President to spread student voice
The new student president at Palmerston North polytech UCOL wants to raise the profile of the new students’ association.
Third-year information and communications technology student Izzy Paterson has been elected president of UCOL’S new student association, which had an overhaul this year after declining interest in the previous organisation.
The Association of Students at UCOL was the old association, but it is now called the Students’ Association of UCOL and has a new executive board.
Paterson, 27, said it was important to ensure students understood what the new association did.
He was working to lay a foundation for a strong students’ association and build a clear relationship with UCOL for funding and support from the institute.
Paterson was president of the old association in 2018, but finished in the role early due to mental health problems.
Then he stepped in about a year ago to help the flagging association.
At the start of this year he contacted the national students’ association about creating a new association at UCOL and then ran for president.
‘‘I wasn’t satisfied with the way things were developing, especially last year.
‘‘Then, when everything was falling apart, no-one was really doing anything about it.
‘‘I have the smarts and the knowledge to pick things up and get things going again.’’
There is likely to be another election in March for a full-year term, but Paterson is unlikely to stand again.
He wanted to get the association on a solid footing before handing it over.
He is studying part time this semester, but will be back full time next semester, so will have less time.
‘‘My main focus is getting everything up and going to a point where I can finally leave student politics.
‘‘Ideally, it’s a first-year student going into the role who can stay in the role for the term of their [study].’’
Paterson said he and a couple of others had put in a lot of work in the past 16 months.
Elliot Tuck is Manawatu¯’s vicepresident, Frances Watson the wellbeing officer, Ami Mani the international rep and Teremoana Areaiiti the Pasifika rep.
There are still two vice-president roles to be filled, one in Whanganui and one in Wairarapa, as well as a Ma¯ori rep, a disability rep, a rainbow rep and an education rep.
Paterson said interest in the student body about student politics had increased.
He wanted UCOL to give students the support they needed.
The students’ association will work with the student success team on events for students.