Vote Alan for Engagement VP

22/08/2024

The multitude of people involved in this campaign is immeasurable. Starting this campaign, I never thought it would carry the same effect as I've seen now. From students and friends translating my posters to the various friends who went out of their way to help me prepare (like my profile photo: thanks@ajrtriesart!) or the various memes and content delivered to me. The help I received came from peers and even far outside the university, some I'd barely met.

All of you offered more than I could ever ask of you, even when it was inconvenient. I believe it comes not only from the relationship we share. I believe it also comes from the shared belief that these changes we've campaigned for will dramatically reshape the university positively.

I want to say again that I am so immensely grateful to all those who voted already and those who have provided the support I received. Many of my peers came out of the blue to lend a hand. Originally, I intended to thank each individual personally; however, the more I campaigned, the less realistic that idea was. I'll probably not be able to thank everyone, but I certainly intend to do my best to try. Regardless of the outcome of this election, if you see me around, please say hi so I can show my gratitude to you properly.

Coming up to less than 12 hours before the close of the election, I have one final favour to ask you all. Please do whatever is convenient for you to spread the word about the campaign one last time.

It could be sharing a post or texting a friend who hasn't voted yet. This campaign has had minimal ads, so its success has remained solely due to your generosity, my peers. Make plenty of noise, and be part of the final push to the finish line. We are a grassroots movement, and our campaign's strength lies in each of us. Although this campaign may have my name on it, I believe it certainly has been the policies I've proposed that have drawn support from people. Let's push these promises now towards reality.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone's continued support.

22/08/2024

Running a campaign apart from other candidates has had a multitude of benefits for us. I believe it's really allowed us to demonstrate our uniqueness to other candidates, and distinguished us from the populist gathering of candidate coalitions.

However, it has also meant that we appeared a little disenfranchised from the rest of the race. I don't see that in itself as a loss. Moving away from the bulk of the candidates has given us the chance to speak with and get to know candidates on a more intimidate scale. We are most grateful for the conversations we've had with our running mates, Ryan and Ayo. These two candidates are both non-establishment, and offerred realistic and achievable goals. I was moved by their genuine approach to solving issues they found in their time as university students, and their pragmatic grasp of their campaign and policies.

If you are having trouble placing your additional vote for other roles, please place your vote for Ryan Fraser as Education Vice-President (UG), and Ayolabi Martins as Disability Rights Officer for AUSA. Trust me, it will be worth it.

22/08/2024

Vote, then tell a friend to vote.

Nuff said.

19/08/2024

18/08/2024

Having worked as Craccum's News Editor this year, I had the privilege of attending the university's student council meetings.

My troubles with this arose when I started to report on the breadth of information that was covered. A lot of the information in documents such as council minutes lacked context, and could not easily be discerned by a layperson. Very little from these meetings can be easily understood without jargon or additional context.

If I take office as the Engagement Vice President, one of the entities under my jurisdiction would be Craccum magazine. My proposed student media team would draw independent students alongside experienced Craccum staff to create exclusively news-based reels and videos that anyone can access on social media.

The issue I am addressing here is the lack of opportunity to access this information in the first place, and this affects every single student. You'll find that the daily grind at university outside of your studies has revolved around reacting to changes thrown at you rather than being able to respond to them.

Imagine if consultations that the University had with the council could allow for public submissions, or at least that students could move alongside the University rather than follow it.

This is the type of partnership and relational learning the University has promised in its student charter, and this is the partnership I will deliver to students if I take office. I believe this is something that students have cried out for far too long, and it is time that systemic, functional change is made to the student experience.

As a caveat to this policy, I will also make it a duty to publish all existing figures within my porfolio. This includes the most up-to-date student membership numbers, and any other data that you would have glossed over when going through AUSA's archaic website.

18/08/2024

I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone confirmed their endorsement of my campaign over the last week!

Despite the short notice, my peers and groups came together swiftly to rally behind my campaign and its policies. My personal thanks go out to the individual club officers below for their support of my campaign:

Kelly P**n - President, CSSA/SOFAD
Roy Skog - Treasurer, SOFAD
Blaze Webster - Social Executive, VR Club
Alex Yang - Secretary, AI and Legal Club
Dominik Lange - Vice President, (no club given)
Xinbo Chen - President, AI and Legal Club
Andy Zhang - Marketing Manager, SESA
Jimin Seo - Co-President, KLSA
Sophie Leung - Secretary, SOFAD
Horace Su - Activity Coordinator, CSSA
Yonghua Zhang - President, UoA Hip Hop Club

Additionally, I am super grateful for the support l've received from two student groups who have wholeheartedly endorsed my campaign. This is AUDSA (Disabled Students Association) and the UOA Hip Hop Club! The open letter that I initially shared with students only sought support from individual officers, as I understood that some clubs, if they could show support, may not have come to a consensus on my policies.

I am super grateful for their support because it tells me that my campaign has a place in our student body. I look forward to the change we will bring if I take office, and I'm excited to think of the voices and hands that will go into working and bringing these changes about!

Also, I wasn't able to tag everyone, so please if you know the people, please forward their @

17/08/2024

You don't want to look back and regret not exercising your civic rights as a student. Let Democracy manifest: enjoy functional reforms, and share a succulent Chinese meal!

VOTE ALAN WU FOR AUSA ENGAGEMENT VICE PRESIDENT 2025

Thank you for this submission🙇

16/08/2024

Having worked with Craccum this year, I've been given many opportunities to learn about AUSA and the entirety of the University I was unaware of. Attending the Student Council Meetings really broadened my eyes to this. Surprisingly, I realised that the university staff care about us as students (crazy, right?!), and they are trying their best to help us. I gained a greater understanding of how the University works and the thinking behind many decisions because they consult the council directly on many of these matters.

Knowing these things now directly contrasted with my feelings of being alienated when I first arrived at the university. I remember thinking there was no reason to be aware of what was happening because none of it mattered to me anyway, and the 'help' offered was just performative. Knowing all this, I wanted to bridge this gap and make genuine changes for students already in university and also those who are yet to arrive.

When it came to deciding which role to run for, it was quite quick to decide on engagement vice president. For example, the president and education vice president have some of the biggest and most important portfolios, but their work is largely with the University, so they rarely see students' faces. Additionally, I didn't believe the change I wanted to make could be confined to a particular area, as this affects all students.

The engagement vice president's role and capacity align with where I intend to implement the vision and change I have in mind. The work is also situated on campus, so I would have 'boots on the ground' and be aware of how my policies develop across the campus. Finally, the role involves working directly with students and clubs. My problems with being engaged came directly from this space, and working in it means making the change I wish I had, and doing so while keeping in touch with my peers. I know how it feels, and I don't want this to be a permanent experience for students at this university. It is people's lives on campus I am working to improve and better represent.

16/08/2024

Returning back to policy discussion, my student engagement committee is an idea that will be bringing (back?) AUSA's ability to handle student issues and to properly mingle and interact with students. AUSA actually used to be capable of tackling a wide variety of issues, and that was because we had a larger student staff.

My student engagement committee gives students genuine input and the ability to communicate with AUSA on issues regarding engagement. Not only would the students who are to be selected be active in the student community, but they would also be competent and have the necessary experience to do so.

Given that these students will be part of existing clubs already, they will communicate regularly with students, club officers, and members. This allows for active feedback to guide and deliver increasingly better student events that are genuinely relevant and enjoyable.

I want to reiterate that my policies are intended to be long-term institutional change. Voting for me does not mean you will get flashy, flamboyant changes happening in AUSA, but methodical solutions that will change your quality of life as a student. I ask for your vote of confidence because students will be looking attentively at candidate policies, what they offer, and how they will deliver. Remember that my policies are promises to you, not just nice words to entice you.