Welwyn Hatfield Mayor welcomes new OSU at Oaklands

WELWYN GARDEN CITY — The new faces of the Student Voice at Oaklands College have been welcomed into their new roles in a recent visit by the Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Cllr Pat Mabbott.

Cllr Mabbott welcomed the team of new recruits into their new role, which sees them as the ‘official voice’ of students in the college in this current academic year. In a speech to the new team, she praised their enthusiasm and drive to step up and support their peers in getting their voice heard.

Presidents and Vice Presidents were appointed for both campuses following a week long election, with candidates putting themselves forward for the role from all curriculum areas around College.

Taking the Executive roles of President and Vice President are Remi Aitman and Lewis Mascoll for St Albans, and Matthew Crawford and Daniel Lewis for Welwyn Garden City respectively.

As members of the Student Union, they regularly meet to discuss issues raised by their peers with college management to provide student views on all aspects of student experience including teaching, learning, facilities and services. This role is taken on in addition to their teaching commitments in their free time.

The Student Union also includes a team of OSU representatives which support the wider OSU voice around campus, and Student Corporation Representatives who sit on the Corporation that governs the College.

OSU Officer Rhianna Hornsey is delighted with the new team. She said: “The Student Union are a crucial part of life at any College, and at Oaklands we really value the opinions, influence and ideas that our students bring to the table.

“Having a Student Union means any student here has a formal and valued platform to voice what they really think and what really matters to them. We’ll be working hard all year to ensure the student voice is one that’s heard around campus.”

In a recent OSU Conference Day, the team got together formally for the first time in a daylong session creating new art sculptures for each campus, discussing the OSU agenda and meeting with the NUS to formulate their ideas for campaigns they will deliver throughout the coming year. On the cards for this academic year are campaigns on LGBTQ. Mental Health Awareness, Charity work abroad, Women in Engineering, Fostering and Children in Care Awareness.