First Year Represent

GABRIELLE VERHAGEN

Vol 11, Issue 3

That time of the year is coming, the time where first years are intoxicated with the excitement of what is to come. Competitions are starting, co-opt positions are opening, and  our applications for first year representative have been received and closed as of the March 12. ​

Campaigning begins on the 13 March; the lecture bashing, the poster making, the networking, these may not sound like fun things, but I am here to tell you some fantastic reasons you SHOULD run for first year representative.

Boost your confidence.

Lecture bashing was something I wasn’t good at initially, but like most things in 185 Pelham St, you get better with practice. It was a great springboard for me to moot in external competitions, and boost my confidence for interviews. If you can sell yourself to a room full of people, you can definitely sell yourself in an interview!

Make some great friends.

The great thing about representing your cohort is getting to know your cohort. You get to talk to people about the gaps they find in the law school, how they think it will be improved and just have fun. I think it was a great opportunity to make friends outside of the LMR/Stream bubble, because we see the same people in class and are so busy, it’s a great reason to talk to others and take some personal social time.

Make a change in the Law School.  

As a first year rep, your portfolio is pretty much discretionary since you don’t have set events. This gives a lot of room for creativity and also improving the Law School. Over the years there have been student/lecturer wine and cheese night, drank meme notice board, salsa dancing, footy game nights, regular pub meetings, Mindfulness Meditation and LMR reunion events. An event you think the Law School needs, is an event you can host! Running Mindfulness Meditation was one of the most rewarding things I did. It was great to see a well-being gap in the law school and fill it with something to benefit students.

Who run the world? Girls, girls!  

If you identify as a woman, here is some extra incentive. In 2016 and 2014 the representatives elected have been 3 men. I was convinced to run by a feminist on the LSS to get some more women representatives, so take this as a bat signal ladies and come up with your policies 😊

You always have a safety net  

When you apply for co-opt positions, you can still apply and run for first year representative. This just means that if you are elected, you have to take the first year representative position but are still eligible for co-opt if you do not win.

Last but not least, here is some campaigning tips from Jimmy, Josh and I:

• Don’t over promise. Don’t come up with policies and campaign ideas you cannot deliver on.
• Have fun!  
• Have a catchy slogan for your poster, and use it in your lecture bash.
• During lecture bashing - just be yourself. Don’t be too rehearsed.
• Talk to your year level - find out what they want to change at MLS. Focus on what's feasible.  
• Follow the rules! Read the campaigning rules carefully. Remember you cannot get your friends to share or post your poster, and don’t tag them!  

Good luck guys - voting for representatives will be in Week 4 from the 20th March to the 23rd of March <3

​
Gabrielle Verhagen is a third-year JD student and the LSS Women's officer

The rest of this issue

• Application for a Low Income Health Care Card
• Confessions of a Surreptitious Lecture Recorder
• Fares Fair PTV
• The Heavy Hand of Modern China​

More articles like this 

• A First Year Lesson in Gender Equity