Q&A with AUSA president Gabriel Boyd

How did you come to study at the University?

I’m born and raised in America, but my dad is from New Zealand. The schools I was looking at attending in America were out of my price range, even with scholarships. So, in January 2021, I got through the Covid barrier with my New Zealand passport, and I’ve been here ever since, just absolutely loving it.

What are you studying?

I’ve changed my degree about 27 times, but I’ve settled on politics, psychology and conjoining that with communications. I’ve got three classes to go, then I’m hoping to do postgraduate study in psychology.

What motivated you to run for the AUSA presidency?

In my third year I studied abroad for a semester at the University of Virginia. I got that ‘university experience’ of going to sports games where everyone’s wearing the merch, and students were not just showing up in person for lectures but enjoying being there. There was a real sense that people were proud of the school they were going to.

When I came back here, though, I was aware that you don’t see that same sense of pride in the student body. But there’s no reason not to be proud of the University of Auckland. It’s ranked 65th globally, obviously top in New Zealand, so this notion that people are just going here because they’re local is preposterous. There are so many international students who come here because of this University’s incredible reputation.

So, I was thinking and talking about all this when one of my good friends, Jade Butler, who was last year’s engagement vice-president of the AUSA, said, ‘you should check out running for president’. So, I did, and here we are.

How do you plan to inject more of that ‘university experience’ here?

From day one, I enacted an open-door policy at AUSA to make it more welcoming. I’ve also opened new social media channels where I talk directly to the student body about what we’re doing as an association to enhance their experience.

A big part of my campaign was bringing live music to campus, particularly student bands. We brought some into O’Week, which was exciting, because that not only gives them a platform, but they’re bringing their friends along. We’re also trying to implement some live music at Shadows.

Engaging with the clubs we have on campus in a deeper way and bringing them together for the different themed weeks that we have throughout the year is another focus.

And then I’ve just been staying front and centre, advertising AUSA and what we do wherever I can. As a representative of the student body, I’m going to different University of Auckland events, trying to get the crowd into it and setting that precedent.

How do you explain what AUSA is about to new students?

AUSA has three core pillars. The first is student experience, which is what we’ve been talking about and what I’m bullish about improving.

Second is student voice. That’s representing the collective student body to the media, government, the vice-chancellor and other relevant stakeholders. That’s a two-fold process: taking in feedback from our faculty representatives in the student council, as well as through class reps and students coming into the AUSA office and giving us feedback; and then making sure those voices are heard. That’s fighting for what students want, whether that’s lobbying for more affordable public transport, or other services that would benefit student life on campus.

Third is student support. We have a welfare representative on our team who spearheads a lot of that, but we also have advisory services that are entirely independent of the University and completely confidential.

It sounds busy. What does your typical day look like?

It starts at the gym, where I get in a workout from 7–9am, which I need for my focus.

Then from 9am I’m at the AUSA office, sorting emails, and attending meetings, including for committees that I’m a part of. That’s the bulk of my day.
One of the coolest parts about being AUSA president is leading a team in your vision. So, you need to set good goals and have a clear direction.

– Caitlin Sykes