Wow, it’s the beginning of the second semester already ...

Wow, it’s the beginning of the second semester already – seems like the year has flown by. To all the new students, welcome to Otago Polytechnic! To all the returning students, welcome back.

It is well and truly the flu season at the moment. There are four people in the OPSA office that have been off sick with the flu. I had forgotten how much the flu really sucks.

Over the break we were away at an NZUSA conference up in Auckland. David’s report is in this month so you can read about it from his perspective. If you are wanting to know any more, then drop into the OPSA office and ask. It was great to catch up with the other associations and see what they are up to, which leads me onto the next part.

Many of the OPSA executive have been working on a campaign which is going to be launched really soon: the message of the campaign is “Study is a Full-Time Job”. Are you sick of the perception that students are drunk layabouts? I know I am, and so are the executive! Keep an eye out on campus for the posters, and also for someone wandering around with a camera and a mini-whiteboard. If you see them, then offer to have your picture taken with the number of hours you study written on the whiteboard.

I am going to run a competition. The winner will be announced in the next month’s Gyro; the first prize will be a $50 phone card. The competition is simple, in 200 words or less tell me why you deserve to win the phone card.

Send your entries into Meegan@opsa.org.nz with “Competition” in the subject line please.
Right. I’m off to hunt down some LemSip.
Ka kite ano for now!

Meegan Cloughley
OPSA Acting President 2009

President's column (Gyro)

And then there was one. Ryan has left, he’s gone back down to Clinton to make some money as a builder. Ryan will be missed around the campus by students. In accordance with the constitution, the executive elected me to be Acting President until the elections later this year.


OPSA hosted the Annual ITP conference this year; we held it out at the Otākou Marae. The conference went extremely well in my opinion. There was a lot of networking, and some strong outcomes of where the associations are hoping to move towards in the near future. The strategic plan was split up so that each association had something to work on: the two that OPSA are moving with are improving the networking amongst ITPs and increasing the ITP portfolio.


The National Government has said they are not going to put any more money into the tertiary sector in this budget. Yes, this is something that is concerning – the institutions need to get their money from somewhere. If the fee maxima scheme is removed, then the fees could go up by any amount that the institution feels like. For example your fees of currently $4000 could go up to $8000 or more. Even though the fee maxima scheme isn’t the best in the world, it at least doesn't allow the institutions free range in the increase of fees.


OPSA is currently looking at ways to protest against the removal of fee maxima. Keep an eye out too and get involved when the action takes place.


Meegan Cloughley
OPSA Acting President

Mid year already

Its hard to believe that that we are in June already, in many ways we look back over the last 5 months and wonder where they have gone. We hare both really enjoying this job, really enjoying interacting with the students, and we are so grateful for the aweseom executive we have this year. Their passion for OPSA is contagious, they want to continue do great events for the students, and keep improving the environment here. Coming up on the 12 of June we are having an event in the Quad area, so if you are around come and check it out, there will be lolly scrambles, fun and free stuff!! I am not going to tell you what it is about, you will need to come along and check it out!!
Righteo time for me to head off and get some other stuff done

ka kite ano

Polytech Conference

Well we are back!! 10 of us headed up to Nelson for the NZUSA (New Zealand Union Student Associations) for the Polytech conference, must admit the town is beautiful!! But nothing beats our campus!! (ok a bit biased)
It was great to meet some of the exec from other campuses and catch up with the presidents, the OPSA exec were fantastic, and showed that they had been doing their research on the different workshops that were at the conference. We are all still writing our reports for the conference, and if anyone is interested in reading them come on over to the office in a couple of weeks.
On to the next thing now, there is going to be another lunch time event coming up over in the quad, not going to tell you what it is for yet, but keep an eye out for the posters...I will give you an idea of the date, it will be on the 12th June. We are looking into having some more social events as well like another quiz night, and maybe something else in the evening, if you have any ideas please let us know!

Righteo, until next week

Term 1 wind-up

Well with the month of April drawing to a close, it is time we made a special mention of the new OPSA executive committee. Elected less than 2 months ago, the exec is already expressing their interest in student issues for 2008.
With almost all of the portfolios taken these guys have been out organising events such as 10 billion dollar debt day and helping plan the campaigns for the year, on the 8th of April we are taking the Executive on their first conference in nelson. This is an annual conference held by NZUSA to help represent polytechnics on the national level. It’s a great chance for the exec to get out there and start expressing their opinions on things and really start learning about the issues face by today students around New Zealand.
A big thanks to all of you guys and girls who came along to the recent 10 billion dollar debt day on the 10th, the turnout was great, and all of you were really vocal about the issues. And were really stoked about the signatures we got on the banner, some of the comments were awesome and we expect some real tractions on the debt issue in the next election.
Anyway guys enjoy the next half of the semester and we look forward to seeing you all at the next OPSA event which is to be confirmed.
Cheers
Meegan and Ryan
OPSA Co-Presidents 2008

March/April

So here we go the 2nd edition of our blog, I hope you all have had the chance to read at least of these editions as they are OPSA's best source of communication with you guys out there.
Recently the OPSA quiz night was held with raging success, a big thanks to all of those that turned up to enjoy the night.
The demand was so great that we decided to have another one, so keep and ear out and be sure to be in for the next one
Also coming up is 10 billion dollar debt day on the 10th of april
on the 10th student debt will hit the 10 billion dollar mark so OPSA is having a bit of an activity to show our discust at the government and also give you guys and girls a chance to be heard. so be sure to be in the forth st campus quad and make yourself heard.
Also the OPSA Exec has been elected, so a big thanks to all of you who went to the AGM and had your say in how OPSA is run. In may we will be taking the Exec away to nelson for their first NZUSA
(New Zealand Union of Students Associations)Polytechnic confernece. while away they will be representing all of you on national issues and helping NZUSA decide on what direction to take on these issues.
So if you have anything you would like them to take away and discuss with NZUSA and other ITP's let OPSA know.
Anyway people keep up the good studys and feel free to let us know whats going on in your side of things if you feel the urge
Cheers Meegan and Ryan
OPSA Co-Presidents

O week

It is great to see the campus alive with students!! Orientation was a lot of fun, getting to meet some of the students through the inductions and orientation events, and both look forward to meeting more of you over the year. It seems that in the first week there is a lot of information that is given to everyone, and I remember when I was a student I was feeling really overwhelmed with it all, I guess the main thing that we would like everyone to remember is if you have any questions at all, OPSA is here for you.
At the moment there are nomination forms out to get on to our executive, they are available in Gyro, and also at the OPSA office if you want to pop in and grab one. Being on the exec is a lot of fun, you get the opportunity to meet other students on a national level at conferences. OPSA is a member of NZUSA, New Zealand Union Student Association, the national body that represents students, it works towards making students lives a lot better, if you want to have your voice heard more than it already is, become one of our exec and use that avenue. If you want to know what the different types of portfolios that are available again just come on into the office and we will print one off for you.
Time to head off and get some other work done, we are both looking forward to meeting you over the coming year.

OPSA Co-Presidents

Presidents Goodbye

The elections have been held and your 2008 Co-Presidents have been elected which means I will be vacating office on the 31st December 2007.

It has been an absolute pleasure serving you all for the past two years. Thank to all our members who have made my job as exciting as possible. Thank you to all polytechnic staff and senior management who showed me a great deal of respect and took what I had to say seriously.

Thank you to the OPSA staff without whom my job would not have been possible at all. The staff do not give themselves enough credit for the work they do. OPSA have a fantastic group of staff and I would like to thank each and every one of them for assisting me in performing my duties and President of the Association.

To everyone who is graduating at the end of this year. Congratulations on your achievements. Remember graduation day is your day. Enjoy it.

To everyone who is continuing study next year. Hang in there when the going gets tough as the rewards at the end are well worth it.

To Ryan and Meegan, good luck for next year. Keep up the good fight.

Thank you,

Richard Mitchell
2006 Co-President & 2007 President

The Year That Was - 2007

January

Enter two new Presidential staff. Well one new and one not so new. January was a good start to a great year. Richard and Ryan begin planning for the year and outlines events and such things.

February

Enter….students. OPSA was flooded with students’ requiring ID cards and assistance with various things such as enrolments issues and student loan and allowance applications

Orientation
This years Orientation was the highest ticket selling orientation in orientation history

Student Services Area
OPSA opened out student service self service area which includes binding, laminating, black and white and colour photocopying, internet access, OP network access, fax machine.

March

OPSA Annual General Meeting
OPSA’s annual general meeting was held in March. At this meeting the 2007 OPSA Executive was elected and the meeting accepted the 2006 budget, approved the 2007 budget and accepted the 2006 Co-Presidents report.

Graduation Parade
The parade preceding the graduation ceremony was enjoyed by all and was a change for all graduates to enjoy a day dedicated entirely to them.

March Graduation
The first graduation for 206 was held in the Town Hall. OP also held their third Maori Graduation Ceremony

St. Patrick’s Day
OPSA celebrated St. Patrick’s Day (well at least the Friday before) with a fantastic morning breakfast for all students who were brave enough to come out at 8:30 in the morning. Such a great feed.

April

Interest Fee Student Loans
OPSA celebrated the 1st anniversary of Labours Interest Fee Student Loans policy by providing cake in the student centre and combining with OUSA to provide events on both the University and Polytechnic campuses.

May

Soup Kitchens
After the success of the Soup Kitchens in 2006, OPSA restarted these to help you through the winter months.

June

Holidays
A big part of June was taken up with holidays.


July

Gyro Digital
OPSA embraced the digital age and put your magazine, Gyro, online. This can be viewed at http://www.gyro.org.nz

August

2007 University Sport Snow Games
Otago Polytechnic was the only polytechnic in New Zealand invited to enter a team for the 2007 University Sport Snow Games. The games were full of hard fought competition and the Otago Polytechnic got a silver medal. Hadley Boyle (Bachelor of Product Design) has taken Otago Polytechnic’s first ever medal at the University Snow Games.
Boyle’s combined run time of 137.88 in the Snowboard Giant Slalom Men’s placed him second out of 35, between Phil Dominick of Massey Albany (first place with 137.27) and Will Marshall of Canterbury University.

OPSA’s new logo
OPSA created a new logo. It is much more modern and good looking.


September

Fee Setting
Despite the work that was done around a zero fee increase at Otago Polytechnic for 2008, the Otago Polytechnic Council still voted to increase 2008 tuition fees to the maximum allowable under the Fee Course Cost Maxima Scheme.

Tertiary Challenge
OPSA worked with a group of students from the Otago Sports Institute lead by Geoff Simons and Terry Wilson in organising the Southern Tertiary Challenge. Unfortunately, for reasons outside of OPSA’s control, the Southern Tertiary Challenge was cancelled.

Cultural Food Festival
12 groups from various nations cooked food for the day. All groups were well received and nothing but positive comments were made about the day.

October

SJS Regional Chair
Ryan Ward was nominated for the position of 2008 Student Job Search Otago Regional Caucus Chair. There were two candidates nominated and the vote was tied. Ryan, proving that he is a bigger man than the other candidate, withdrew warning the newly elected RC chair, and I quote, “I will ride him for all of 2008”.

November

OPSA Staff Awards
In recognition of the quality of the lecturers at Otago Polytechnic, OPSA awarded eight staff, from student nominations, the 2007 Staff Awards.

OPSA Blues Awards
OPSA was honoured to award the following students with the 2007 OPSA Blues Awards: