First of all, a big welcome to all new and returning students at GCU. It’s always great fun to see new faces on campus, and welcome the world to what truly is a great university.
You’ll get a lot of information thrown at you about what the university and the campus has to offer you over the coming weeks, but there are four faces and names that you’ll struggle to avoid everywhere you turn – those are your full-time officers.
Rachel, Moses, Eilidh and Yetunde are our student representatives, sitting as president, and vice presidents of the Students’ Association (that building at the end of campus that has the bar in it).
The EDIT exclusively sat down with each of the full-time officers, to chat with them about the upcoming year, and so that we, the students, can get to know about the people standing up for us over the next year.
RACHEL SIMPSON, STUDENT PRESIDENT
What’s your student experience been like at GCU?
I studied psychology as an undergraduate and graduated last year, before working full-time as a vice president at the Students’ Association. While doing that, I also continued to study part-time at GCU doing two different courses – I just couldn’t let go of the student experience.
The student experience for me at GCU has been really fun. I got really involved in my undergraduate in different societies, nightline and wellbeing volunteering, and as a class rep. I found it really brought me out my shell and introduced me to new people – I still get new friends from it all now.
What advice would you give to new students?
I came straight from high school and I know it can be a scary experience because it is a big leap going from set classes and people you’ve known for five or six years straight into a new kind of style of learning, so I would say don’t be afraid to ask for the help.
It will be a good experience and you will fully enjoy it – don’t be afraid to embrace it.
MOSES APILIGA, VICE PRESIDENT, GLASGOW SCHOOL FOR BUSINESS AND SOCIETY (GSBS)
What is your role within the Students’ Association?
Part of my remit includes leading sports clubs at GCU. One of the things GCU is big on, is encouraging participation, so when you join up to a sports club it’s not all about competing; it’s about giving you the opportunity to keep fit and make new friends.
I’m also the lead for black and minor ethnic students – as part of that we’ll have a good few events lined up for black history month which everyone is more than welcome to come along to.
If you could go back to when you started university, what would you tell yourself?
I’d definitely say university isn’t as daunting as everyone makes it out to be. It might be overwhelming that there’s thousands of students but you will make friends – you’re not left to do everything yourself.
I know it might be scary but you will be able to see the finish line and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
EILIDH FULTON, VICE PRESIDENT, SCHOOL FOR ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT (SEBE)
What have been your highlights of studying at GCU so far?
Definitely getting involved in the Students’ Association has been great. I was in a whole bunch of different societies, committee member for the psychology society, sat on societies council and I’d say that’s what really got me heavily involved and made me meet a lot of new people.
Sometimes you can kind of just go to class and then go home and you don’t want that; you want to be getting involved as much as you can – that’s what makes the experience.
What are you looking forward to most this year?
We’re shaking up Fresher’s Week a bit so it’s all going to land on me if it goes well or goes wrong so I’m really hoping that everyone likes it.
I also want to get more spaces where people can go outside and do some work and get some fresh air – it’s really important that we’re all getting outside especially when it can get stuffy in here.
It’s not just the extracurricular stuff, though. I want to make sure I’m on the ground and talking to students, taking forward the ideas they have for what they want to see happen.
YETUNDE OGEDENGBE, VICE PRESIDENT, SCHOOL FOR HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES (SHLS)
What would you say sets GCU out from other universities?
I would say GCU is diverse – you meet a lot of friends from different countries. When I came here I had the opportunity to have friends from India, Asia and Europe too. I’ve been able to build my connections by coming to GCU. Making connections and having friends from different parts of the world is one of the great things about the university.
This is your second year, what will you be working on this year?
This year I’ll be talking a lot about equality because that’s the most interesting thing. I want to make sure we have representation for everybody so we’re planning to start a group for men. The truth is we need men who will be allies to help liberation groups and to talk about their mental health.
They will be allies to help the suppressed liberation groups. I want to review our policy to make sure it’s inclusive for everyone, and create more policy that focuses on issues like bullying.
