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GUILD ELECTIONS 2013
5 FEBRUARY 2013 |
www.exepose.ex.ac.uk
Exeposé
IN THE KNOW: WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A SABB? NICK DAVIES Guild President
What has been the highlight of your year in office? Without a doubt, my highlight this year has been representing the student body at the highest levels of the university, and being able to have a real influence on so many of the important decisions which have been made so far. What advice would you give to future Sabbs in your role? One of the most nerve-wracking elements of starting any new job is being surrounded by people fluent in the working language, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. As the Chinese proverb goes: “He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever”. What are you looking for in the new Sabbs? New ideas are a must, but to be successful a Sabb you must also have real determination to see that their ideas are fully realised. What would you like to see continued? My hope is that the next Guild President will continue to build on the Guild’s relationship with senior management at the University. As so many of the decisions they make have a direct impact on the student experience at Exeter, it is key that they both hear and listen to the student voice. What would you change? No matter how many students you meet and opinions you receive, you always feel like you could be doing more, so if I could change one thing I’d like to have spent even more time with the students I represent.
tion, and with the help of over 200 student volunteers, we managed to raise £5,500 for the cause. This is an achievement that I will always be proud of, and never forget. What advice would you give to future Sabbs in your role? To always remember why are you there: to look after the best interests of the student body. You are not just another employee of the Guild; you were voted in to make the student voice heard. What are you looking for in the new Sabbs? Someone who is ready to make a difference. Decisions made by Sabbs can have long-lasting effects, so it is important that any new Sabb has the vision to enact lasting change for the good of all students. What would you like to see continued? I would love for the new Sabbs to continue our work promoting student engagement, such as National Student Volunteering Week and Fresher’s Week. However, it’s important that the new Sabbs do not feel constrained by our actions and are free to pursue their own agendas, which is the reason they are elected in the first place. What would you change? I would have liked to have spent more time on the frontline, as it were, when it comes to societies. As VP for Participation, I help oversee many projects, but I also have a team, which deals more directly with the societies on campus. So, if I were to change one thing, I would have spent more time dealing directly with the fantastic Activities and Volunteering staff.
IMOGEN SANDERS Academic Affairs
JON BAGNALL
Participation and Campuses What has been the highlight of your year in office? It’s hard to pick just one (and the year isn’t even over yet!), but it would have to be this year’s Children in Need. After weeks of prepara-
What has been the highlight of your year in office? With the continuing series of Fruni lectures and upcoming Teaching Awards, I honestly believe the best is yet to come. However, my highlight so far has been working alongside the SSLC, and training more Reps than we have ever done before.
What advice would you give to future Sabbs in your role? Be adventurous and aim high – you can achieve so much in this role. You have the full support of all those who elected you, the Guild and your fellow Sabbs, so go for it. What are you looking for in the new Sabbs? Hard workers who will push the University forward and ensure they capitalise on any opportunities to improve the lives of the student body. The whole of HE is under transformation at the moment, so there is a chance for real imagination and creativity. What would you like to see continued? I’m really excited to see how Fruni will develop. It has so much potential and could become a really exciting venture to be part of, both locally and nationally. I’m also working really hard towards setting up online course submission and would like to see this continue to full online course management, including elements of online feedback.
What would you change? I’d love my successor to be able to work more closely with academics Whilst I get a lot of interaction with senior university staff, which is great for getting things done at an institutional level, having more links to the colleges could have a powerful impact.
GRACE HOPPER Welfare and Community
What has been the highlight of your year in office? My highlight so far has to be my SOS campaign, Save Our Streetlights, where we collected around two and a half thousand signatures protesting the Council’s plans to turn off the streetlights in Exeter. What advice would you give to future Sabbs in your role? I have three pieces of advice: listen to the student voice, manage your time well and set yourself achievable aims. And, of course, have fun!
What are you looking for in the new Sabbs? I’m looking for a Sabb team who are passionate to make a change, who recognise what it is students require and who will ensure that the student voice is heard. What would you like to see continued? The Housing Fair this year has been bigger than ever before, so I’d love to see it expand even further next year. I’d also love to see the continuation of www.senseexeter.com, which provides students with valuable advice on staying safe while studying in Exeter. What would you change? I think I would spend more time going out and talking to students. However, my year in office isn’t over just yet, there is still time!