30 March 2015

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD ARE OPEN

The 2014-2015 Directors being "cute" post Board Induction
Spend your days jumping from society event to society event?

Passionate about the student voice?

Or just love having a beer at Manning?

Well, you might be interested to know that nominations for the 2015 Board Elections are now open at www.usu.edu.au/election - having the opportunity to be a Board Director of an organisation with a turnover of over $20 odd million dollars a year is an incredible, humbling, and highly-challenging experience as a University student.

What’s the role of a director? 

As a member of our student board we are charged with making decisions at monthly Board meetings on high-level strategic decisions – from giving the green light to a new infrastructure project to tabling our own policies and initiatives to make change to the organisation.

In my seven months as a director a short list of work by our Board includes:
  • Overseeing the completion of Courtyard CafĂ© and the much-needed renovation of Engo Grill near PNR.
  • Establishment of the Equity Access Scheme, which has seen 118 students from low socio-economic backgrounds receive free ACCESS cards.
  • Publication of ‘We are Women: 100 years, 100 stories’ – which celebrates one-hundred years since the establishment of the Sydney University Women’s Union.
  • Action on the 2014 Transparency Review in the form of new feedback mechanisms, publications of Board documentation and the publication of Board expenditure. 
  • No EFTPOS minimums at USU outlets (excluding Manning and Hermanns)
  • Engaging staff and directors in diversity and sensitivity training 
…and as recently as last Friday the Board has enshrined a breastfeeding policy into our suite of governing documents.

What are the elections like? Is it worth it?

Fun + yes.
USU elections are just one of the very busy and very colourful times that add to the vibrant fabric of the unique University life we are so lucky for at Sydney Uni. Running as a candidate is a big commitment, very challenging but ultimately incredibly rewarding.
Come along to our information session on Monday 13th of April for more in-depth information, there are also autonomous session for women-identifying students, queer students and international students with info provided at www.usu.edu.au/election

USU Board Candidates' "Oscars Selfie" at Soapbox 2014

Former directors of the University of Sydney Union include:
  • Edmund Barton – First Prime Minister of Australia
  • Michael Kirby - Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
  • Adam Spencer - Radio Presenter
  • Meredith Burgmann – Politician
  • Malcolm Turnbull - Politician
Not bad hey?


Electoral Changes

We’ve also put through a raft of electoral changes that aim to make it easier to run in 2015:
  • Current USU Board Directors can’t directly campaign to electors i.e. no wearing shirts, changing display pictures – so that it’s what you know, not who you know.
  • One dollar from each vote will be going to the USU Charity – headspace. This is in place of a drink voucher.
  • Shorter election (just two weeks) – kicking off with a barbeque on the Wednesday rather than the traditional Monday.
  • And every candidate is still eligible for $500 election grants – so you won’t have to stress about money.

If you’d like more information about running for Board, want to have a chat with a Director or just learn more about the Union and our elections – please don’t hesitate to zip an email through to our President Tara Waniganayaka at president@usu.edu.au

 
Vote early and vote often!

ALISHA AITKEN-RADBURN
ELECTORAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE - BOARD DIRECTOR

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