2018 SRC President stands for Unity
 |
| 2018 SRC President Jaspar Daun |
This was the platform he stood on when campaigning
for presidency and is what he pledges to promote during his term at the helm of
the SRC.
“PNG UNRE is made up of people with diverse
culture. Let’s all combine these together, stay as one and move as one for the
betterment of all students,” he said when interviewed last week.
Daun takes his new role very seriously and with
great responsibility as his main goal is to represent the voice of the student
body.
His priority areas while in office are to:
1.
Promote unity;
2.
Encourage gender equality;
3.
Be the mouthpiece of students;
4.
See improvement student meals; and
5.
See students have access to free internet
service.
The president said it was necessary for UNRE to go
through changes in order to produce quality students and be one of the best
universities, and as those changes happen it is important that students and staff
see it in a positive way.
“We all need to move along with these changes,” he
said.
Making reference to the University’s Less Paper Concept the president said other
universities such as Divine Word University had already moved into that.
He said to ensure that this concept works he is
talking with the University Administration to ensure that:
·
All Year 1 students are given their laptops
·
Additional computers are installed at the main
computer lab
·
All exams given to students are based on the
learning outcomes (objectives) of the module that the lecturers presented to
students.
·
Free internet access to students
“When students are given hard copies of lectures it
is like forcing them to digest everything and then vomit out the same things
during exams,” he said.
He added that the information in those textbooks were
outdated and for many years students had been using the cut and paste method.
He said the Less
Paper concept encourages lecturers to do more research and give students
the latest updated information to equip them with knowledge and skills that are
relevant in their respective fields when they graduate.
The president said the other pressing issue he is
looking into is the quality of food in the students mess.
He said the cooks need one or two weeks training on
cooking to learn new recipes and upgrade their skills. He also said the
University needs to purchase new utensils and equipment for the mess.
Daun said he believed students paid a lot in fees
so there is enough money to cater for food in the mess.
“The remaining balance can cater for new cooking
utensils,” he said.
He said he understood the tough financial time the
University is going through but he believed the messing equipment and utensils could
be bought one at a time.
He said he hoped that this year would be the best
year for all students to work together in unity and as much as possible avoid disturbances
like boycotts or protests to distract student learning.
He said all issues affecting students would be
brought to the attention of the Senior Management via the appropriate
committees.
Asked what his satisfaction would be when he
graduated at the end of the year, he replied: “Seeing students eating quality
meal without complaining and seeing all students and staff have access to free
internet from anywhere in the campus.”
