1. Do you enjoy your job?
I love my job. It’s like a soap opera here. Plus if I was so inclined, the contacts I make and the prestige would be invaluable for any future career…but as my future career will involve being pampered on the most beautiful beaches on Earth, I’m happy to not pursue my own gain from the job…which contributes to me enjoying it more.
2. Why did you go for Vice and not President?
I wanted to provide a service and help instill a community spirit, rather than be important and do the impossible task of trying to represent 23,000 very different people, most of whom don’t really want to be represented, even if they’re shown how much it can benefit them…so the sports and societies and finance side of my role allowed me to try and shape the social future at UoW and also gave me time to work on the million and one projects that I dream up…like the shuttle service, getting in a marketing dept and an intercampus sports competition
3. How is your workload? Do you find it has taken over your life?
My workload is very heavy, because that is the way I chose. I was warned over and over again by not only everyone in the SU (who knew) but also university senior management. I knew I’d be giving up my life this year. I’ll be honest…at times it has been frustrating. I’ve tried twice to start a relationship and both times failed because of how much pressure I’ve put on myself to perform. I’ve tried to make sure that there is the staffing support in place next year so that the person that takes over from me doesn’t have to sacrifice their life, yet can achieve more than I have done. I had no handover and I’m the only sabbatical without any staff support….hopefully by the end of the year, the VP Activities will have a lot more admin support and a more defined role of fun and policy, rather than running around trying to do everything themselves. Right now, my life is the SU, and I kinda like it and kinda despise it…but that’s my own fault.
4. Roughly how many days/hours are you at university?
I spend around 10-12 hours in the office or in meetings, per day, and maybe a further few hours (some days a week) making sure I attend the social events and talk to people and sit and listen to complaints…it’s really the most satisfying part of the job….just listening to people complain….when you work so hard, and you meet some of the few people that ACTUALLY care….it leaves a smile on your face….even if they’re being personal. I try and work Sundays so that my desk is clear for the week…so on average upwards of 70 hours a week.
5. Do you feel you have been able to make constructive changes?
This is a difficult question to answer, because it all depends on the finish. I’ve run around building links, being honest and upsetting people, all to just get people to notice, get off their asses and help put in structures that will make for an easier, more efficient and fun future. The only way I’ll know if the changes I’ve made are constructive is if next year’s lot are inane, yet still achieve a lot. But hopefully the people elected this year will be passionate, intelligent and considerate of everyone around them, will listen to our handovers and make sure they focus their ideas and go through with them…We’ll see, but I’d like to think a lot of things this year will pan out to be incredibly constructive. The elections will also be a gauge of how constructive we’ve been…the one thing that annoys me is our lack of communication with our own members. If the extra Freshers’ Fair, the ReFreshers’ Fairs and all the other daft ideas I’ve come out with make people take notice, even if in anger, then yup, I’ve made a constructive change.
6. How do you feel about the position changes?
The Sabbatical positions haven’t really changed at all…I can’t express how much that annoys me. We worked so hard with the sole aim of making things easier on the people that take over next year…and the change that would have made the most difference is taking away the shit from their jobs and giving students the positions they ACTUALLY run for. We, as sabbaticals are trustees, which in short means we are responsible for the financial integrity of the SU…it’s way too much responsibility for students who have no such experience. I wanted to strip that away, get the staff support structure in and leave the Sabbs with FOCUSED positions so they could work on a few things each and do VERY well, instead of trying to work on everything and struggling to get a few half decent results. The year isn’t over yet, so will still be trying to tweak things to make it for next year’s lot.
The part time position change to Campus Reps is brilliant progress. It’ll make the world of difference next year. And the Editor of the Smoke being independent will also be a revelation. So on those counts, I feel very happy.
7. Is the student union fun to work for or much harder than you expected?
Much harder than I expected. As I and the other three trustees are the ones that get sued for any mistakes, it’s amazing how little power we had to make positive changes, how much opposition there is from staff to change and provide a service (the bar staff have been exemplary though) and how much you can get caught in the politics of such a small organisation. If you want to get into the mess that is SU Politics…make sure you have a hard wearing sense of humour, a lot of patience and resilience to see your ideas flourish…also the ability to listen is invaluable. It has been a serious learning experience, and continues to be so every day.
8. Would you do it again?
It would be insane to do it again….so the answer is yes.
I’d actually like to get on with my life, but because I’ve taken on so many projects, I might run again (but for Comms) and help next year’s lot survive the politics and finish off some of my projects.
9. What did you find made your campaign successful?
Last year my campaign was a mixture of luck and the fact that I was the only person who put their face everywhere and was SEEN on all campuses (bar Harrow – which was a mistake and cost me dearly). I have a number of strategies for this year, all of which involve personality rather than actual manifesto. It’s a popularity contest and you win by virtue of people picking your NAME above the other names on the ballot paper. It’s all a game really. People relied too much on posters and less on getting around and personal contact…which is why I won.
10. Was it worth it?
Absolutely. There’s no way I would have received such invaluable life experience until I’m 40, if it wasn’t for this job. It really is an eye-opening gift. It puts so much into perspective, gives you the opportunity to fall very heavily on your face and still have time to pick yourself up and learn. It does depend on what you want out of it… I wanted to provide more of the university experience and to grow up a bit myself…I put in the foundations for the former and I THINK I’ve done a fair bit of the latter. Graham (the General Manager) helps an incredible amount, and without his unique ways and knowledge, I would not have learnt as much. It has been MORE than worth it. The elections themselves were a bit ugly, but to be honest, I didn’t really campaign, so was quite removed from the nastiness of it.
11. Any regrets?
I’ve made mistakes, fallen flat on my face, had my ideas torn to pieces by the lack of support, been frustrated, had to deal with things I despise….and loved almost every minute of it….no regrets. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if it wasn’t for this job, it’s challenges and the people I’ve met, conversed with and spent time with. Life’s too short for regrets, and this year is way too short to achieve anything substancial…but damn we’ve achieved a lot. Most of it is thanks to Graham and Rob.
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