Mark Newton

Cameron Cotter

What is your vision for VUWSA and Victoria University?

My vision is for VUWSA and VUW to become a role model for other universities, businesses, and all of New Zealand with regards to sustainability. Common sense tells us that the university and us as students have everything to gain and little to lose from sustainability measures, which often means becoming more efficient. Any good economist knows that efficiency saves money, which can be channelled back into studying facilities for students.

I envision an a-political, advocacy-based VUWSA. A VUWSA focussed not on paying the university's bills, but on its role as a student voice to the university management. I would like to see a Victoria University that prides itself on the quality of eduction provided. There is no reason Victoria University cannot be New Zealand's top university if the students and staff are willing to stay focussed and work together to achieve our aims.

What role does the environment and sustainability play in this vision?

The environment and sustainability are this vision.

 It is great to see Victoria becoming a leader on environmental issues. Our new climate change research centre is a great step forward.

From my perspective, it's about small but steady steps. My policy of advocating for a student transport fare in the Wellington region has the potential to see students travel to an eco-friendly campus in an eco-friendly way.

How do you propose to continue to make VUW a more sustainable campus?

I plan on continuing the work of Tushara Kodikara, our current environmental officer.

Issues I plan to address will be:
- reducing the university's excessive power consumption

- continuing to make the university carbon neutral

- financially incentivising double sided printing
- waste minimisation.  This will mean promoting recycling and re-use.  Waste is wasted money.

- liase with and encourage student campus sustainability projects
- working to encourage greater public transport use by lobbying for lower costs
These are the ones I see as being most pressing.  There are others such as reducing the university's HUGE water consumption, but as these will not result in a financial benefit for VUW and students, this is a little further down the track. 

Awareness raising events such as environment week will be a top priority. \u003cbr\>\n\u003col style\u003d\"font-weight:bold\" type\u003d\"1\" start\u003d\"4\"\>\n\u003cli\>\u003cspan\>Should student money go towards achieving this?\u003c/span\>\u003c/li\>\u003c/ol\>\u003cspan\>Yes I think student money should go towards this as it can be seen as an investment in facilities that will benefit students.  Money can be saved by becoming more efficient which will mean more of VUW's budget can be channelled back into better studying facilities.  \n\u003cbr\>\u003c/span\>\u003cbr\>\u003cspan\>Also, students will be able to take advantage of things that will directly save them money e.g. the curtain bank, and a decrease in the cost of double sided printing.\u003c/span\>\u003cbr\>\u003cspan\>The general university environment will be improved and students will feel better about studying in a place that is not having such a great impact on other people and the environment of the planet.  \n\u003cbr\>\u003c/span\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003col style\u003d\"font-weight:bold\" type\u003d\"1\" start\u003d\"5\"\>\n\u003cli\>\u003cspan\>What relevant experience do you have in the area you are running for?\u003c/span\>\u003c/li\>\u003c/ol\>\u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>\u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>\u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>I am a long-time member of the VUW environment group, Gecko and tutor for Environmental Studies 114, which means I am well positioned to promote and support the many ideas for sustainability from the wider environmental community on campus.  I  am a member of environmental NGO's Greeenpeace and ECO and have worked with the Wilderness Society in Australia.  \n\u003cbr\>\u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>\u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003col style\u003d\"font-weight:bold\" type\u003d\"1\" start\u003d\"6\"\>\n\u003cli\>\u003cspan\>How will you support student-life, including rep groups and clubs?\u003c/span\>\u003c/li\>\u003c/ol\>\n\u003cdiv\>\u003cspan\>\u003c/span\>My role as environmental officer, as I see it, is to be the voice of students and to try to make life easier, more fun, more social, and more environmentally aware and sustainable on campus.  I will support clubs that also share these ideals. \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>\u003c/div\>\u003c/span\>See you all at the meeting,\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Mark Newton\u003cbr clear\u003d\"all\"\>\u003cbr\>-- \u003cbr\>MEnvStud candidate\u003cbr\>School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences\u003cbr\>Victoria University of Wellington\u003cbr\>PO Box 600, Wellington, NZ",1] ); //-->

 Carrying on from my last two point, it's about advocacy. We need a strong but credible student voice. Only an A-Political VUWSA can achieve this.

Should student money go towards achieving this?

Yes I think student money should go towards this as it can be seen as an investment in facilities that will benefit students.  Money can be saved by becoming more efficient which will mean more of VUW's budget can be channelled back into better studying facilities. 

Also, students will be able to take advantage of things that will directly save them money e.g. the curtain bank, and a decrease in the cost of double sided printing.
The general university environment will be improved and students will feel better about studying in a place that is not having such a great impact on other people and the environment of the planet. 

 Absolutely. It is important to see students getting involved and a big part of this is fundraising. Fundraising events play a dual role. First and foremost, they are an opportunity to advertise and get the word out about sustainability. They are also a great chance to network, encourage existing members, and attract new ones.

What relevant experience do you have in the area you are running for?

I am a long-time member of the VUW environment group, Gecko and tutor for Environmental Studies 114, which means I am well positioned to promote and support the many ideas for sustainability from the wider environmental community on campus.  I  am a member of environmental NGO's Greeenpeace and ECO and have worked with the Wilderness Society in Australia. 

My interest in environmental issues extends back to childhood. I have always had a passion for conservation and the outdoors. I now consider myself part of a new and growing environmental right - seeing the social and economic sense in sustainability.

I was a volunteer at Nga Manu Wildlife Sanctuary between 2000 and 2002, before becoming Manawatu-Wanganui Youth Environment Representative in 2003. At the end of that year and going into 2004 I formed and led the Waiopehu College Environment Group. In 2004 I became Deputy Head Boy of Waiopehu College, after twice being awarded New Zealand's top low decile 40hr Famine Co-ordinator. My involvement with World Vision established in me an interest in two issues which I consider intrinsically linked - sustainability and development.

How will you support student-life, including rep groups and clubs?

My role as environmental officer, as I see it, is to be the voice of students and to try to make life easier, more fun, more social, and more environmentally aware and sustainable on campus.  I will support clubs that also share these ideals.

I consider the role of Environmental Officer closely linked to that of the Welfare Vice-President - a role of advocacy.

The A-Team's clubs funding restructure will see a shift of emphasis and choice from VUWSA to the students themselves. The subsidy we will remove currently makes up just 25% of the total clubs budget while costing VUWSA tens of thousands to administer. The result of our policy will be an intial pinch before clubs pick up stronger than ever as they have to attract more members for funding.

I am 100% committed to working with the Welfare Vice-President to ensure clubs and rep groups feel the initial pinch as little as possible. We will ensure clubs and rep groups still have access to all the same facilities they do now. We will ensure they have every opportunity to secure alterntive funding, operate independently, and expand membership.

What qualities will you bring to VUWSA?

I look forward to the prospect of working more with the A-Tean to ensure better value for students, to work towards a student fare on local public transport,  and create a credible, a-political Students' Association.

And finally….why should Gecko support you?

If Gecko support better value for money, a strong voice for realistic and achievable environmental advocacy, and a student fare on local public transport, then they need to vote me and the A-Team this VUWSA election.

Geoff Hayward

Joel Cosgrove

Lukas Schroeter

What is your vision for VUWSA and Victoria University?

For VUWSA, it is to be well managed, and able to support student led activities. For Victoria University it is to take students seriously, and as their major stakeholder, hold them to account.

I see a university that actually respects and values it’s students, I see a Students’ Association that is a mass organisation, one that works with students and is involved in campus life and culture. Neither situation exists and that requires vision, teamwork and strong leadership from all involved, not just the president but the Exec and students in general.

appears to have been too busy to answer….)

What role does the environment and sustainability play in this vision?

VUW has begun implementing it's policies in line for a sustainable campus. Not only should VUWSA be holding VUW to account, but highlighting to students when they are not, and encourgaing both to work towards that vision

We live in our environment and it is a fundamental need to make sure it continues. It’s amazing that people have only recently stopped calling environmentalists “crazies” for bringing up these issues as if we live apart from the environment and it is something to look after like a pet…
Campus sustainability and wider than that environmental sustainability are key aspects in any future planning. Sustainability can save money, but more importantly it is recognising the externalities that currently are unaccounted for, which are now biting us in the proverbial ***. Sustainability is about recognising that and acting on it. Through the environmental officer I believe VUWSA is heading in this positive direction and long may it continue

How do you propose to continue to make VUW a more sustainable campus?

By supporting those student led groups like Gecko and the VVUWSA Environmental Officer, as well as leading by example at VUWSA by reducing their carbon footprint.

I have no idea, I’m not the expert on this, you’d have to ask the people doing that, Tush our current environmental officer is doing his masters in that subject. As president I don’t claim to know everything, I do know there’s a problem, I do know who to talk to, I need to make sure that positive movement is happening. One of my policies is on free printing for students. This is an issue because the university forces most if not all students to print out their assignments, allow them to hand in their assignments online and you cut down on the paper needed. Until then though I don’t feel that students should be burdened with what is a university decision and responsibility.

Should student money go towards achieving this?

Absolutely!

I think it should, however the majority of this should be the university’s. Students and VUWSA can come up with the ideas, the Uni should be the one to front up.

What relevant experience do you have in the area you are running for?

One year as VUWSA President.

I’ve been on the Exec for something approaching 3 years in various capacities. 2006 was a year that a lot of groundwork was laid, no further development has happened but the work of 2006 has been continued. I’ve been around long enough to see what makes a productive year (2006) and what railroads it (2007), I’m a team player with experience in working with and getting results with a diverse range of students.

How will you support student-life, including rep groups and clubs?

I wish to see more money going to clubs and rep groups, and will be asking for more funding alloted in the 2008 VUWSA budget. VUWSA should maintin it's administrative support to clubs, but it should imporve it's education to clubs and rep groups on what VUWSA is and does.

I will continue funding for them! They are the lifeblood of the campus culture and support. If anything they should be supported more! The TEC investment plan has come out and it talks about students being key stakeholders, this needs to be actioned on. This a an opportunity 15 years in the making and it is something from which we can leverage money from both the uni and the government to increase support for rep groups in particular.

What qualities will you bring to VUWSA?

Working with diverse groups, a proven history of working to build representation through studne tled groups

I have a large amount institutional experience and knowledge of the job, I’ve worked under three presidents now and seen how they worked. Geoff had problems this year adjusting to the job, I won’t, I have confidence that I can slip into the role easy enough, as well as that I have planned the last two Exec inductions, I inducted Geoff, I can induct myself just as well…

And finally….why should Gecko support you?

 I am a supporter of sustainable living, but also of educating the studnet population of enviromental issues. As such, I want to supporrt studnet led initiatives.

Some of my best friends are geckos… Seriously though I’m dealing with issues that face students, I have a strong history of working with Gecko members and share a lot of their concerns. A lot of great initiatives have come out of Gecko, the push for sustainability, the push for recycling, I feel I’m the best candidate to help develop that relationship.