it's your right to vote...

SO VOTE NOW!

Log on to http://www.elections.ousa.org.nz

Answer "Yes" to "Are you an international student?"

NZ Permanent Residents are allowed to vote for Int'l Students' Rep. as well.

And cast your vote for the person you can count on, Darren Lee...

You can vote from the comfort of your own home or at any of the polling booths set up in and around campus.

Let's get voting!

the solution was not that simple after all

my apologies.

After communicating with the representative of the Muslim University Students' Association (MUSA), I have come to discover that a permanent room booking that functions as a prayer room for Muslim Students will not be sufficient.

I have come to understand that a majority of MUSA's members have their lectures at St. David's and are also based in the Language Studies/Foundation Building.

I will work with Timetables Department to allocate rooms in the St. David's building according to the specific prayer times for Muslim students.

I will also work to propose that the University allocate rooms in the new building they have recently purchased to include prayer rooms.

I will also continue to work with and consult the University Chaplain, and the religious groups concerned to work out a plan and possible solutions to this issue.

I still hold firm to the belief that religious groups on campus play a significant role in providing care and support to international students and I will work hard to support them and include them in my planning and decision-making process if elected as International Students' Representatives.

The International Students' Rep. should not just focus on cultural pursuits but encompass all aspects of what it means in being an international student. I am that person for that job.

Vote Me, Vote Darren Lee

the society of the year reward system

Currently, societies that wish to be in the running for this award have to accumulate points throughout the academic year and the society with the most points is declared the OUSA Society of the Year.

The current points system works well in the sense that is standardises things to enable a smooth decision-making process.

However, I believe that societies or even clubs that come out first and second runners-up should also be given a token reward to acknowledge their efforts and contributions. Otherwise, it would be a waste of money for the societies to have forked out funds to organise events just for getting the points only to come out second and not receive anything. A small reward for 2nd and 3rd places will also let societies know how much more effort they need to put in to contest the award for the next year.

I hope to propose this idea to the Clubs Development Officer and Clubs & Societies Council. Vote for me, and I will ensure a that the rewards for Society/Club of the Year awards are based on a system that commends the efforts of each club/society.

here's an idea...

After having a discussion with the President of the Otago University Taiwanese Students' Association, I feel it is necesssary to promote further interaction between cultural societies to foster a united international students' community here in Dunedin.

One of the ideas is a social sports meet for cultural societies to get together, play some sports, meet new friends, and after that enjoy some refreshments.

I'd like to see this happen as sports is an easy way to get students involved and it also ensures people have fun at the same time. Perhaps, societies that participate can garner points not for winning but just for participation and these points will go toward the Society of the Year Award.

Also, most international students don't join the sports clubs as they don't want to get too involved in serious competition. I think organising a social sports meet will help foster ties between diverse groups of people and provide the opportunity for international students to partcipate in sports in an environment they are comfortable with.

Vote for me, Darren Lee, and we'll make it happen.

Sweet!

let's not forget...

THE EXCHANGE STUDENTS!

Exchange students, vote for me and you will not be forgotten.

I believe that exchange students add a vibe to the student community here in Dunedin. More often, they are independent minds who plan quick weekend getaways to see the country and also know how to have heaps of fun!

If elected, International Students' Rep., I'd like to get exchange students involved in the International Students' Council.

Sure, they may not have as much of a vested interest as compared to students who are here for the entire duration of their degree, but I still believe that they can bring in different views and opinions on certain issues which may be helpful in running an effective international students' council.

I also plan to organise events catered to exchange students. Some ideas include a formal dinner for all semester exchange students. Most balls and formals are held in the second semester. As such, I think it is fitting that a formal dinner is organised so that first semester, exchange students can dress up and have a grand night out with their friends over dinner and drinks.

a proposed change to the OUSA grants system for cultural groups

If elected as your International Students' Representative I plan to propose to the OUSA Exec for a fairer grants system for affiliated clubs & societies.

Of course, I will also work with the Finance & Services Officer, Clubs & Socs Rep., and the OUSA Clubs Development Officer to see if this plan is feasible.

I propose that the grants funding pool be divided into two separate pools of equal amounts - one for sports-based events, and the other for cultural events/ events for affiliated societies.

I believe that this is necessary as the needs and goals for the cultural groups or societies differ from those of the sports clubs on campus.

A sports club may be able to represent the university at a national level and a cultural group may not but a cultural event that it organises in Dunedin might have an overall positive effect on the local community which in turn must be a good thing for OUSA's image and name.

I can't promise to make more changes but I can promise to table it to the Exec and work on it.

religious groups on campus

I believe that student religious groups on campus have a key role to play in supporting international students. These groups provide a sense of stability, belonging and help new international students find friends and establish contacts.

Support
I would like to see that these groups, especially those with a large number of international students as their members, receive additional support from OUSA. Specific groups include Living Buddhism, Muslim University Students' Association, Dunedin Overseas Christian Fellowship, and the Dunedin Chinese Methodist Youth Fellowship just to name a few.

Muslim Students' Prayer Room on Campus
I plan to action upon a promise that was not fulfilled. I plan to set up a Muslim students' prayer room in a central area on campus. This can be done at the Clubs & Societies building through their permanent room booking system. One room will be for males, and another for females.

A Multi-faith Prayer & Reflection Room
Down the line, I hope to work with the chaplaincy services of the university to establish a multi-faith prayer room or if there are no resources, perhaps an hour's time slot in a room where students of all faiths and beliefs can come in to an environment that is peaceful and quiet for prayer and reflection.

I once had a stopover at Singapore's Changi Airport and was humbled that there was a prayer room for people of all faiths to congregate in their individual space within a room to pray.

I believe that this can be done. And I will do it.