Executive commissioners were announced and the referendum passed
The CSA by-election concluded on Oct. 8 and the unofficial results were released later that evening. The by-election was successful in surpassing quorum, which has not been achieved since 1976.
Emily Vance has been elected as the new external affairs commissioner with 2249 votes in favour, 1645 votes in favour of her opponent Amber Sherwood-Robinson, and 952 declining. In a statement to The Ontarion, Vance talked about her experience during the campaign and the final results of the election.
“Campaigning was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences I have ever had. Putting myself out there like that was very intimidating, but I knew that I needed to go out of my comfort zone and take the risk in order to initiate the change I wanted to see in our campus and grow as a person. I love finding new ways to challenge myself and I believe that this campaign and the external affairs commissioner position was the perfect way for me to do it. No matter what the results were, I would have been happy that I took the chance.”
“…for the first time since 1976, a fall by-election met quorum.”
Vance continued by thanking those who supported her during the campaign, “I, of course, would not have been able to do any of it without my amazing team and supporters. This campaign really highlighted how many amazing people I have in my life, and I am very grateful for them.”
Vance concluded by saying, “As the external affairs commissioner elect, I will make sure that I continue to earn every vote that I received and will work towards my goals of creating inclusive campus spaces on campus for underrepresented groups. I am excited to speak with all of our student groups, to learn what those spaces will look like, and to be a representative for the student voice. I will not take this opportunity for granted, and I will give it the attention and hard work that it requires and that our campus deserves.”
As the sole nominee for the position, Jay Rojas has been elected as the new local affairs commissioner with 3737 in favour of his appointment, 282 against, and 827 votes to decline.
Rojas, in a statement to The Ontarion, discussed both the election and his plans for the future as the local affairs commissioner.
“The question of whether to increase funding to the Foodbank … was passed with 4124 votes in favour…”
“This campaign season was such a humbling moment. That regardless of my fears, faults, and failures, I had the love and support of my friends and family throughout the whole endeavour. Through social media, Campaign Walks, and Classroom Talks, we had in mind to inspire and engage 40 per cent of the student population to vote. While we didn’t get to that goal, we still managed to make history. In that, for the first time since 1976, a fall by-election met quorum.” Rojas echoed Vance’s commitment to giving student a voice. “As a local affairs commissioner, my role is to be the mediator between the students and the City of Guelph, as well as between the students and the University of Guelph. More specifically, to ensure that students are aware of their tenant rights, Guelph Transit concerns, municipal issues, and much more. Which is why, during the campaign, our immediate challenge was accurate representation and student engagement.”
As the only candidate for the CSA board of the directors, Nicholas Kowaleski has been elected as the representative for the College of Biological Science.
Aside from the election of student representatives, the fall by-election posed a referendum question to the undergraduate students at the University of Guelph concerning funding for the Guelph Student Foodbank. The question of whether to increase funding to the Foodbank, and thereby increase student fees for all undergraduate students by $0.52, was passed with 4124 votes in favour, 588 against, and 131 choosing to decline.
The results, as they have been posted by the CSA, are still unofficial until they can be ratified at the next CSA board of directors meeting on October 20.
Photo by Mariah Bridgeman/The Ontarion.