depend on quarterly reports providing proof of them completing the duties of those roles, Critic suggests Abi gets her A into G – and in cellphone range.
Keegan: Madam/Daddy President, Granola Girl & Silly Guy
Email response time: 6 minutes
Keegan’s had a busy second quarter. 25 committees, and she’s only cried once in a meeting this year. Keegan continues to take to her duties with zest, consistently working towards a long list of goals including international student pastoral care, making progress on a student bar (no updates cos of “commercial sensitivity”), band spaces for student practices (*cough* Hypocriticals), and a potential Unipol bouldering gym.
As the official public spokesperson for OUSA, Keegan has had plenty of media attention this quarter – not just from Critic. Things became heated when she wrote an op-ed for the Herald, prompting some light cyber-bullying in her advocacy of the Uni’s rebrand. Kiwis' capacity for hate towards Americans astounds. She also bragged at getting two Critic covers this quarter (pretty sure it was just the one, Keegan) and is hopeful to try for three in the next!
Our Madam President keeps a pretty good relationship with local bigwigs, despite admitting relations with former mayor Aaron Hawkins (OUSA legend, working for Critic and R1 back in the day) were trying at times: “Sometimes I feel he doesn’t like me.” She’s worked closely with individual students and groups during the semester, helping one Science Communication student obtain special permission to finish their minor.
A lot of Keegan’s job seems to consist of being a social butterfly, flitting between the different OUSA departments (including Critic couch naps) to keep tabs, and steering the OUSA Exec ship like a sailor: a firm hand on the wheel whilst maintaining good cheer with sea shanties. “I believe I am working well with everyone! [...] I think I’m all good with everyone as well? Let’s hope!” Her report is full of praise for those around her, calling Te Rōpū Māori Tumuaki Gemella “queeny”, and UOPISA President Tele “darling”, with Student Support’s Dwaine and OUSA Secretary Donna also receiving shout-outs.
Keegan apologised at the end of her report for it not being as funny as her first quarter report (mentions of department pranks show she’s still a silly little guy at heart) speculating her lack of funny could be “since the [Finance & Strategy] rep is ghosting us”. Rough.
Emily: Admin VP, Critic enemy no. 1
Email response time: 3 minutes
Emily describes herself as “the weird one-eyed parrot on [Keegan’s] shoulder that screams random noises,” which seems pretty accurate to Critic Te Ārohi. Student engagement has been one of her key goals throughout the semester and she is proud to say that while it’s an “uphill battle” she has made progress through the Exec Instagram page (“I loooove the Exec Instagram it’s like my baby”), Critic (you’re welcome), and the referendum released at the end of last semester.
As well as doing this, Emily has been chairing the PolCom meetings, which is cool, I guess. Despite successfully fulfilling her role this last semester, Emily has been beefing with multiple members of the Exec and OUSA staff. She reports that she “cried [herself] to sleep for weeks because” Liam wouldn’t show up to her meetings. She also states, “I love Critic (except for Hugh, we have ongoing beef).” Rent free, baby.
Emma: Clubs and Socs Rep, Pint Night addict
Email response time: 15 minutes
The sheriff of the Evison lounge, Emma has come back with a vengeance this quarter looking for blood and further Clubs and Socs engagement. She has been doing this through meetings (as ya do) and a TikTok competition which saw a whopping 13 clubs send submissions to be judged by the OUSA marketing team. To further prove that she is down with the kids, Emma joined the newly formed ‘library committee’ and started talks on a charity match aimed at boosting student engagement. While Emma said that “details are still being ironed out,” it has been alleged to Critic Te Ārohi that the event will be a boxing match held in Forsyth Barr Stadium. Perhaps thankfully, this has not been confirmed.
In the nitty gritty aspects of her job, Emma organised multiple leadership workshops to encourage greater club participation, pairing these workshops with a ‘President’s 101’ guide to encourage strong leadership within clubs. This semester she will be busy with the annual Blue and Golds Awards for sporting achievement, and hopefully a charity match of some description which we await in eager anticipation.
Tara: Welfare and Equity Rep, Bullpen diehard
Email response time: didn’t send properly :p
Tara says she is “happy to rock some boats” (someone’s been watching Love Island) and she certainly proved that in her report, taking aim at the pay afforded to student politicians. Tara argued, “Student politicians across the motu aren’t effectively compensated for their time,” pointing out that representatives get paid $20.50 after tax – well below the minimum wage. This lack of support does not seem to have hampered her output, however, as Tara reported that she met the vast majority of her set goals. In particular, her Disability Action Plan was ratified by the University’s leadership team, and her universal closed captioning policy is making steady progress.
Although Tara has recently spent a lot of her time “bombarding the office of voice-note worthy thoughts to Madam President,” she also reported an ongoing battle against loneliness and a lack of community for students entering their second-year. Though the battle for a student community is one that has touched many a soul, Critic included, our Welfare Rep is truly putting her money where her mouth is, focusing her attention on Student Support and OUSA’s Winter Wellbeing Week. Bleshgo. Tara is undoubtedly doing the mahi and unreservedly getting the treats.
Liam White: Political Rep, the “I have a few questions” guy
Email response time: 3 minutes
It’s the hope that killed Liam White this quarter. He laments the fact that the political landscape has generally been adverse to students, and the fact that the countless submissions he writes have been mercilessly shot down in all eras of the political realm. Despite this, Liam hasn’t given into despair and states that he is “way more optimistic on the value of grass roots politics.” To this degree, he reckons “the hour guides are dumb. If I have the motivation and desire to go
over my hours, who the goddamn hell is going to stop me?” Slay Liam.
His chief work this quarter has been advocating for student needs in the ORC Long-Term Plan (which “kind of slayed”), and submitting on the Fast-Track Bill which would give the government the power to fast-track everything – a submission which was ironically fast-tracked, he admits. Though Liam has reached out to every man and his dog, he mentioned that the Young Nats had refused to engage with him and that his weekly meetings with Emily hadn’t happened because “Emily didn’t seem stressed that we weren’t meeting so I wasn’t either!” Overall, Liam’s quarter has been characterised by incessant pestering of higher powers and a relative lack of success in this area, despite his undeniable chirp.
Stella Lynch: Academic Rep, takes no prisoners
Email response time: 3 minutes
If it’s the last thing she does on this earth, Stella is determined to get a closed caption lecture recording policy across the line for students of the future. It’s going well so far, but is going to require student feedback and a few crucial allies as Stella, Tara, and Ibuki push hard to see it come to fruition. In addition to this work, Stella has helped shape a drastically reformed class rep system which involves new roles for those extra dedicated class reps – as if being a class rep wasn’t extra enough. Critic wonders if they’ll actually receive the elusive pizza lunch in this new system? Morbidly, Stella is also working out a way to release changes about certain papers and programmes that are at risk of being lost as University cuts continue. Being Academic Rep is certainly a tough job, but Stella grits her teeth and carries on. Critic salutes you!
Stella McCurdy: Residential Rep, reportedly scared of Critic mwahahaha
Email response time: 2 minutes
Stella has had a tough semester it seems, but is still fighting the good fight against evil landlords. She plans to deliver a series of drop-in sessions on campus in Semester 2 to supplement one-off flatting talks which have already happened as of Semester 1. The talks will also hopefully allow students to ask any questions and prepare for the horrors of second-year flatting.
In terms of barriers to performing her role, Stella mentioned that, “The relationship between OUSA and the college wardens has always been slightly tricky,” arguing that some wardens have been more receptive to her advances than others. Stella has also been leading the charge on the OUSA life members newsletter, a cheeky extra which promises to give all the OUSA diehards lifegiving knowledge as they progress through the ages. She is also working closely with Liam to find solutions for Dunedin’s larger flatting problems – something no one really knows how to do. Good luck, babes.
Hanna: Postgraduate Rep, imposter syndrome buster
Email response time: crickets
Hanna has kept it pretty lowkey this quarter, but has still done the mahi to get the postgraduate community up on its feet. Her key accomplishment has been the establishment of regular ‘Imposter Hour’ events which have built the community back up without an alcoholic nudge. She did, however, admit that the society for postgraduate students itself has been still finding its feet, having only a handful of meetings in the time. Hanna froths a good committee, and reckons her one-on-ones with actual university staff have done a lot to improve the university experience. Honing in on the ‘Imposter Hour’, Hanna is trying to recreate the magic by starting up a postgrad open day which has been confirmed for August, and a fortnightly board games night at Card Merchant. Finishing her report, and bringing a tear to Critic’s eye, she summed up that “being on the OUSA Exec is like having a family away from home.”
Ibuki: International Rep, Alexa play ‘Too Sweet’ by Hozier
Email response time: 196 minutes
Ibuki claims he has had a poor run at organising events this past semester, but without him, we wouldn’t have the beyblade tournament. Instead, Ibuki has been pouring his heart and soul into OUSA’s closed caption policy, supporting Tara and Stella to get it across the line with the University big dogs. He also helped the Otago International Students’ Association establish a radio show on OAR FM – unintentionally stabbing a knife in the back of Radio One as he did so. You just can’t stay mad at that face, though.
Ever the flatterer, Buki has showered his other Exec members with praise and seems to be the golden retriever of the bullpen. His goals for next semester start and end with event planning, something which he hopes to improve with the assistance of some of the international student clubs. Pundits are suggesting he may now opt for a Pokemon tournament.
Telekalafi: UOPISA President, the glue
Email response time: crickets
Telekalafi has been fighting tirelessly for University of Otago Pacific Island Students’ Association’s (UOPISA) representation this semester, but was sadly thwarted on numerous occasions. She has been trying to carve out an office space for the crew somewhere around the uni, but has thus far been unable to do so, also being told UOPISA would be unlikely to get a seat on the University Council (though she was hopeful this would be achieved sometime in future). Key to Telekalafi’s semester was a ‘Taste of Home’ event in coalition with Te Rōpū Māori (TRM), which involved the sharing of kai between Māori and Pasifika students. Of the event’s success, Tele said, “The turn out for [the] event was more than what we expected and I look forward to planning more events with TRM and Gemella in the near future.” Broadly, Tele has been able to keep together the variety of groups surrounding UOPISA and has done the hard mahi to further connections, making UOPISA a force to be reckoned with.