Christina VarvisPresidential Promises
Between a few comedic bouts of heavy microphone static, Students’ Union presidential candidates addressed the concerns of Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ). The forum began on a lighthearted note, with the robotically distorted voice of presidential candidate and current Vice-President (Academic) Fahim Rahman.
“I know I’ve been called a robot before but that’s something else,” Rahman said.
Technical difficulties were sorted out and the presidential candidates identified their priorities in working with CSJ. Rahman spoke of the lack of experiential learning opportunities for CSJ students, as students on main campus are given priority for community service learning opportunities. Rahman said he hopes to create a centralized office for experiential learning, which would improve access for CSJ students.
Cody Bondarchuk spoke of his work this year as VP (Operations and Finance), having made SU awards available in both French and English. If elected as president, his focus would be on domestic and international tuition. He said he didn’t want students to be “held hostage by the university and asked to pay ransom.”
Current VP (External) Dylan Hanwell spoke of his priority in building campus culture, and acknowledged issues that are currently inhibiting the strength of campus culture, such as the inability of residence associations to collect fees. Despite these barriers, he said CSJ is one of the best places at the university for building campus culture.
“More than anything, I think CSJ needs to be looked at as a leader by the SU in those aspects,” Hanwell said.
Audience members asked the three candidates about their different approaches to tuition and academic accessibility. Rahman said he would advocate for introducing a provincial grant system based on the Ontario model. His vision would look like a 50 per cent rebate on tuition for all students and act as an equalizer. Lowering tuition would be a five-year initiative and it’s going to take away from other initiatives, such as work experience and mental health support, Rahman said.
Bondarchuk’s idea regarding tuition was to look at it “as a resource and not a commodity.” He saw a few issues with Ontario’s new policy on “free” tuition for families with income under $50,000, as it doesn’t address challenges that low-income students face in applying to university — working through high school might affect low-income students’ applications, Bondarchuk said.
“It may seem easy to offer grants but you still have to apply for them,” he said.
Hanwell’s approach to tuition would be to lower it, which would help everyone in post-secondary. He’s also advocate for creating grants for low-income students.
“I don’t think for anyone, tuition is affordable,” Hanwell said. “Whether you come from a high-income background, a middle-income background or a low-income background.”
Academic Debate
VP (Academic) candidates argued for them being elected would benefit the French academic community. Marina Banister began by saying she would also work to increase experiential learning opportunities at CSJ.
“So (CSJ students) don’t get left out when (the university) decides who gets to do CSL and who gets to do community learning experience,” Banister said.
Tom Patrick said he would create a framework that would consult with students-at-large and special interest groups, such as CSJ, to guide the SU in its decision-making.
”I don’t know your issues as well as you do,” Patrick said. “But I plan on putting the tools in your hands so we can work on them as soon as possible.”
One audience member pointed out that CSJ students sometimes take longer to complete their degrees because of the lack of course availability that comes from having fewer instructors. To ensure these problems are addressed, Patrick said he’df ensure appropriate conversations and consultations.
Banister explained that decisions what courses are offered and when they are available are made by department and faculty associations. The way to address the problem of limited course options would be addressed by ensuring students can participate in academic governance, she said.
“One of the big problems is that there’s not enough student representation on their department and faculty offices,” Banister said.
Finances en Francais
Candidates in the VP (Operations and Finance) race each pitched why they deserved the CSJ vote, but weren’t challenged by any audience members during question period.
Robyn Paches began by explaining his priority to work on campus security concerns if elected. CSJ and its residence have seen a rise in crime and theft in the past few years. Paches would begin to tackle the problem by sitting on University of Alberta Protective Services’ advisory board to push for an officer stationed at CSJ.
“I have a history in emergency services, and (the situation at CSJ) is ridiculous,” he said.
Candidate Hasan Birer was not present at the CSJ forum, and was spoken for by proxy Parker Ali. Birer would work to increase international and multicultural harmony, as well as set a “term tuition,” which will help international students forecast their costs, Parker said.
Taimur Malik did not mention CSJ specifically, but cited his experience with the SU, his work at a financial institution and his experience as being both an international student and a domestic student. He would work on ensuring students knew what was happening in SU finance.
“A lot of you didn’t know about the (SU fee increase),” Malik said. “A lot of you weren’t consulted. It’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Candidates bring platforms to Campus Saint-Jean in Vice-President (External) race
Only having the chance to give their platform pitches, the three candidates contesting for the Vice President (External) position spent the noon hour on Friday speaking to Campus St-Jean students about their positions.
Patrick Cajina reiterated his position of breaking down the idea that post-secondary education shouldn’t be a debt sentence.
“I think that every student should get the ability to come to university and have a better life than their parents,” Cajina said in French. “Students shouldn’t have to move back into their parents’ basements (when they graduate), it’s time to create positive change.”
Mike Sandare also spoke to the same issues he had brought up at the other forums, with the creation of a predictable funding model for universities and the creation of a grant system for students.
“We have an ad hoc system right now that makes funding unpredictable,” Sandare said. “If we had that predictable funding, we wouldn’t have seen increasing fees like we did last year.”
Reed Larsen used his speaking time to advocate for expanded employment programs for undergrads and recent graduates of the university. Currently, these programs only serve students from Alberta, and Larsen said he wanted to see all students have access to these resources.
“Working (in Alberta) is what makes us want to stay here, it builds a sense of community,” Larsen said.
Campus Saint-Jean security issues take centre stage in VP (Student Life) race
With a sizeable crowd of students taking their lunch break to watch the Campus St-Jean (CSJ) forum, the Vice President (Student Life) candidates focused squarely on problems specific to the French-language campus.
The issues of security at CSJ, as well as it’s perceived separation from North Campus were main talking points on which the VP (Student Life) candidates were questioned. Wang said he would work to translate university resources and documents into French, as well as working with EPS to address crime in the area.
Flaman reiterated his plan to renegotiate a new U-Pass agreement, which he said was key for students needing to get to and from CSJ.
El Ghossein promised to make mental health services are available and accessible to CSJ students.
“I will make sure this campus is not ignored because my heart is here,” El Ghossein told the crowd in French.
Simao also cited his ties to the campus, and said the needs of students in CSJ would not be swept aside.
When asked about the role of Residence Advisors in the CSJ residences going forward, Flaman said though he didn’t currently have much to say, he hoped to bring a listening ear and an outsider’s voice to the issues.
“The people living in residence know best,” Flaman said. “If elected, this is something I would learn with on the fly.”
El Ghossein said that her first order of business was to ensure the RA position still exists in future, past that, she said that an independent collector of residence fees would help smooth the issues.
Simao said that he would advocate teaming up with residence services to ensure the CSJ culture remains intact.
The Gateway “Yes” campaign comments on what it will do for the Fac
The Gateway is campaigning for a “yes” vote to renew its Designated Fee Unit of $3.39 for Fall and Winter semesters, and $0.43 in the Spring and Summer.
After giving her opening comment, the Gateway’s Executive Director Beth Mansell was asked what the paper has done to ensure CSJ was being catered to specifically.
In response, Mansell said that the paper has made more consistent distribution to CSJ a priority, and wants to tell stories from the campus. In addition, Mansell said The Gateway was willing to assist CSJ writers in producing content.”
“We have the resources to help you guys to support you in creating your own publication,” Mansell said. “Even putting more racks out here, we’re willing to work with Campus St-Jean.”
Lone BoG Rep candidate on home turf at CSJ forum
Colin Champagne, President of Association des Universitaire de la Faculté Saint-Jean and now running uncontested for the position of Board of Governors representative, gave his pitch in French to his fellow CSJ students.
“We have to make sure that government is more accessible,” Champagne said. “I want to augment collaboration with the Exec team and define the role of BoG rep.”
