RSU President - Update
Progress, Connections, and Campus Life
Dear Students,
I am delighted to share that I have recorded my first podcast episode with our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jean-Noel. My second episode features Dr. Aleata, the Director of Student Support and Success, and the third episode includes Tom Rowson, the Chief Operating Officer of the University of Roehampton. These shows are currently being edited and will be released soon.
The podcast aims to bridge the gap between university senior leadership and students. I want students to know who the senior leaders are, understand what they do, and feel encouraged to reach out to them through the Student Union. Additionally, I hope that university staff can get to know the senior leadership team on a more personal level.
On a personal note, hosting a podcast has been a dream of mine, and I am fortunate to have had guests who each have inspiring journeys filled with ups and downs. Throughout these interviews, I have learned many valuable lessons. The most prominent among them are the importance of loving what you do, the character-building power of struggles and hardships, and the significance of living life to the fullest. One quality all my guests share is their exceptional organizational skills. I look forward to sharing these inspiring stories with you all.
As always, Irene, Adam, and I are excited to welcome the new November intake students of Business and Law. We introduce them to Roehampton Students' Union (RSU), explain who we are, what we offer, and how we can support them throughout their journey at Roehampton.
I recently participated in the Going Green talk at Mandela, where we had the pleasure of hosting three sustainable champions. Each of these guests has founded sustainable businesses and has been dedicated to sustainability for a long time. I believe it is the responsibility of each of us to be mindful of our environment and avoid excessive usage of resources.
I also attended my first meeting of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDIC), chaired by Jean-Noel.
Jean-Noel and I attended the Act of Remembrance at Putney-Heath, where we joined Roehampton community leaders, the former Mayor of Wandsworth, the former Commissioner of London, and many others at the ceremony. We laid poppy wreaths on the cenotaph at the Putney War Memorial. I was also invited to attend an Act of Remembrance at the university, where I delivered a poem.
I attended the Leading Well conference at Westminster University, where officers from various universities across the country gathered to share insights and strategies.
Adam and I gave a welcome talk at our undergraduate open day. We had a couple hundred attendees at Digby Chapel. During our talk, we introduced ourselves, explained the role of the Student Union, outlined what we offer, and discussed how we can support students throughout their time at Roehampton.
We collaborated with Southlands College for a fantastic event, featuring international games and traditional wear. Many students joined us to celebrate and participate in these activities.
From November 18th to 22nd, we celebrated International Week in collaboration with the Study Abroad team. We set up pop-up stalls at different locations across the university. Irene, Adam, and I assisted at these stalls, engaging with students and promoting the week's activities.
I am delighted to announce that Green Week will take place from February 10th to 15th. I am working with many colleagues, departments, and societies to plan an exciting week filled with workshops, activities, events, and more.
A big congratulations to Adam for raising over £1,000 for the charity Movember, which supports men's mental health. Adam organized several activities, including a waxing and quiz night, a 12-hour walkathon, a 60,000 steps-in-a-day challenge, and charity sports fixtures. As Adam says, “it’s okay to not be okay.”
I attended the Autumn Civic Reception at the university, where university hosted over 100 external partners. This event provided a valuable opportunity to meet, greet, and build connections with various stakeholders.
Lastly, Irene, Adam, and I participated in the White Ribbon March, aiming to spread awareness about violence against women.
As promised, we remain committed to keeping you informed of our progress.
Until next time.