Students’ Union vice-president student life Jennifer Abbott bears a strong resemblance to the Pokemon Eevee– both are very adaptable to their environments. The new VP student life role, in its first year, expands beyond hosting and organizing events.
Abbot said her biggest accomplishment is the creation of the Campus Engage Committee, which promotes communication between groups on campus by bringing together all student services.
Abbot said she is working hard to maintain strong relationships with non-academic organizations, examine where there already is student engagement on campus and empower these groups.
Abbott hosted the clubs summit, a new leadership conference for club executives which gave them the chance to mingle and network.
She is working on a series of new club awards for the winter semester. Clubs can apply for six to 10 awards and attend an SU banquet for all clubs at the end of the year.
Abbott said wellness month went well partially thanks to the Dinos for helping with Vanier Cup promotions. She has also been involved with the Q Centre, the It Gets Better Campaign, the Native Centre and the Women’s Resource Centre.
Abbott said working on a commuter campus makes getting students engaged a challenge.
“You can’t just throw an event and hope that people go to it,” said Abbott.
Instead, she finds she has to look at the different groups on campus and create community there.