BUSU Candidates Take to the Bear Pit
March 1st saw candidates running in this week’s BUSU elections taking the microphone and announcing their platforms to whoever happened to be in the mingling area. Six candidates for six BUSU positions spoke at the Bear Pit, explaining their past positions and accomplishments, as well as the ideas they hope to take to BUSU council if elected.
Jade Visser, former Residence Commissioner, current VP Student Activities, and the sole candidate for BUSU President this year, focused on two issues: her experience with northern outreach programs, and SUDS. She said that she hopes to have council more involved with off-campus and distant students, ensuring that they also get proper representation. As for SUDS, she said that she would work to have the bar reopen in the fall, but with ‘a vision’, and with the additional resources (for example, the BU Business department) to keep the bar maintained and profitable.
Other issues that Visser mentioned would be a priority included the food card expansion (which will be put to a vote during the election, and she said they would try to finalize by the summer), international students, the stalled KDC expansion plans, childcare, and events at BU. Visser said she hopes to best represent what students want, and will be looking for input from the students themselves.
Ashley Lemon, running for VP External, said that she hopes to get students more involved. She hopes to work with older students, as well as younger students. Among her ideas is to campaign more often with campus groups like WUSC, the LGBTTQ*, international students, and the Women’s Collective.
The other candidate for VP External, Chris Desormeau, was not able to attend Bear Pit due to an engagement in Ottawa. Those looking for information about his campaign should visit the “Vote Chris for BUSU VP External” group on Facebook.
Laura Balanko, who has been with BUSU for three years and is currently VP Academic, will be running for VP Internal. As a student representative of the Board of Governors and Student Senate, she will focus on advocating for student rights, and affordable education. She hopes to expand the tutor and book registry, and will also assist in bringing back SUDS ‘with a vision and a goal’.
Running for the Arts Commissioners is Shannon Skidmore. Finally, Leandra Williams and Sarah Hallikas are both running for Music Commissioner. Skidmore, new to BUSU, commented that she wants to bring her experience working and volunteering on campus to the Commissioner position, and wants to make the Arts Commissioner known and accessible to students. Williams, who has been Music Senator for BUSU and the Student Caucus previously, expressed the enthusiasm she would bring to the position of Music Commissioner, and also complimented her opponent for the position, Sarah Hallikus, who was not present at the Bear Pit.
Also present were repsentatives of WUSC, who commented on their proposal for an increase in the WUSC fee from $4.19 per student to $10. With 100% of the fee going towards the student refugee program, they say they will be able to bring students to BU per year, noting that the current yearly rate has 60 students across Canada being sponsored out of 200 interviewed.
