Student Representative Positions at Tertiary Institutions

Class Representative elected unanimously by Students for Global English Literature and Film Class

University of the Witwatersrand

Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry

February 2009 – November 2009 (10 months)

The University of the Witwatersrand desired to have a class representative to interface with on matters of concern and asked students to elect one. I was elected unanimously by several hundred students present. I was elected to this esteemed position by students in the First Year Global English Literature and Film class. My task was as liaison between the students and the applicable department of the university's staff. I furthermore was tasked by the university with the responsibility to remain aware of any changes in venue and of the curriculum and any matters which might arise which could be of concern, or affect the welfare of the students enrolled in the course, I would then be required to assist the other students with these and other matters of concern. I fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability, and believe I was effective as Class Representative.

Class Representative elected unanimously by Students for Contract Law Class

University of the Witwatersrand

Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry

July 2010 – November 2010 (5 months)

During the currency of my 2nd year 2nd Semester at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Contract Law lecturer asked for the election of a class representative to represent our class's concerns as she succeeded our first semester contract law lecturer, half way through the year. I was readily elected. I interfaced regularly with the lecturer and my suggestions were generally followed, and the class concerns were relayed.

Temporary Class Representative for all learners at the day school plenary class.

LEAD: Legal Education and Development (Auckland Park) [Law Society Day School]

January 2014 – January 2014 (1 month) Auckland Park, Johannesburg

The lecturer for criminal court practice asked if we had a class representative. While the students at the school said I was the class representative for all the students in the day school: I stated that I had not been elected as such in any official capacity. The lecturer asked if students wanted a class representative, most shouted they wanted me to be so. One student said they would like their friend to be representative instead, so I requested we have a vote in case there be any dispute or hard feelings. The lecturer put one of the students, a man named Brendan in charge of the election, and three candidates including myself were nominated and seconded. One candidate got 6 votes (10 % of the students), and another got about 10 votes, however, the plurality of students by show of hands, again decided that I should be class representative, confirming the vote by voice earlier.

When I brought the first major student issue to the attention of the director, she stated that the LEAD program did not have student representatives elected by majority, but rather selected from among the group leaders from groups which were to be created for groupwork. The group I was in chose another student as their group leader, and the group leaders and LEAD staff chose a class representative from among these in accordance with their procedures and informed us of those they had selected to fill class representative and deputy class representative from among these group leaders.

My role thus had ceased to exist.