So here we are in January. The middle of the school year for most, the start of a fresh set of classes for just about everyone. The white stuff that hasn’t stopped falling from the sky for the past 24 hours had me hoping for a snow day this morning. Which got me thinking….what if I never get another snow day again, ever?
This is my last semester here. Whether the future for me holds more education, I’ve yet to figure out and there are a lot of variables. But as far as an undergraduate, my time at BUSU, and my time at OUSA, this is my final stand. 4 more months to make a difference, before I fade off into history. Memories remain in people’s heads, but with the cyclical turnover of student organizations, four or five years from now the memory of me will be a few plaques placed in the BUSU boardroom. Sure, I’ll have the knowledge that I helped influence things during my time here, but within a few years, ‘changes’ revert to ‘the new norm’. Work to secure 24-hour study space at Brock, create new awards for teaching and being a good neighbour, re-writes to the constitution and a few referendums, Reaching Higher 2, tuition policy, MYAA’s, and many more, anything accomplished becomes the new standard. Memories of the struggles, work and effort to get them where we want them becomes lost. The precursors to these become ancient history. All of these major projects that consume the year, will all come down to a by-line. Rob Lanteigne, VPUA 2008-2010.
It’s a fresh semester, but in a mere 28 days, the campaign period opens to replace me. Less than a month. Heck, nominations open a week from today. A month until I hear the candidates vying for my job tell the entire school about my shortcomings, and how they will be a suitable replacement. While I have 4 more months with a title, and 4 more months of work to accomplish, this is the true beginning of the end. Of 6 years at Brock, 5 years in BUSU, 4 years on council, 3 years on Senate, 2 years as VPUA, and 1 year as OUSA VP Finance. One last semester to make a difference before I hand off the reigns to a new team.
I just hope I get my snow day before that happens.
-Rob Lanteigne
Vice President University Affairs
Brock University Students’ Union
