College: Graduate
Degree: Economics
Hometown: Etobicoke, Canada
Hi Colin, congratulations on your successful election to the University Council! Firstly can you tell us a little bit about your new role and what it involves?
The University Council is basically the University’s Board. It sets the strategic priorities of the institution, approves the hiring of senior management, authorises large capital expenditures, and oversees the general operations of the institution. The Council is made up of a variety of stakeholders including members from administration, faculty, support staff, community members and of course, students. As one of the two student representatives (the other being the LUSU President), my role is to provide input on all these matters from the student perspective. Basically, I need to ensure that student interests are considered in all university decisions.
What is it you love so much about Lancaster?
I’d say it’s the people. Obviously being an international student I was unsure what I was truly getting into when I first came here, but I’ve met so many wonderful people over the years from all different parts of the world; meeting new people has definitely been the best part of being at Lancaster.
Why did you decide to get so involved in university management?
Well, I’d known other students who were doing it. I had several friends and acquaintances who had been involved in the Student Union for years and they gave me a push. Then it turned out I was kind of good at it, so I’ve stuck around for a while. It’s a really interesting thing to be involved in. You learn quite a bit about the behind-the-scenes administration that keeps the university functioning that most students don’t even realise exists.
What do you hope to achieve in the upcoming year on the Council?
I’ve just been elected as the Council Chair, so you won’t see any more policy proposals this term anyway. Last year I pushed through more policies than any other Councilor, so I’m pretty much “policied out” for now. But as Council Chair I’d like make sure that the meetings don’t drag on and make the meetings become more accessible and interesting for the average student. I’m a strong supporter of having the meetings covered by student media so expect to see the Council having a more visible profile this year throughout campus.
What advice would you give to a younger student who is wanting to run for a management position such as JCR exec?
Talk to more experienced officers, particularly if they’ve held the position you want to run for. They can give you great tips on how to campaign, but most importantly they can tell you what you need to know to do the job well. It’s a large responsibility, and to be honest, if you’re just running in an election to pad your CV or to prove that you’re popular, then you probably won’t have a good time at the job. It’s the kind of thing where you really have to want to help other people. It involves a lot of work and at times it can be quite stressful, but it’s work that really helps other students and, hopefully, makes the campus a better place.
Thank you Colin, we look forward to seeing all the good work the Council achieves this year under your guidance!