New communications role in SUSU for ECS student Joe Mcloughlin
ECS student Joe Mcloughlin will be moving across campus to the University Studentsâ Union after his graduation this summer.
With his MEng in Electronic Engineering almost completed, he will take up the one-year sabbatical post of Union Vice-President for Media and Communications.
Joe achieved this position after an intense and hard-fought election campaign earlier this year when he spoke to many students, gaining their views on the Union and the University. He now aims to put this experience to good work as he takes on a key role that covers all the Unionâs communications channels with the Universityâs 22,000 students.
Joe developed his interest in communications and leadership on Surge Radio - where he had his own show in his third year, and then took over running the station this academic year. Surge is run by the students themselves, drawing on a team of interns and volunteers, who were led by Joe. âWe needed as many volunteers as possible and I had to inspire them,â? he says. âI loved doing it, and learned so much.â?
He also enjoyed the election campaign, and used it to find out what the students want from the Union. âIâd like to see Union communications focus more on what Southampton students want,â? he comments. âCommunications are a way of us getting messages across about important student issues, such as housing, whatâs happening with the University restructuring and the curriculum changes.
âSUSU isnât just a building,â? he says. âNot all the students go there, so it should be a much bigger concept. Itâs there for all the students and it should be involved in everything that affects them.â?
Joeâs first big task when he starts his job next month will be to organize Freshersâ Week. With his own experience of being a Fresher not far away heâll be aiming to create something that will be valuable and relevant.
Despite not continuing with Electronics in the future Joe says that heâs confident he will use the experience of being an engineer. âI love electronicsâ?, he says, âbut there are lots of other things Iâd like to do in the future.â?
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