Farewell statement
For many of you, this will be the last issue of Felix you read whilst at Imperial College. That’s certainly the case for me. This is the last issue of term and on 31 July I leave Imperial after nearly six years.
Appreciation
There are many people who I need to thank for their support, guidance and mentoring during my time at College. Inevitably I shall forget to mention, or allude, to someone and for that I can only apologise in advance.
I wouldn’t be here now if I hadn’t graduated in Information Systems Engineering and I therefore owe a debt to staff and fellow students in the Departments of Computing and Electrical Engineering. In particular Peter Cheung, the Director of Undergraduate Studies and many other lecturers for the frequent coursework extensions I had to ask for because I was too busy running some part or other of the Union’s activities as a volunteer.
Dinesh Ganesearajah was President of City & Guilds College Union in my first year in 1999-2000. He was the first (and only) C&G President to have been re-elected to a second term (2000-2001). Dinesh was not the average Union ‘hack’ and had precious little time for lengthy debates in Council meetings or other politicking. Whilst others would worry about the precise rules enshrined in the Union’s constitution, he would just ignore it and just focus on doing whatever he believed to be in the best interests of students.
It was a philosophy that I continued when I succeeded him and, controversially, adopted later as President of Imperial College Union. Some will have read of some of the ensuing political fallout from the pages of Felix this year. But ultimately, this laissez-faire attitude to the finer points of the rules secured the highest ever turnouts in all Union elections this year, one of the first successful transitions to online voting in any students’ union, and ultimately many more students getting involved in the business of the Union’s democratic processes.
The Union is nothing without its volunteers or the staff who facilitate them. During my years as a Union Officer I am fortunate to have worked with many other co-operative, talented and supportive colleagues who I can’t possibly list. I have publicly recognised most in one way or another. Those I have never mentioned include Chris Piper, former President of King’s College Union, who was President of ULU (University of London Union) last year and provided support and guidance in difficult circumstances. Sir Graeme Davies, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, also gave me invaluable advice in dealing with difficult circumstances in the College. My Deputies over the last two years (Richard, Mike, Sam and Sameena) have displayed remarkable patience with me and have been a tremendous support.
Despite sometimes being at loggerheads over student issues, and the occasional public disagreement, I have managed to maintain cordial relations with most senior College staff. In fact they have often been very supportive when I have been able to articulate a strong student case. To that end I would like to place on record my thanks to Sir Richard Sykes, the Rector, as well Professor Chris Hankin, now a Pro Rector but Dean of City & Guilds College when I was C&G President. Several other senior College staff are mentioned elsewhere but I would also like to thank Heather Allan and her team at ICT, Chris Gosling and his HR staff, and Hameed Khan’s financial accountants for their invaluable assistance this last year.
Finally I ought to thank my friends and family for their endurance. Buried away in College and Union activity I have probably neglected those closest to me over the last two years and I am grateful for their patience in accepting what is important to me.
Final remarks
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Imperial. It’s sad for me to be leaving after so long. You can become very attached to an institution that you’ve put your life and soul into and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to shedding a few tears whilst writing this column. Nevertheless I’m also glad that it is time for me to be moving on to new challenges.
I imagine I might get a party invite to the College (and Union’s) centenary celebrations in 2007, but my involvement is otherwise at an end. It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve as your President for two years but the time has come for me to pass the baton on. I wish the Union, and Imperial as a whole, the very best of luck. Sameena, it’s over to you.
