DESA, the Department of English Students’ Association, held an Annual General Meeting last Thursday, 7th May. Students studying English, whether as a main subject, a joint subject, or a subsidiary subject, were encouraged to attend.
Former DESA President Geraldine Sammut welcomed the attendants, and went through all the projects the 2014/15 executive team have done during the last year.
This was followed by a feedback session, where the students present had their chance to point out to DESA the problems they face as students of the English Department. Students from all years gave their opinions, of which DESA took note so that they could be tackled during the next term.
At the end of the AGM, DESA held an election to elect the new executive team for the scholastic year 2015/16.
The DESA executive team now consists of Daniel Cossai and Leon Xuereb as President and Vice-President respectively. Giulia Magri was voted as Events Officer and Julian Francalanza was named as Public Relations Officer. Victoria-Melita Zammit takes her place in the team as an International Officer, and Jeremy Micallef as the Editor of TEXT. Mandy Borg is the 3rd year student representative.
The roles of 2nd year student representative and Communications Officer are still vacant.
Former DESA Executive
Ms Sammut expressed how the former executive team "has gone far in achieving what was originally set out to do’. This was to rediscover and re-establish what DESA is and what it stands for. She said that, "The organisation has a clear focus and direction again, as well as a hopefully stronger tie to its student-body’. Looking at the new DESA executive team, Ms Sammut described them as an "enthusiastic, dedicated team’ who have an opportunity to develop and build on what has been done before.
Mr Cossai praised the former executive team for "laying the foundations for even bigger success for DESA’. Mr Cossai, with his team, wants to "bring DESA closer to the students and to prioritise their suggestions’. He is confident that together with his team, their goals will be reached.