Standing uncontested for the role of Director of Student Development and Activities, Avery Kitchens is virtually guaranteed a spot as a future Sabbatical officer. With over 150 societies to oversee, nearly a dozen subcommittees to supervise, and a post-pandemic campus to control, the job requires a dedicated and inclusive leader. In short, the name “DoDSA” is a name synonymous with community. Therefore it is no surprise that Avery Kitchens’ manifesto supports this idea through a variety of promises. Since collaboration is a key theme in his manifesto, which bleeds into every aspect of student life, we know that Avery looks to the St Andrews community as a whole.

Careers, Societies, and Subcommittees

Increased cooperation between Schools and their corresponding student-run societies is a great way to broaden the spectrum of events related to the School. Many students are eager to become involved in activities related to their field of study, but a significant number come up short with their experience. More funding would lead to more career events, talks, and opportunities for students to explore the fields they will graduate into. Some students, on the other hand, may be interested in fields tangential or even unrelated to their degrees. Bringing in additional speakers for Careers Week is another of Avery’s foci: offering options that are not limited to the University faculties is a great way to introduce emerging, alternative, and otherwise unfamiliar career paths. Broadening career discourse is never a bad thing, and this can be improved greatly with DoSDA/DoED collaboration.

This significant focus on careers in his bid for DoSDA is a very encouraging notion. The Careers Centre’s offers of careers could use a breath of fresh air and new options, especially for people looking for experience in fields based on areas other than economy, investing, and the like. An increase in alumni-based events also helps in forming realistic goals and expectations post-graduation, and lets students look into forming connections in their field, which is a crucial skill in maneuvering the job market. Another plan in the manifesto is boosting CEED’s services. The Centre’s guidance services seem to largely go overlooked (I personally have only vaguely heard of it in my two and a half years here). Increasing the advertisement of CEED through various channels is a great bid to increase the presence of a underused service.

Under Avery Kitchens, we ought to expect more support for the performing arts. Since the closure of the Barron, it is more important than ever to preserve the talent and ambition of our community. Thus existing theatres will be saved from budget cuts and more students will be placed on the Board. Avery will also partner with the University Music Centre to provide more funding and spaces for flourishing musicians. This kind of care and attentiveness to the arts scene will have a massive impact on the future of St Andrews.

A weekly opportunity for societies and student groups to engage in sports is a great way to promote the various sport clubs and get people to try out activities they may not have thought about before. Introducing this permanently is a great way to bridge the gap between the Students’ Association and the Athletic Union – the disconnect between the two can be felt on the organizational level when looking at either body. There is not much connection to the AU when looking at events in the Union, nor does the gym promote SA societies within its space. A deeper connection between the two would promote social bonds in the University, in both society participation and sport availability – something that we will sorely need post-pandemic.

Streamlining Spaces and Events (Post-Pandemic!)

It is not a secret that many of the University’s online resources are somewhat out of date and/or inconvenient to use. The booking of study spaces is a notable issue here, as each building appears to have separate booking websites and it is not always easy to find the correct website in a labyrinth of links. Uniting all of the booking services to a few easy-access links is a great way to incentivize the usage of space and consequently a better learning environment for everyone. It is important to note the addition of the Wardlaw museum as a new bookable space for student-run events – this, paired with the promotion of study spaces in the Union building is a great steppingstone for improvement of work spaces in St Andrews, especially with regards to the main library and its overpopulation during the exam diet (in non-pandemic times, of course). Conversely, increasing the number of power outlets in Main Bar and the Rector’s café will increase the number of people studying in these spaces. Not only does this decentralize the strained Library spaces as previously mentioned, but it would also lead to more food and drink purchases in the Union. This money then goes to Union funding and will lead to even more general improvement with time.

While the Fayres at the beginning of each semester are packed with useful information and opportunities for the student body to get involved with societies and organisations. the crowded and chaotic environment of students aimlessly circulating the Union building indirectly cuts off access for a percentage of them. Avery’s plan is to optimize the numbering convention of the tables at the Fayre, as to make navigation easier. Decongesting the reception and stairs would allow for more space, which will also lead to students taking more time to inspect everything offered at the Fayre instead of rushing out after shoving their way to the tables of interest. Improving guidance in and out of the building at this time would also help with encouraging of students to take their time at the event without feeling like they are holding up others. In the event of the Fayres not occurring in person in the next academic year, there are also plans for online collaboration to optimize the event over online channels. Increasing access to events in this manner is key for extending resource availability for everyone. Moreover, subcommittees have access to several documents outlining accommodating everyone for events, but these are not consolidated; combining them all into a single, definitive guide is another point on the manifesto which would ease and clarify event planning.

Many of Avery’s other promises will unify St Andrews once COVID-19 restrictions are eased. The Can Do project was a decisive move during the pandemic as students expressed a need for more risk-free study spaces. Even with restrictions easing and normalcy on the horizon, Can Do should be adjusted and moulded to provide event space. Maintaining this project will allow for event consistency as we transition back into in-person events and spaces and will allow for a better student experience in the transitory period back to regular everyday life.

The overwhelming detail in Avery’s manifesto is definitely encouraging. These undertakings are thoughtful and innovative, guaranteed to impact every student for years to come. The only “Florida Man” we’d want for the job, Avery Kitchens promises better funding, better student representation, and a far more inclusive St Andrews.