The letter provides a strong recommendation for Orielle Gomes for a cluster coordinator position. It details how Orielle has shown great leadership skills in his role on the residence leadership committee, including managing issues, communicating effectively, and working to increase inclusion. The letter also describes Orielle as hardworking, pragmatic, and thoughtful, with a proven ability to handle challenges and organize events. The resident head fully supports Orielle's application for the new role.

1.
7
August
2014
To
whom
it
may
concern
Letter
of
recommendation:
Orielle
Gomes
It
is
my
pleasure
and
privilege
to
write
Orielle
Gomes
a
letter
of
recommendation.
I
have
known
him
for
three
years,
having
met
him
in
my
capacity
as
resident
head
of
Goldfields
residence.
Goldfields
residence
is
the
oldest
mixed-­‐race,
mixed-­‐gender
university
residence,
established
in
1987
at
Stellenbosch
University
and
currently
housing
a
mix
of
170
male
and
female
students.
Although
student-­‐housing
divisions
at
many
campuses
in
South
Africa
only
provide
accommodation
and
basic
services
to
residents,
we
regard
student
living
communities
as
an
integral
part
of
their
total
learning
experience.
As
such
“[w]e
create
inclusive
and
diverse
experiences
for
our
students
to
unleash
their
full
potential”,
quoting
from
the
Institutional
Intent
and
Strategy
(2013-­‐2018).
Within
the
residence,
students
are
grouped
together
in
blocks
of
twelve
to
fifteen
residents
from
all
year
groups
and
different
fields
of
study.
Orielle
was
elected
to
the
residence
leadership
structure
(colloquially
known
as
the
“House
Committee”)
at
the
end
of
2013
by
his
fellow-­‐Goldfielders
and
has
served
this
year
as
the
representative
for
Bastiaan
–
one
of
the
newest
blocks,
housing
fifteen
male
students.
This
required
him
to
relay
information,
facilitate
discussions
and
debate,
build
team
spirit,
manage
risk-­‐and-­‐safety
issues
(including
a
flooded
storage
room)
and
resolve
conflict
within
his
block.
As
a
member
of
the
House
Committee,
Orielle
was
also
assigned
several
important
portfolios
to
manage.
He
was
responsible
for
liaising
with
the
food
provision-­‐,
maintenance,
IT-­‐
and
cleaning
service
providers,
and
for
managing
the
residence’s
website
and
(social)
media
platforms.
It
was
in
this
capacity
that
I
have
seen
Orielle
grow
as
a
leader,
with
creative
insight,
constructive
reasoning

2. and
excellent
communication
skills.
As
liaison
officer
Orielle
managed
to
be
tactful
and
insistent,
following-­‐up
on
complaints
in
a
professional
manner.
I
was
especially
impressed
with
his
succinct
writing
skills.
In
the
House
Committee,
Orielle
has
managed
to
represent
alternative
and
minority
viewpoints
very
well.
He
is
pragmatic
and
savvy
and
understands
the
complexity
of
a
bureaucratic
institution
such
as
the
University,
putting
his
energy
into
policy-­‐writing
(e.g.
for
a
new
placement
“room
point”
system)
in
order
to
affect
long-­‐term
change
with
regard
to
inclusivity
and
transformation
in
the
residence.
He
is
discerning
and
manages
his
time
well,
having
obtained
eleven
distinctions
in
his
Bachelor
of
Arts
in
Socio-­‐informatics
programme
thus
far
(first
semester
of
his
third
year).
I
fully
support
Orielle
in
his
application
for
the
position
of
cluster
coordinator.
To
my
mind
it
will
provide
him
with
a
next
challenge
to
further
his
skills
in
delegation,
chairing
committees
and
organising
specific
events.
What
he
will
infuse
the
position
with,
I
think,
is
pragmatic
efforts
to
enhance
the
sustainability
of
the
cluster
concept(s)
and
to
align
the
efforts
well
with
other
initiatives
as
articulated
in
the
University’s
strategic
documents.
He
will
think
about
what
he
is
doing
and
weigh
it
up
carefully
before
jumping
to
action.
Orielle
has
also
been
involved
on
campus,
initiating
a
new
society
and
ensuring
its
sustainability.
In
terms
of
his
character
I
have
found
him
to
be
honest,
humble
and
good-­‐humoured.
He
has
a
cosmopolitan,
liberated
approach
to
life.
My
best
wishes
accompany
this
letter.
Kind
regards
André
Müller
Head:
Centre
for
Academic
Planning
and
Quality
Assurance
Resident
Head:
Goldfields
Residence