When she left her Halifax high school of 250 students to attend Western, the transition was overwhelming.
Sciology student Emily Rowe is heading up the University Students’ Council this year, looking to create a sense of involvement among all students.
“It was like going from a big fish in a small pond to a parasite essentially,” says Emily Rowe, who takes on the task of president the University Students’ Council this year.
But the third-year sociology major, with a business management minor, soon learned to adapt.
“When I came here and there were so many people, I was able to use the skills I got at (my high school) and apply them in a new situation,” she says. “It prepared me in the sense that I got such a great sense of community.”
And now Western has become a kind of home away from home for Rowe.
“I have such a strong passion for this school and the involvement that this school offers,” she says.
The USC is a governing body that gives students a voice in dealing with the university’s administration. It also works with administration to enhance the experience and quality of life for the school’s undergraduate students.
The USC is comprised of a Board of Directors (executive), Commissioners (portfolio-specific), and Councilors (representatives) from across campus. Councilors are voting members and are selected through a campus-wide election in February.
The USC is also made up of committees, each with a specific function. Most committees include at least one student-at-large position. In total, there are 60 full-time staff, including a recently created position of general manager, 600 part-timers and 1,200 volunteers.
Most USC presidents run for the position in their last year and come back for the job once they’ve graduated. Rowe, however, decided to run in her third year so she can have one more year as a Western student once the job is done. She says she’s also eager to be president while she’s so immersed in student politics – something she has been a part of since high school.
She was student body president in Grade 12 and council secretary in Grade 11. She also played on sports teams, worked in mentoring programs and sat on the Kids Help Phone executive for Nova Scotia.
“I think I was busy every single minute,” she jokes.
At Western, she says the election process was overwhelming, but she was confident in her past experiences to back her up.
For example, she was part of residence council on the Student Housing Committee. She was also a soph, council member and president for the Faculty of Social Science.
Rowe was also on the USC’s Nominating Committee, where she was responsible for sitting as a non-biased member during interviews. And she was involved in the Clubs Policy Committee, where she helped review the university’s student clubs.
In her first year, she was a member-at-large and attended meetings for the USC.
She’s also a member of Chicks CLIC, a mentorship program for female students, and is a lifeguard at Campus Recreation.
Travel is also another important aspect of her life. She has been all across Canada, the U.S., England, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Nevis, an island in the Caribbean.
“It’s been a busy few years. I can’t imagine doing it any other way,” she says.
Rowe hopes to translate her enthusiasm for Western into the average student’s experience.
“One of the main goals is to really represent the passion we have at Western. I hope that I can be someone that motivates (students) to reach their full potential,” she says.
To do this, Rowe plans to implement a few new programs and events.
For one, she wants the USC to educate students more on what the organization does and work on its branding. She also wants to start a support service just for cultural clubs, which they’ve wanted for years, she says.
“We want to emphasize the culture and diversity we have on campus (and create) the most effective body for these clubs so they have an infrastructure.”
Also, Rowe wants to create a So You Think You Can Dance? event at Western.
“It’s another fun way to get the student body involved. I’m really excited about that,” she says.
The USC is responsible for running approximately 170 clubs on campus and organizing Awareness Weeks, with topics such as healthy lifestyles, the environment, volunteering and careers. It also plans Remembrance Day ceremonies, Orientation Week and funds three services at Western: Pride Western, a service for gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and trans-gendered individuals; EnviroWestern, a group that is focused on creating an environmentally-focused campus; and the Women’s Issues Network, which deals with women’s issues on campus.
The USC also provides numerous opportunities for students to be active in the campus community and beyond, whether it’s through sports, clubs or philanthropic services.
As for Rowe, she expects her time helping run the USC will be a year of personal growth when she can help other students love Western just as much as she does.
“It’s opening so many new doors and I think every day is going to be a new adventure, and I think that’s what excited me most about it.”
In addition to Rowe, this year’s USC Board of Directors includes:
Vice-President Campus Issues – Will Bortolin
Vice-President Finance – Sacha Kumar
Vice-President Student Events – Justin Arcaro
Vice-President University Affairs – Dan Moulton
Communications Officer – Carolyn Hawthorn
Students interested in committee positions should apply in September.
For more information on the USC, visit usc.uwo.ca.