SSMU Elections 2013-14

SSMU ELECTIONS Special Insert President

VP Clubs & Services

Chris Bangs

Stefan Fong

Katie Larson

VP Finance & Operations

VP Internal

Tyler Hofmeister

Brian Farnan

Thomas Kim

Julia Kryluk

VP External

VP University Affairs

Samuel Harris

Sam Gregory Joey Shea

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SSMU Special Insert

Choose wisely

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nother year, another round of SSMU elections. Electing a new SSMU executive makes a statement about what we hope SSMU will be and accomplish in the coming year. Students need an increasingly mobilized and politicized executive, prepared to take on the challenges of an unreasonable administration and an increasingly political environment, both on campus and off. We expect the SSMU executive to have strong stances for which they will fight, tooth and nail. We’re disappointed by the increasingly anodyne presence of SSMU – organizing campus events is all well and good, but at the end of the day, what students really need is competent representation.

This year, there are only ten people running for the six influential, full-time, paid executive positions.

Many would-be candidates dropped out after committing to run, raising questions about a lack of interest in SSMU positions and a lack of preparedness on the part of those who do agree to run.

The Daily would like to remind our readers that the option for a ‘No’ vote for a position is available, and choosing this does not mean the position will be vacant, but that current executives have another chance to find qualified and well-prepared successors.

—The McGill Daily Editorial Board

SSMU candidate debate addresses relationships with the administration Lease negotiations cited as financial obstacle to student-run cafe Juan Camilo Velásquez and Dana Wray The McGill Daily

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n Wednesday evening, the 20132014 SSMU executive candidates fielded questions from both current SSMU executives and audience members at an annual debate.

VP External The debate kicked off with Samuel Harris, who is running uncontested for the position of VP External. He addressed the topics of La Table de concertation étudiante du Québec (TaCEQ), community relations with the MiltonParc community, and current campaigns under the position, such as SSMU’s mandate to push for divestment from fossil fuels.

Harris stated that he was committed to ensuring that both TaCEQ and community relations stayed central to the position. “I want to bridge gaps between McGill and the greater society of Montreal and Quebec,” Harris said.

VP Finances and Operations Candidates Tyler Hofmeister and Thomas Kim answered questions about the feasibility of a student-run cafe and problems with the accessibility of funding for students.

Although Kim and Hofmeister were both in favour of a student-run cafe and its potential as a place of learning for students, both were hesitant to discuss its immediate feasibility. The two candidates cited the lease negotiations still underway as a major financial obstacle.

While they agreed on the need to help students access funds more easily, Kim and Hofmeister disagreed on how the funding committee should be reformed.

Hofmeister believed that the absence of

clear and updated documents was a major barrier to accessible funding. In contrast, Kim said that a lack of engagement on the VP Finances and Operations’ part was to blame.

VP Clubs & Services After two other candidates dropped out, Stefan Fong remains the only candidate for VP Clubs & Services. Current VP Clubs & Services Allison Cooper asked how Fong would integrate words like sustainability, space, and equity into the portfolio.

Fong praised the space campaign as a “great initiative,” and promised to continue efforts next year. He also supported existence referenda for clubs, saying, “while it would be bad for a service to be shut down, it is a good option.”

VP University Affairs As the portfolio most directly involved with the administration, candidates Samuel Harris and Joey Shea both proposed slightly different methods of relating to the administration next year.

“We have seen the students against the administration. We need to bring the relationship back together, and realize we are part of the same community,” Gregory said.

Shea disagreed with this approach, arguing that the portfolio was to act as a liaison between the administration and the students, who should remain a distinct group.

In response to an audience question about upholding the administration to divest from fossil fuels, both candidates were hesitant, and emphasized long-term solutions. “We are being too optimistic,” Gregory said.

VP Internal Brian Farnan and Julia Kryluk talked about reforms to Orientation Week and integrating

equity in the events planned the VP Internal.

Kryluk mentioned her desire to plan a SSMU Frosh that caters to students who do not drink.

“I really want to forge something extra special next year having an all-ages SSMUrun Frosh, that would run as the same time as faculty Frosh,” said Kryluk.

Farnan, however, said that after shadowing the current VP Internal Michael Szpejda he does not believe drastic changes in the Orientation Week structure are needed.

“A lot of the events are set in stone, so I’m not gonna pretend to promise that I can change that [...] To try and change drastically, that has already been a year-long process,” said Farnan.

Farnan also commented that when integrating equity, SSMU should “stop reacting, and start planning,” citing the blackface incident at 4Floors in November 2012.

Kryluk also referred to the incident and expressed her belief in researching events that have had equity complains in the past to work with the Equity Committee in order to move forward and avoid making the same mistakes.

President Both Chris Bangs and Katie Larson depicted the portfolio’s relationship with the administration as an uphill battle, but expressed cautious optimism at the chance to establish a new line of communication with the new principal, Suzanne Fortier.

Larson stated that “at the end of the day, with things like budget cuts [...] we play this weird dance with McGill where sometimes we want to do things but they always have the opportunity to pull the rug from under us.”

Bangs responded by saying: “McGill

— Candidate photos taken by Hera Chan and Robert Smith —

often offers student politicians a choice of a not great option or an even worse option. I think we have to flip the table and tell them ‘here’s a good option and here’s another good option for students’.”

“I think it’s very disturbing that you said that McGill can pull the rug from under us but that we should just work with them very nicely,” he added.

Larson also responded to Bangs’ comment and said that, “It’s a reality of a thing, you can’t just ignore it and say you can’t say that McGill can’t screw us over. They can.”

Current SSMU President Josh Redel asked candidates what their first step would be if they were to start lease negotiations right away. When addressing one of the most contentious issues for SSMU, Bangs took a much more hardline stance than Larson.

“What I would do first is go to a print shop and get four or five big banners, think [of a smart slogan] about the lease and put it up on the SSMU building. I’d publicly say, it’s not okay for McGill to choose James admin over clubs, lawyers fees over student services,” Bangs said.

“Then I would send an email to all the members telling them what’s going on. I’d start building from a base of disclosure and power,” he added.

Larson answered Redel’s question by saying that “[the negotiation] is a communication thing, and that McGill realistically, they are not gonna kick us off campus, if they did, it would really be a disaster. However, that doesn’t mean you can just sit there and not make the lease happen.”

When asked about Senators trying to protect their faculties from budget cuts, Larson conceded that most faculties at McGill had their own interests in mind.

Bangs, however, disagreed with the idea of students “at each others’ throats.”

March 18, 2013 | The McGill Daily

PRESIDENT SSMU President is the only undergraduate representative on the Board of Governors, is a member of Senate Caucus, and coordinates negotiations with the administration. The President also oversees Elections SSMU, coordinates the SSMU Handbook, and assists with Human Resources in the SSMU office, among other tasks.

Chris Bangs

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hris Bangs approaches the presidency with extensive plans to improve SSMU, both as it relates to student involvement and to the university. With a focus on equity, sustainability, and participation, Bangs’ platform brings several concrete suggestions to the table. As an Honours Economics, Political Science, and Urban Systems student, Bangs has spent the past year as SSMU Political Campaigns Coordinator. In this position, he effectively brought a wide range of legislation to SSMU Council, including everything from motions regarding tuition to harmful military research at McGill.

Bangs’ political involvement goes way beyond SSMU: spearheading the recent Divest McGill campaign, as well as supporting previous social and environmental justice initiatives, Bangs is familiar with all facets of McGill bureaucracy. After riot police entered

campus on November 10, 2011, Bangs worked with current SSMU VP Clubs & Services Allison Cooper, among others, to carry out the independent student inquiry to ensure students were effectively represented in the administration’s agenda.

In light of severely under-attended GAs this year, Bangs hopes to create two part-time student staff positions to ensure that student and interest groups take advantage of these democratic forums. Bangs has proposed a SSMU mental health fund with a fee of $0.13 per semester, which would support campus initiatives surrounding mental health as per student interest; some examples include student research, conferences, or awareness campaigns. Bangs also plans to undertake a tuition and fee review to ensure that McGill does not overcharge students, and complies with legal regulations.

Katie Larson

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U3 Music student, Larson has been a student politician at McGill for the past three years. Having served as both VP External and President of the Music Undergraduate Students’ Association, Larson spent this year as the Music Representative on SSMU Council. Larson has worked under all six of the SSMU Executive portfolios and served as a SSMU Frosh coordinator.

Larson’s conciliatory approach to the administration is informed by her stance that “personal political leanings have no precedence when one is in a representative role.” Accordingly, while Larson’s platform includes strengthening communication between undergraduate groups and the broader McGill community, she does not aim to significantly change the current

General Assembly structure or SSMU’s current relationship with the administration.

Instead, Larson plans to hold consultative President’s Round Table discussions. Larson sees SSMU’s main role as a support for student clubs and services. As such, her platform focuses mostly on internal issues without taking a stance on broader issues, such as sustainability or tuition.

Like Bangs, Larson has stressed the importance of supporting health initiatives.

Larson has not stated the tangible form that changes would take other than discussions during campaigns, consultation fairs, and summits. Larson also wants to reform the SSMU Executives’ positions by better defining job portfolios, an idea that was brought forth and executed by last year’s executive.

Endorsement: Chris Bangs

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he Daily endorses Chris Bangs for SSMU President 2013-14. While Larson has a strong background of experience on SSMU and faculty councils, she hasn’t used these positions to effectively advocate for students. Bangs, in a myriad of ways, has used channels on campus to promote and fight for initiatives to better campus and student life.

Bangs is familiar with both SSMU Council and executive portfolios, and his frequent attendance at both SSMU and faculty councils shows a deep commitment to student issues.

Bangs’ platform also has more concrete steps and original ideas for his presidency.

SSMU President is the only undergraduate representative to the Board of Governors (BoG); Bangs has shown familiarity with the role and history of BoG’s decisions, and wouldn’t be afraid to extend his advocacy to the highest levels of decisionmaking.

The last few years have revealed a frightening attitude on the part of the McGill administration regarding SSMU. The loss of the use of the McGill name for student

clubs and groups, the failure to listen to student (and alumni) voices, and the incredibly drawn-out lease negotiations – which will undoubtedly involve an increase in the rent that SSMU pays to McGill – are blows that recent SSMU executives have suffered at the hands of the University. Larson’s conciliatory approach and failure to take strong stances against these types of administrative decisions will translate into a dangerously weak executive and further loss of SSMU and student autonomy in years to come.

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SSMU Special Insert

VP CLUBS & SERVICES The VP Clubs & Services is charged with representing, supporting, and coordinating between all of the clubs and services under SSMU. They are the building manager for the Shatner building, which includes booking rooms for groups, and coordinating with staff, such as Activities Night organizers and the Interest Group Coordinator.

Stefan Fong

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or the past two years, Fong has been deeply involved in the Musician’s Collective, a SSMU service that connects student musicians with a variety of resources, such as instrument loans, lessons, and practice spaces. Within the group, he’s served a variety of roles – in his first year, he was VP External, eventually adding the responsibility of VP Finance to his position, and this year, he claims that he’s served as President. Through this capacity, he’s become familiar with the Clubs & Services portfolio, and understands the processes of club funding and audits. Still, his experience working directly in SSMU and with Council is limited.

His platform focuses primarily on being a support system and resource for SSMU’s many student groups, but he also hopes to build on his predecessor Allison Cooper’s work in rethinking the building space. He cites her “space campaign” – a plan soliciting student suggestions on how the

Shatner building should be used – as an initiative he’d like to continue, pointing specifically to the space left behind by the Voyages Campus travel agency as a location where students should have a voice in deciding the future of the space. Finally, he hopes to work closely with the Environment Committee to improve the building’s sustainability and energy efficiency, citing the outdated H-VAC system as a particularly egregious waste of power he’d like to see improved.

As for the controversial SSMU building lease negotiations (now ongoing for several years) he takes a conciliatory stance, and says he hopes the lease is signed very soon, with the caveat that environmental concerns are incorporated into the agreement. His approach to the administration is a friendly one, though he points to their apparent attempt to “distance themselves” from the student body as troubling and something he is prepared to combat.

Endorsement: ‘No’ vote

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he Daily endorses a ‘No’ vote for Stefan Fong as VP Clubs and Services. The Clubs & Services portfolio has the most direct impact on students and student life, so an intimate familiarity with the wide array of

clubs and services funded by SSMU is essential. Unlike his three predecessors – Allison Cooper, Carol Fraser, and Anushay Khan – Fong has a distinct lack of experience within the Clubs & Services portfolio. His somewhat

conciliatory approach to the administration is also cause for concern – we need a representative who will stand up to administrators during lease negotiations and safeguard our use and shared ownersship hip of the McGill name.

VP EXTERNAL The VP External represents the members of SSMU in the wider community. They are in charge of keeping us aware of larger campaigns to improve post-secondary education and in communication with other institutions, maintain relations with McGill’s labour unions, and lobby relevant governments to further the interests of SSMU.

Samuel Harris

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amuel Harris, the only candidate in this year’s VP External race, makes his bid for the position with a year of experience in the SSMU External Affairs committee under his belt. Having spent time shadowing Robin Reid-Fraser, the current VP External, he’s attended TaCEQ (Table de concertation étudiante du Québec, a student federation to which SSMU belongs) meetings and closely observed the external portfolio.

Harris’ platform focuses on building bridges between SSMU and the wider Montreal and Quebec communities, using initiatives such as an improved Intro to Quebec week – currently a week-long series

of speakers and events – engaging students with municipal elections, and giving them opportunities to exchange ideas with other Montreal universities while brushing up on their French language skills. He also hopes to strengthen ties with the Milton-Parc community by institutionalizing the Community Ambassadors project, and to increase the visibility of TaCEQ on campus.

Harris supports Divest McGill (which falls into the campaigns portfolio of External), condemns the PQ’s plans for tuition indexation, and appears to be ready to get tough with the administration if need be.

Endorsement: Samuel Harris

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he Daily endorses Samuel Harris for VP External. Harris’ commitment to connecting students with the greater Montreal community, with other universities, and with Quebec culture is something we’d like to see followed through – his plan

of action leads us to believe it actually will be. Furthermore, Harris has spoken out against plans for tuition increases or indexation, a position that is in line with SSMU’s mandate to fight for accessible education.

Our only caveat concerns his desire to

increase the visibility of TaCEQ, a largely ineffectual student federation on campus. Harris, a native Montrealer with a good grasp of the world of Quebec post-secondary education, should be advised to get McGill students a voice where they may actually be heard.

March 18, 2013 | The McGill Daily

VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS The VP Finance and Operations manages SSMU’s budget and overall financial health. They oversee and coordinate between a number of funding committees, including the Financial Ethics Review Committee, and are responsible for the operations of Gerts and SSMU Minicourses, among other projects.

Tyler Hofmeister

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yler Hofmeister comes at his run for VP Finance with campus leadership and finance experience. As a co-chair of this year’s Management Carnival, he created and managed a budget of more than $100,000. As chief of staff for the Management faculty frosh, he oversaw a staff of 32 people.

Other campus experience includes a position as a committee director for the McMUN Model United Nations conference. In preparation for his run, he shadowed the current VP Finance, learning the basics of club budgets and audits, and meeting with the comptroller, the head of accounting for SSMU. His platform includes a strong commitment to getting the student-run cafe plans in motion – pending lease negotiations and other such road blocks, he believes renovations could

begin as early as next summer. He hopes to open up and clarify SSMU financial operations to clubs and students alike, issuing easy-toread financial reports and clearer instructions for applying for funding. In addition, he hopes to establish an engagement fund, similar to the equity fund currently being discussed; it will fund student projects to build community on campus. Another of Hofmeister’s projects is to create a database of suppliers so groups and clubs can easily assess information on which companies are the most ethical and affordable when purchasing goods.

He hopes to see the lease negotiations resolved as soon as possible, and believes that remaining open to the administration and engaged with their perspective is the best way to work with them.

Thomas Kim

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homas Kim’s experience is primarily off-campus, and is situated more in the realms of brand management and event planning than finance or accounting.

Still, he maintains this will not impact his ability to effectively manage the approximately one million dollar portfolio of the VP Finance position. He places emphasis on his ability to communicate effectively and act as a liaison between clubs, services, and students so that they understand how to access funding.

By reaching out to alumni for donations, and working toward the incorporation of the SSMU as a “charitable trust” which is able to issue tax receipts, Kim hopes to focus on

Endorsement: Tyler Hofmeister

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SMU has repeatedly spoken about its tight finances, rendered even more shaky by the potential fallout following the lease negotiations and higher rent with the University. The Daily endorses Tyler Hofmeister due to his experience managing money and leading a team. VP Finance is not a position that requires intense political involve-

ment or extensive communication with the administration, offsetting Hofmeister’s disappointingly conciliatory approach to lease negotiations. Rather, the position requires financial competence and trustworthiness. For all of his suggestions, Kim does not inspire confidence in his ability to ensure the viability of SSMU’s financial status.

short and long-term SSMU financial stability – looking in particular to ease the budgetcrunch created by lease negotiations. He also offers concrete suggestions to streamline the profitability of Gert’s and Minicourses.

On the student end, he promises to promote student awareness of the Finance portfolio through blogs, lunches, and meet and greets, and to aiding clubs and services as they navigate funding applications and audits by holding workshops and office hours geared specifically to them.

Kim offers many specific ideas on how to proceed with the position, but his lack of experience specifically related to finance is troubling.

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SSMU Special Insert

VP INTERNAL VP Internal manages internal communication between the Society and its members, oversees the planning and management of campus events – from Orientation, to 4Floors, to Movies in the Park. Internal also manages the staff in the Internal portfolio.

Brian Farnan

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rian Farnan’s years at McGill have been a whirlwind of participation in student politics and campus life. Beginning as operations staff at frosh, he rose to be the head of operations staff and coordinator, and this past year, as a Frosh coordinator and AUS VP External (meaning he sits on both AUS Council and SSMU Council), he shared in the Orientation Week planning and execution. Having made his decision to run for the role of Internal last September, he’s shadowed VP Internal Michael Szpejda for several months, learning the ropes of the portfolio.

He also has experience in programs such as the Student Life Ambassador Program, Big Buddies Tutoring Club, and Right to Play (an organization of which he is currently VP External).

Community engagement is central to Farnan’s conception of the Internal position. Having met with Milton-Parc community representatives, he hopes to incorporate an understanding of McGill’s place in the larger community into all of his events, while working with the VP External to

invite the community in and encouraging students to branch out. One of his concrete suggestions is to establish an equity, community, and sustainability chair for every Internal events committee, allowing them to give feedback at the earliest stages of planning. Other components of his platform are updating SSMU’s communication methods (he mentioned everything from Reddit to writing in bathroom stalls) and collaborating closely with other SSMU executives to work toward common goals. Another idea of Farnan’s is to create an online space where McGill and SSMU’s inner workings – for example, the interaction between the Board of Governors and SSMU – are made clear through simple graphics and charts.

Farnan’s extensive experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to the community make him good for endorsement. He spoke about safe space, as well as problems SSMU has had with poor decision-making and the consequent reactions, and his intentions to incorporate a diversity of groups in early stages of planning instead.

Julia Kryluk

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n her three years at McGill, Julia Kryluk has accrued experience in student politics both through the Faculty of Science, and by working more directly within the Internal portfolio of the SSMU. Kryluk has served on the student programming network committee, responsible for organizing SSMU events such as Frosh and 4Floors, and overseen by the VP Internal, for the past two years, and has worked with the First-Year Office this year. She has also served as a Frosh coordinator and sat on the Science council, allowing her to interact with the SSMU Council and practice submitting motions and writing reports.

Her platform hinges on creating SSMU events which are accessible and inclusive – (for example, adding more all-ages Frosh events, or events which involve clubs more directly) – as well as innovating

new events (as a McGill cheerleader, she hopes to re-vitalize the Mcgill homecoming football game).

One concrete idea she has to improve the way in which events are accessed is to create an interactive calendar on the SSMU website that compiles faculty, SSMU, and club events. Equity and sustainability are also concerns of Kryluk’s – she hopes to work with the SSMU Equity Commission to train event coordinators to ensure that all events are safe spaces, and to zone in on event locations and materials in order to find new opportunities for environmental caretaking.

Raising student awareness of events and fostering school spirit are Kryluk’s central concerns as she makes a run at the VP Internal position – but her suggestions are less concrete and her vision less far-reaching than Farnan’s.

Endorsement: Brian Farnan

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he Daily endorses Brian Farnan for VP Internal, with a few caveats. While both Farnan and Kryluk pay lip service to sustainability and equity, Farnan’s more concrete suggestions lead us to believe he is better prepared to take serious action next year. The VP Internal portfolio has had many

problems in the last few years, concerning itself more with promoting a binge drinking culture than creating safe, diverse, and inclusive events that respect principles of equity.

The Daily issues its endorsement with a request that Farnan make good on his word, take equity and accountability seriously, and

engage with the fact that dismissing rape culture and oppression in campus space is unacceptable. Farnan’s wish to maintain relations with the Milton-Parc community must bind him to proving that SSMU events are not synonymous with offensive themes and embarrassment.

March 18, 2013 | The McGill Daily

VP UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS The VP University Affairs maintains relations between SSMU and the McGill administration, and coordinates representation on Senate committees and subcommittees. They also oversee groups like the Equity Committee as well as various fund-awarding committees. The VP UA chairs Senate Caucus and oversees outreach to McGill services and offices on behalf of SSMU.

Sam Gregory

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am Gregory hopes to take a conciliatory approach to the position of VP University Affairs, noting that SSMU has an opportunity to forge strong ties with new principal, Suzanne Fortier, and new Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning), who will assume their positions in the fall. Gregory believes the ongoing negotiations with the University over the lease to the SSMU building will require a friendly and respectful approach, which he feels he is well-suited to delivering. Gregory said that while he supports the principles behind Divest McGill, he would like to garner campus support from across faculties and extend Divest McGill’s proposed timetable for divestment before committing his support to it.

While Gregory prefers a low-key approach to politics, he did note that if the University were particularly antagonistic to SSMU, he

would consider working outside of the formal channels to further SSMU demands.

Gregory wants to improve SSMU’s equity mission by pushing for McGill to adopt a university-wide equity policy, and he wants SSMU to adopt the principles of Universal Design to improve access to the SSMU building. Gregory would like McGill to move back toward using university-wide consultation fairs, as he feels they were better run and more successful than the student-run fairs this year. Gregory thinks his greatest strength is his experience, having shadowed the current VP UA Haley Dinel for the past year as the Committee and Senate Secretary General for SSMU. He has also been the Inter-Residence Council President and is the current Ombudstudent for McGill Food and Dining Services.

Joey Shea

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hroughout the campaign, Joey Shea has returned to the issue of equity. Shea would like to “institutionalize equity” by holding equity workshops for SSMU councillors, working toward introducing genderneutral bathrooms and Universal design across campus, ratifying a Universal Equity Policy, and creating an equity events protocol to prevent recurrences of problems like blackface at 4Floors. Shea thinks the current state of funding for student services is unacceptable, and is interested in exploring the possibility of using targeted SSMU fees to bring student services up to the same standard as other universities.

Shea would also like SSMU to become a centre for student jobs and research, by opening opportunities for students to gain course credit at SSMU positions dedicated to researching academic and campus-life issues. Shea, like Gregory, hopes to approach her working

relationship with administrators and faculty in a friendly manner, as she has done in her position as VP Academic with the Political Science Students’ Association (PSSA). She also feels the disconnect between students and faculty is largely caused by a lack of face-to-face communication, and so will request the presence of upper administrators at SSMU General Assemblies and create joint SSMU-administration committees.

Shea feels her interest in provincial politics sets her apart from Gregory, and she would like to bring students, faculty, and administrators together to demonstrate against the provincial budget cuts to universities. Shea also supports the principles behind Divest McGill, but feels the campaign needs to do a better job communicating with all students; if elected, Shea would be interested in SSMU researching ways to institutionalize a culture of sustainability on campus.

Endorsement: Joey Shea

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am Gregory and Joey Shea have very similar platforms. They both show a concern for equity, a desire to introduce cross-faculty grading standards, and initiatives to extend the course evaluation period. Both candidates also express some support for the principles behind Divest McGill and are critical of the campus protest protocol.

However, neither candidate was eager to outline the tangible political steps they will take to fight for divestment and against

the protocol; we wonder whether they will back their words up with actions. We are concerned, also, with the conciliatory approach both candidates plan to take with the McGill administration; over the past five years, the administration has consistently shown a lack of concern for student opinion, and we worry that these candidates are too optimistic about what they can achieve using a conciliatory approach.

With that in mind, and against the backdrop of the upcoming cuts to the University

budget, The Daily endorses Joey Shea for SSMU VP University Affairs. Shea wants to liaise with the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ) to help mobilize McGill students against the cuts, and shows a greater willingness to work outside of formal channels should negotiations with the University breakdown. Despite Shea’s lack of experience in Senate, of the two candidates, she understands what the portfolio entails, and engages more with the political nature of the position.

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