Former SU President Ben reignites great memories back on campus
16 December 2014
A former Students’ Union President, and creator of Fly FM, returned to the city campus recently for a nostalgic tour.
Apart from a brief walk around town in 2002 as part of a stag weekend, Ben Morrison (BA Hons Contemporary Arts 1995) had not been back to campus since 1997.
He said: “As I turned 40, my urge to visit was a mixture of personal nostalgia, being contacted by Fly FM for its 18th anniversary, and wanting to see the new Students’ Union building. It was the best use of a day off work in ages!”
It was a real trip down memory lane for Ben and his friend Harj Bhachu (BA Business and Quality Management 1996) - a fellow Students’ Union Executive Officer. They admired the many changes to the University estate, one of which was the new, completely redeveloped, Students’ Union site where Ben used to work.
He said: “I have so many memories from my time as President, but the overriding memory was helping to create a real sense of pride in the SU, the University and the city. I spent two years bringing people into the union and getting them involved in activities such as clubs and societies, working at the bar, engaging in national student issues, developing Varsity, and of course the brilliant Shipwrecked nights at the SUB and Clifton Arena.”
It was also Ben who had the original idea for student radio station, Fly FM. He said: “They recently asked me to tell the story of how Kick FM (now Fly FM) was created for its 18th anniversary. I'm so proud that something I thought of and helped to create is still benefiting those listening and those involved all these years later.”
Ben sees being voted President out of 22,000 students, and then re-elected, as one of his personal highlights. He now works in philanthropy and fundraising, connecting people with causes they are passionate about and enabling them to make a real impact. He said: “If I hadn't been SU President and taken two years out, I'm not sure where I would be, but that time really helped to shape my communication skills. Standing on a box in the bar asking people to vote for me is not really that different to asking for a donation for a cause.”
If, like Ben, you would like a tour of campus, or help organising a reunion, please contact the Alumni Association. Ben recommends it: “Being 40 has made me reflect back on what I have done and what I'd like to do in the future. I encourage you to visit campus to reignite some great memories, and to use it as a platform for things to come.”