New BDS, BDA & BDE: Audencia's community life is changing course through future student mandates!

As February draws to a close, it marks the end of the association campaigns for Audencia's Grande Ecole program. After weeks of intense campaigning, during which each list asserted its status as the ideal candidate for the next Student Office (BDE), Sports Office (BDS) and Arts Office (BDA), the official designation has been made: Sport'Atlas as the new BDS, Dionys'Art as the new BDA and Captains as the new BDE, all of which will begin their terms of office in the coming weeks. On this occasion, their three presidents take the floor to highlight the associative life of the School as well as the reasons that led them to get involved.

• First of all, congratulations to all 3 of you on your new status! Why did you choose to get involved?

Lilou Pistone, president of the BDS “Sport'Atlas”: Clearly, when I arrived at Audencia, it was not my number one desire to “list”. And then, when it came to the lecture halls and the presentations of the associations and the highlights, especially on video... that's when my desire to get involved was born. Beyond the obvious social aspect of creating an incredible group of friends, I learned a lot in terms of key skills for my professional future: budget management, management, etc. By being directly in the field, in contact with real situations, you learn a lot very quickly.

Clara Menu – president of the BDA “Dionys'Art”: Coming from a literary preparatory course, I was immediately drawn to the school's “Cultural” profile. The atmosphere within the graduating class reinforced my desire to get involved. The people I met there really allowed me to develop, both in the School and personally, from an extracurricular point of view. My involvement in associations allowed me to grow a lot, especially given my background, which is less linked to a business school.

Constantin Varin – President of the BDE “Captains”: My involvement in a list is the logical continuation of my involvement over many years, whether in high school, in prep school, etc. When I arrived at Audencia, I quickly wanted to put my skills to good use in cross-functional events as the BDE allows. Over the months, we have really built a family spirit and that is what I wanted when I arrived. I am very proud of it.

• What is your vision for your future term of office?

Constantin: We really want to offer things that have never been seen before. We are going to work in depth on the environment of certain events, whether it be the scenery or the music. Finally, one of our priorities is to strengthen small group parties but also inter-promo parties: we know that this format helps to create bonds. The BDE also has the vocation of allowing everyone to take full advantage of student life.

Lilou: We have a lot of projects, including the development of the Grand Ouest Tournament. We would also like to innovate by setting up a new event on our campus, namely a laser game on the premises. Finally, we would like to help promote certain sports clubs that exist but are not necessarily highlighted. I am thinking of the athletics club in particular.

Clara: During our term of office, we would really like to offer much more affordable events. The idea is to democratize and make some of our flagship events, such as the COMU, more visible. With this in mind, we would like to organize a new cultural festival at the beginning of the year, to make students want to get involved.

• What is your vision of community life at Audencia?

Constantin: By the time of the oral admissions, I had already felt the richness of this community life! It is a real strength for Audencia, a real plus!

Lilou: As soon as we arrive at Audencia, we are immersed in this community life with the emphasis, during the weeks at the beginning of the academic year, on everything that we can do. The events organized by the BDE clearly reinforce this dynamic around student life. It helps us integrate quickly! It's a real counterpart to the academic dimension.

Clara: Without wanting to praise the School too much, I didn't expect student life to be so rich and substantial when I joined Audencia. We all talk a lot with our friends who have sometimes joined other top 10 schools, and we realize that Audencia really offers a very diverse range of activities, with the campaigns as the highlight. We really create memories of a lifetime that unite the class.

• A few words to encourage students to get involved in the school's community life?

Clara: We are surrounded by people who are more or less introverted, and I am the first one! At the beginning, I really pushed myself to get involved in associations. And now, looking back, I would do it again without any hesitation! With the different offices and associations, there is something for everyone, for all tastes, and that's what's really great!

Constantin: All aspects of life represent something unique, something you only get to experience once in a lifetime. I've already discussed this with my mother. She regrets not having had the opportunity to benefit from a setting like this during her studies. We are still protected from the professional world: people should take advantage of it and try the experience.

Lilou: I'm going to repeat the advice I was given when I was leaving prep school: Go for it, you've got nothing to lose! On the contrary, you've got everything to gain!

Find out more about community life at Audencia