Posted 24 December 2009 at 11:41pm by
Daniel O'Toole Hey guys!
I hope you’ve all had a fantastic first semester. Sure, you may have had lots of work this year (well... if you’re a Fresher, maybe not!), but I hope you’ve all enjoyed every second of it!
I just thought I’d give you two of the big highlights that I’ve seen through in my first semester as SU President - so that I can reflect on what I’ve personally achieved, and you can see if there are other problems that have not been tended to this semester (please comment if there's something I've completely missed out) so we can fix them next term.
Buses:
I’ve spent a great deal of my time this year trying to resolve bus problems. I can honestly say that nothing prepared me for that first week of term, when I was receiving email after email of complaints from unsatisfied students. It was tough with the new complications that the second, new, 'healthy competition' fostering service brought with it. However, it wasn't long before I had managed to secure new services from both companies (410-type), the 8 from First, and the U10 from Wessex Connect, safely within the new Code of Practice that both companies now have to adhere to. Hopefully, in the New Year, we will see that these new services do not only help students who are living in Upper-Oldfield Park, but actually, relieve the current busyness of the stops in the city and thus help everybody.
Also on the note of buses, an enthusiastic student came to me and said, "What the heck is going on with proposed shelter at the new First stop?". It was refreshing to see somebody wanting to resolve a problem that, until then, had not been flagged up. After setting a Facebook group, which I endorsed as SU President (that gathered a healthy membership), and it going in the Student Newspaper, I took it to the Director of Estates and Project Leader. I showed them the evidence and demanded that the project needed to be speeded up. It was early the following week when I received a message that the new proposed bus shelter had been pushed through to Planning. This was a great little victory, and it proves that with your support, I can change things for you - you do need to let me know the problems first. :)
Student Centre:
I am so excited about this project! In the New Year we will all see the designs that are currently on paper start becoming a reality. I sit on the Project Management Team with the Architects, Civil Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and others for the build, and I realise, from first-hand experience, how very demanding this project is going to be. Completion date of the brand new building is set for the end of September 2010, ready for the next academic year! I hope to see the excitement develop amongst you guys over the next semester.
The first week back to lectures (week commencing the 8th of Feb) we will be Refresh Week. In this week we will be displaying the current plans and engaging with you to find out what you want from your new Student Centre.
Right, that’s your lot for now. I’m going to enjoy bopping around the Christmas tree to some carols this evening and relaxing with my family – I’m officially on holiday and home! Woop!
So from myself and all the team, to end 2009, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. See you in 2010.
dot :) x