Leah Hennig Candidates for vice-president (student life) (VPSL) came to the Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) forum with their ears open, but their mouths closed. VPSL candidates Brish Goorimoorthee, Nolan Greenwood, Manyu Rathour, and Paige Wall seemed to have more ideas on listening than ideas for immediate action. While listening is an important part of the role of VPSL, there should also be ideas for immediate action. There was simply a lack of ideas that the VPSL candidates brought to the table at this forum. Even though they all desire change, it’s unclear whether it’s possible.
There is a very specific importance that comes along with the ISU forum. Indigenous students on campus face many challenges and difficulties. This forum is meant to reflect how incoming University of Alberta Students’ Union (SU) leaders can make meaningful and impactful change in Indigenous spaces. Most of what the VPSL candidates said during their allotted time was geared toward listening. Though listening and learning are great for the role, VPSL candidates should have come to the forum already having done so.
During the first round of questions, and arguably most important, moderator June Moon asked VPSL candidates how they could ensure genuine relationship building instead of one-time consultations. Goorimoorthee began by noting that he wants to learn more about the going-ons in the ISU. He also showed a desire for increasing accessibility in Indigenous learning. While these are admirable ideas to hold and express, they ultimately lead to no new change. Running for the position of VPSL comes with the notion that the person running cares about what happens on every part of campus. He did acknowledge that he is not aware of everything happening in Indigenous spaces. But, it felt more like he had very little knowledge more than anything.
Following Goorimoorthee, Greenwood seemed to slightly misunderstand the difference between genuine relationship building and just consultation. He started by addressing the need for either tri-, bi-, or weekly meetings with the ISU. On top of that, he wants to ensure that the meeting places work and are more equal for everyone. To wrap up his response he spoke of wanting more ISU and Indigenous-based events on campus to bring people together. However, having consistent meetings and more events does not ensure genuine relationship building. Most of these goals feel like more empty promises.
Rathour began by answering the same question by complimenting himself on his past achievements. Specifically, the achievements made as one of the International Students’ Association (ISA) executives. Rathour chose not to expand, though, on what those accomplishments were. Overall, his answer did not revolve around bringing new ideas of change into the position. Instead, he was simply agreeing with the fact that the role of VPSL should be based on relationship building with the ISU. He made it clear that he has strong ties with the ISU and ISA, but that itself doesn’t bring change. It doesn’t feel like he has any new ideas on how he would increase communication and relationship building.
To end this questioning period, Wall seemed mostly interested in following suit with the previous answers. Maybe slightly differing, she began her answer by stating she wants to put consultation before action. Indigenous students should be a part of conversations that affect them. Wall finished by concluding that she always wants to be there for Indigenous students, wherever she can be. Again, listening and learning are good things to bring to the table, but they shouldn’t be the only things.
Overall, each candidate seemed to be overly repetitive. To address the needs of Indigenous students on campus, all VPSL candidates felt like they were echoing each other. Since all VPSL candidates are non-Indigenous, it makes complete sense that listening is an important part of their goals. That being said, VPSL candidates also seemed not to have any platform for meaningful action for addressing the Indigenous students on campus. They should have been listening and learning before this forum so as to have ideas already set in place.
