Student engagement and representation key focuses of discussion
The Central Student Association (CSA) held an All Candidates Forum on March 3 in the University Centre Courtyard to provide an opportunity for candidates to engage with the undergraduate membership.
The structure of the forum allowed candidates to provide an opening statement regarding their qualifications for their potential position before being asked a series of pre-approved questions. For the question and answer period, the candidates were grouped according to the position for which they are running.
The first pair of candidates to speak were Becca Cheskes and Kate Schievink, running for the position of vice president academic. During their opening remarks Cheskes and Schievink focused on finding more space for students on campus, letting students know what the CSA does for undergraduates, making education more affordable, and providing more mental health services for students.
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Every position, except for president, received the same opening question. The vice president candidates were asked, if elected, how they would work in a hierarchal structure where they may disagree with a decision made by the president. The main stance adopted by each candidate was that they would respect the decision made by the president, as long as the final outcome stays in line with the CSA’s core mission and is approved by the board of directors.
The vice president academic candidates were then asked how they hoped to guarantee that classes at the University of Guelph were diverse and taught by a range of professors with unique identities and perspectives.
Schievink stated that “hiring an external body to do an assessment to craft a long-term mission plan,” was her strategy for making sure that students’ voices are heard on this issue.
Cheskes answered that there is a need for those on the executive to listen to “groups and stakeholders on campus” and work with groups that feel that they do not have a voice on campus to advocate for greater representation.
Emily Vance and Jack Wang, the candidates for vice president student experience, highlighted their engagement and experience with student groups on campus. The candidates were then asked about how they would work to ensure that CSA clubs reach their full potential and both responded that they would work closely with clubs and the clubs coordinator to ensure the success of student groups.
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Vance and Wang were then asked how they would improve and add to mental health resources on campus.
Wang said he hopes to promote current services provided on campus and make these services easier to access for students.
Vance highlighted the role of the vice president student experience in planning events for undergraduates, and her plans to “provide training to help students,” including events about self-care, as well as advocating for mental health services.
The three vice president external candidates, Chelsea Mulvale, Devlin Scanlon, and Kayla Weiler, spoke about advocating for greater representation for students and providing all individuals on campus with a voice.
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The main question for the vice president external candidates asked how they intended to work with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Each candidate asserted their commitment to working with CFS and using this collaboration to fight for greater student rights.
The one uncontested position in the CSA executive is the role of president, with Jay Rojas running unopposed.
Rojas emphasized the role of the board of directors in how the CSA is run, noting that the board “represents the values of students” on campus and the exec will answer directly to the board for all decisions made.
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Rojas outlined his hopes to create a “call-in culture instead of a call-out culture,” where criticism is constructive and students will engage with the CSA directly so that both parties can work towards a solution for their concerns.
“I’m ready to be held accountable,” said Rojas.
Following the executive portion of the forum, Vance, who is also the current external affairs commissioner, returned to the stage to discuss the referendum question that is also on the ballot during this election.
The question is concerned with providing free menstrual hygiene products on campus, which will be implemented for the fall 2017 semester and increase student fees by $0.90 if passed.
“Periods suck already; they don’t need to be stigmatized,” said Vance.
The final section of the forum allowed for the candidates running for board of directors positions to tell students about their respective platforms.
Natalie Chow and Raymond Hu are running for Ontario Veterinary College and College of Biological Sciences respectively, while Alexsander Ginko, Jensen Williams, Beth Whan, and Ryan Bowes are all running for College of Social and Applied Human Sciences.
The primary subject of discussion was the importance of engaging with undergraduate students on campus and keeping students informed about CSA board meetings.
Electronic ballots have been dispersed to all undergraduate students and the voting period will conclude on March 8.
Photos by Matteo Cimellaro.