Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association

Hello! Whether you’re entering your first year of study or returning for another, I welcome you to Victoria University. My name is Seamus Brady and I am the President of your Students’ Association.

Some people, like some family members, have wondered aloud what I’ve got myself into, while others just stare at me blankly. But I know I am honoured and incredibly lucky to be your VUWSA President for 2011.

VUWSA was set up by students for students just after Victoria opened its doors for lectures 111 years ago. They knew students themselves were the only people who could represent students. They also knew that only students could ensure that the University was delivering the education, experience, community and facilities that they wanted and needed during their study.

This 111-year-old idea still holds true: Everyday VUWSA continues to work on the philosophy of students serving students.

With that in mind, VUWSA has been busy over the summer toiling away to bring you a solid year of representation, services, and events. We’ll be communicating all this with you over the coming weeks and months, and will let you know how you can get involved. We want this year to our best yet.

2011 will be a big year for students. Parliament will decide how the student body is organised; we’ll see new and improved social and recreational spaces in the upgraded Student Union Building opening; and students will continue to have a central role within the Campus Hub Project. There’s the General Election and a crucial referendum on MMP; universities will continue to be underfunded; and student debt will come close to hitting $12 billion dollars. But don’t stress—immerse yourself in student life first.

This year’s Orientation festival was massive. We brought you the likes of MGMT, De La Soul, Die!Die!Die!, Zowie, Homebrew and Disasteradio. We even built a new venue to host it in. It was your chance to get amongst the biggest and best Orientation festival that Victoria (or any other university for that matter) has seen in decades. I hope it gave you a mind blowing welcome to Victoria University and Wellington in 2011 and made your friends at Otago or Auckland wish they’d chosen to come to Victoria.

So this year get active. Attend events as possible; find a club or Rep Group that suits you; write for Salient; DJ on the VBC; or become a student rep—just do something. There’s way more to university than just studying, and some of the most important things you’ll learn will be outside of the lecture theatre.

I look forward to meeting and working with many of you over the coming year. Feel free to come up to me and say hi, ask a question, or anything else (but please, do not beat me up). Come visit me at our Kelburn office or you can email me.

Have a great year, it’s going to be brilliant!

Seamus Brady