2010 SFUO Elections Guide
photo illustration by Alex Martin
Your right to vote, your right to know.
President
—Charlotte Bailey
The duties of president of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) include maintaining relations with the University of Ottawa administration, relations between faculty associations and federated bodies of the SFUO, as well as relations with all agencies on all levels of government. The president is also responsible for the face of the SFUO and is chair of the executive.
Candidates: Bruno Gélinas-Faucher, Amalia Savva, Sebastien St-Amour, and Tyler Steeves
Why are you running for this position?
Gélinas-Faucher: To really give back the power and the money to the faculties and federated bodies. I want to de-centralize the SFUO and give back the money to the federated bodies, because I think that they are most suited to bring student involvement and to get students to participate in activities.
Savva: I’ve gained experience in the past year, being in the role of a president. It’s something that I really enjoy and I believe that I’m good at. When it comes to things like policy, and chairing meetings, and organizational skills, that all falls under the role of president and I feel that’s my strength.
St-Amour: To fulfill a personal dream of being the most famous man on campus. I want to be the guy on all the posters who takes all the credit for the SFUO’s success.
Steeves: I think that the SFUO needs a shift. I really feel that we need to put more effort into making sure that we’re having the best possible experience for our students. I feel like we should all have a little more pride in our university.
Why do you fit the role of a leader?
Gélinas-Faucher: I’m willing to give back responsibilities to many people and not monopolize all of the power. That’s why I’d be a good leader—because I’d give people responsibilities and power through my leadership.
Savva: Experience has brought me into this position. I really like being the role of the leader; for me, it’s what I enjoy.
St-Amour: I don’t at this point. What is a leader, anyhow? Someone who says a bunch of stuff and stands in front of a lot of people. I think I’m more of a follower.
Steeves: I have vision; I know what I want to see in the SFUO. I think that through experience and through having great people follow me, [I fit the role of a leader.]
What will be your big project if elected?
Gélinas-Faucher: To bring general assemblies to the SFUO, because I think that it’s currently the “heart” [of the university]. Other than that, spreading the budget, and giving the services’ surpluses back to the faculties.
Savva: Working with the university administration to get rid of exams on weekends, and working with companies such as Greyhound and Via Rail to bring discounted tickets that can be sold on campus for our students.
St-Amour: I want to start charging extra fees to students who want to ask questions to their [teaching assistants] after, before, and during class, at a buck a question.
Steeves: I want to get exam schedules on your syllabus. I think it’s unfair that people have to pay exorbitant airfare prices in November when they could book those flights at a much more reasonable rate in September.
How are you going to improve relations with students, the administration, and community members?
Gélinas-Faucher: Giving money and power back to students, making general assemblies, and bringing the SFUO closer to the students. With the community, by keeping on our relationships active in Sandy Hill. As for the administration, better dialogue is needed. I think that the SFUO can play a role by teaming up with the university and working on projects that benefit both of us.
Savva: I think it’s so important to be working with outside groups, be it clubs, or administration, or services … it’s good to work with these members to improve student experience. Also, [to] work with city councillors to improve the living standards for students.
St-Amour: I probably won’t. With my initiatives of switching [from “Toonie Tuesdays” at 1848] to “Quarter Tuesdays” and legalizing pots and pans on campus, I figure I really won’t have to do all that much with the whole “talking to students” thing.
Steeves: We’re [all] roommates; we share the same space. Being respectful, but being strong, is a way to elicit respect from others. The sense of belonging that accompanies 101 Week seems to gradually fade away, and I think that by bringing an event back in the winter that will incorporate that sense of passion and competition, that’s really going to help [you feel] like you’re a part of the university. I also want better communications, like an up-to-date calendar on the SFUO website.
VP University Affairs
—Charlotte Bailey
One of the vp university affairs’ primary responsibilities for the Student Federation for the University of Ottawa (SFUO) is to assist students with academic problems and to meet with appropriate university bodies when necessary. The vp university affairs is also responsible for conducting research on course content and academic requirements and criteria that affect undergraduate students. Aside from academic responsibilities, the vp university affairs is also responsible for organizing campaigns led by the SFUO and keeping up relations with federated bodies.
Candidates: Osama Berrada, Ted Horton, Stephanie Marentette
Why are you running for this position?
Berrada: This position appeals to me the most. It works towards my goals … [of] fighting for a student bill of rights.
Horton: I’d like to continue on for another year [because] I can make the same positive changes: building an SFUO that makes life better based on direct student interest. It’s also a lot of fun to do.
Marentette: I want to ameliorate some of the academic things I’ve seen go on that have affected people. I hope to make a stronger campaigns committee as well.
What are you going to do if the U-Pass fails in the referendum?
Berrada: I’m going to try again. I know that there are perhaps students that want to opt out [of] this fee, but I think that students might not understand how much they can benefit from it. It would be a process of informing the students of the benefits of it.
Horton: Start off from page one again. If the students say “no,” we’ll start back with the students … and eventually we’ll have to find a [price] that both [the students and the City] agree on. For something that could have such an impact, it’s worth trying. But we’re not going to go forward with something that a majority of students say “no” to.
Marentette: We would have to figure out why [it failed]. It would be looking at opting out, so that ... students who don’t take the bus don’t have to pay the fee. We’d have to see how we could fix it so that we’d have a solution that would be acceptable to all students, so that those who would benefit from it would get it and those who wouldn’t benefit from it wouldn’t get stuck with a fee.
What projects would you like to work on next year, if elected?
Berrada: A student bill of rights. Students have a voice that can’t be heard because they don’t have any [written] rights on campus. [I want to] extend the co-op opportunities for international students … and increase prayer space. I also want to introduce exam banks to get access to previous year’s exams [and lower] fees for daycare for mothers at the university.
Horton: Things like better wireless Internet, a wait-listing system for Rabaska, a better student centre/student space, and better food options. My big three [focuses] are our campus, our classes, and our community.
Marentette: A complete e-library … [and] the removal of retroactive course requirements. It’s not fair, and it causes students not to graduate on time. Also, making it mandatory for professors to give you some kind of grade before going into your final exam.
How will you make future campaigns appeal to more students?
Berrada: For the SFUO to conduct any campaigns … they have to have students actually present the campaigns to them. My goal would be to approach students and say, “It’s up to you—you guys have a chance to campaign for something.” I would like to make [that process] a lot more clear.
Horton: There are two types of campaigns … those that are run by the SFUO, and those that we support. What the SFUO should be lobbying for, and what we do lobby for, is for the majority of students ... we want more funding for education, we don’t want to see a decline in provincial funding, we want a fall reading week. The things that we lobby for are the big picture, that everyone will benefit from.
Martentette: There are a lot of great campaigns out there that deal with important global issues, but that don’t necessarily relate to students. I definitely think that the SFUO should be supporting clubs that want to take on those initiatives, but maybe not as a campaign.
VP Finance
—Amira Elmi
Aside from distributing money to the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa’s (SFUO) federated bodies and overseeing the Federation’s businesses, the vp finance’s responsibilities include organizing the student health plan, reporting the economic status of the Federation’s businesses, and preparing a budget for presentation and first reading at the September meeting of the Board of Administration.
Candidates: Maureen Hasinoff, Sarah-Jayne King, Sidney Loko
Why are you running for this position?
Hasinoff: I am running for this position because I want to see the SFUO thrive. They deserve someone who has a vision, experience, and passion for the job. In past years, we have let some of our priorities slide and I want to refocus our financial plan back on students and their needs.
King: I want to put my experience to good use. I have the organizational skills and the vision to make sure that the SFUO works for every student. We have to remember that vp finance is not just about managing numbers, it’s about managing resources and aligning them to the priorities of the SFUO.
Loko: I am running for vp finance because the SFUO is taking students’ money away. During my time working as a financial aid agent, I saw the kind of hardships students were dealing with. Students need more money in their pockets. I will lower the price of food and school books, and I will also introduce new employment opportunities on campus.
How will you keep the budget organized and transparent?
Hasinoff: I believe in fiscal accountability. I plan on updating the budget online so that all students are able to see where their money is going. At the Board [of Administration] we need to be updated regularly [on] where we are spending our money; I plan on bringing an updated budget to each board meeting.
King: I will publish the budget quarterly to allow for feedback, making sure student cares and concerns are met.
Loko: I will keep the budget transparent by making monthly financial reports available to the student body. I will hold a full budget review process every three months. I will ask employees to offer concrete plans for their activities, then we will study their ideas and costs for three months with presentations to the student body, student representatives, vendors, and administration officers.
The SFUO businesses such as the Pivik and the Agora haven't been overly successful this year. How will you improve all businesses?
Hasinoff: I believe that the SFUO needs to create a five-year business plan for each one of our businesses so we can ensure that we know where we are going. I want to see the businesses be accountable and responsible, and [that] we work with the businesses we already have.
King: I want to keep all of the businesses on track to long-term financial success in a number of ways. For example, I want to place a satellite location of Café Alt in SITE. I also want to work with the administration to improve the business environment on campus [in order] to work on the structural challenges we face as an organization.
Loko: You will always go the wrong way if you don’t have a map. The SFUO has not had a business strategy for five years. I will use [the] Pivik’s kitchen to start selling various foods like pizza or hamburgers. The Agora can be transformed into an Internet café, so that it can generate income all year long and not only in the beginning of the semester.
Do you have any ideas of how to improve the health plan?
Hasinoff: I want to see the plan stay at the rate we have it [at] while expanding the range of services and coverage that it offers. The health care plan must remain a focus for the SFUO and I want to make it more accessible and easy to comprehend for all students.
King: One of the major complaints about the health plan is the “blackout” period where you have to submit claims. I will look into ways to make the plan active in September instead of in October, and [reduce] or [eliminate] the blackout period for claims for returning students.
Loko: My girlfriend spent more time picking the best fruits at the supermarket than the SFUO spent selecting its insurance provider. The SFUO gave almost three million dollars to an insurance provider without any bidding process. The best way to improve the health plan is to have a bidding process.
VP Communications
—Sofia Hashi
The primary responsibility of the vp communications for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) is to address all Federation communication-related matters and to ensure all communications are bilingual. The vp communications role also includes increasing the visibility of the SFUO on and off campus and maintaining contact with media organizations both inside and outside the university. Another responsibility attached to the post is maintaining the SFUO’s website.
Candidates: Tristan Denommée, Paige Galette
Why are you running for this position?
Denommée: I want to increase the quality of the communication services on campus. I believe there’s way more you can do than just have posters and send emails. I feel like I can bring something new that the student[s] will appreciate.
Galette: I’ve always been involved in student politics. I was involved in student politics all throughout high school, and it’s my passion. I also have a lot of ideas for the school.
How will you improve the website and attract students to it?
Denommée: I want to include a real blog. Right now there is a section called [exec blog], but there is absolutely nothing in it, so I really want to do something [about that]. I personally want to have my own blog, so people will know what I’m doing every week.
Galette: I think that the website needs a lot of improvement. If it became more interactive and had more participation from students, it would be better. The students need to hear about their vps, so creating a blog would do that. How do you plan to improve relations with the media and increase the SFUO’s transparency?
Denommée: Well, I don’t think we have to go outside campus to include student involvement. I definitely want to work with the Fulcrum and La Rotonde because they’re major promotional media on the campus. Everything should also be available online and more accessible to students.
Galette: I think that we need more involvement from the community. If Zoom partnered with Rogers or if we could reach out to local stations, like A-Channel, then we could show students what we have to offer.
How will you promote the SFUO?
Denommée: By using television screens on campus and using the Internet, students can see what we’re doing.
Galette: By letting students know we are there for them. The SFUO is for students and by the students. Students need to know that we are not only here [in] November for Drop Fees.
VP Social
—Charlotte Bailey
The vp social for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) is primarily responsible for organizing 101 Week. During 101 Week and throughout the year, the vp social coordinates and organizes events with federated bodies on campus. The vp social is also responsible for the SFUO’s philanthropic efforts, such as Shinerama and Relay for Life, as well as the promotion of all social and philanthropic events.
Candidate: Alex Chaput
Why are you running for this position?
Chaput: So far, I’ve had a great time doing [this job] and enjoyed the experience. That’s why I’m running again.
How will you get more students involved in events if elected?
Chaput: By organizing events that are opposites of one another throughout the year. I figure that by working on events that are different from one another, I’ll probably get more students [to participate in them]. What is your vision for 101 Week?
Chaput: I’d want to bring the concert, Fedstock, back to the beginning of the week instead of the end. From what I’ve noticed, by the time you get to the end of the week, most students and 101 guides are pooped.
How will you organize events to cater to the diverse student population?
Chaput: I want to keep organizing things that have been very successful in the past, like Relay for Life, that pretty much targets everyone on campus.
VP Student Affairs
—Amira Elmi
The vp student affairs of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) assumes many responsibilities, including overseeing the Federation’s clubs, student life services, refugee student program, and the food bank. The vp student affairs is also responsible for upholding the policy on bilingualism at the Federation.
Candidates: Nicole Tishler, Amy Hammett
Why are you running for this position?
Hammett: After having been involved on this campus for over three years, in clubs, campaigns, the services, and now as a coordinator of the [Women’s Resource Centre], I feel that the vp student affairs can make a large impact on how positive students’ experiences are while they are here. I want to create a community on campus that is inclusive, [and] sustainable, and do this while giving students good value for their money.
Tishler: The SFUO has come to represent an exclusive niche portion of students with a particular political agenda. As an “outsider” myself, I know that I can help to break down this barrier to develop an SFUO that is inclusive of all students—average students—regardless of their political affiliation or social network.
There are a lot of responsibilities for the vp student affairs, such as promoting and informing students of the goals, services, and activities of the SFUO. How will you tackle these responsibilities?
Hammett: For students to listen to the SFUO’s message, they have to know that the Federation is listening to them. I think we need to partner with other organizations on and off campus to get our message across. Finally, giving people the opportunity to get involved is a great way to improve communication. The volunteer and mentorship program that I mentioned previously is meant as an opportunity for people to discover and get involved in the SFUO.
Tishler: The steps required to fulfill this responsibility are simple. The SFUO online calendar is an incredible promotion tool that is currently not being exploited to nearly its maximum capacity, efficiency, or effectiveness. Not only would this reform promote and inform students of the goals of the SFUO, but it would actually constitute a goal in and of itself: inclusivity, community, participation, and engagement. What will you do to improve the Federation’s clubs services?
What will you do to improve the Federation’s clubs services?
Hammett: The clubs on our campus are an important part of our community. They need resources and support to help them have the impact that they want to have on campus. I will work to create club space to plan and host activities and programming. I will also provide clubs with resources such as free photocopying, free printing, and design resources to help clubs successfully promote their events as well.
Tishler: A simple and effective remedy to this problem is to revamp the SFUO online calendar to include and highlight the events of the campus clubs. Such an inclusion would constitute an invaluable promotion tool for the clubs and their events (recruitment, fundraising, social activities, etc.), and would guarantee a greater level of student participation and engagement in school life.
Do you have any plans for any of the Federation’s various student life services?
Hammett: As one of the coordinators of an SFUO service, I know that the services are always in need of support and resources to be sure that they are serving the ever-changing needs of students on this campus. I want to set up a volunteer and mentorship program which will allow students to gain experience, learn new skills, and provide valuable resources to the SFUO services— all without going over budget.
Tishler: Services’ events should also be included in the SFUO calendar, because they— like individual clubs—don’t get nearly the levels of student participation and volunteerism that they merit. Additionally, I would emphasize the importance of having student life services that accurately reflect the growing needs of students in general and the specific needs of students at Roger-Guindon campus.
U of O Senate candidates:
Faculty of Arts:
- Schoots-McAlpine, Martin
Faculty of Law:
- Girard, David
Faculty of Engineering:
- Lendrum, Luc
- Mugisha, Mycke
Telfer School of Management:
- Huranchyk, Andrei
- Umoafia, Joy
Faculty of Medicine:
- Boozary, Andrew
Faculty of Science:
- Redouane, Chouaib
Faculty of Health Sciences:
- Ryc, Kyle
Faculty of Social Sciences:
- Hasinoff, Maureen
- King, Sarah J.
- Lauzon, Matika
- Lessard, Lynne
SFUO Board of Administration candidates:
Faculty of Arts (5 seats available):
- Brissson, Danika
- Large, Mel
- Lessard, Gillian
- Ouellette, Logan
- Schoots-McAlpine, Martin
Faculty of Law, Common Law section (1 seat available):
- Draper, Hannah
Faculty of Law, droit civil section (1 seat available):
- Lemieux-Guénard, Emilie
Faculty of Engineering (1 seat available):
- Bay, Brandon
- Javed, Bassam
Telfer School of Management (3 seats available):
- Hampel, Eric
- Huranchyk, Andrei
Faculty of Science (3 seats available):
- Fournier, Rosy
- Redouane, Chouaib
Faculty of Health Sciences (3 seats available):
- Brezden, Julie
- Herod, Adrian
- Khan, Hafsa
Faculty of Social Sciences (6 seats available):
- Agbodjogbé, Armel M.
- Brannigan, Iain
- Brennan, Matthias
- Eryou, Eric
- Flynn, Peter
- Hansen, Cliff
- Hardy, Vincent
- Iarusso, Amanda
- Lauzon, Matika
- Lemyre, Xavier
- Marochko, Amanda
- Moncrieff, Christine
- Topan, Sameena
A few notes:
Amalia Savva's entire executive thinks she's unfit to run a federated body... she believes her strength is leadership and organization... Something is very wrong with that picture.
Osama Berrada's entire platform sounds like what Seamus Wolfe had promised to do this year. Perhaps he can strive to accomplish it rather than be embroiled in controversy all year.
Paige Galette sounds like she's in over her head. This isn't highschool anymore, and you won't have a teacher-advisor to help you do the job.
-Sarah Jayne King clearly is unfit for the job, because she can't even identify that she is in a conflict of interest by sitting on the disciplinary committee overseeing a case in an election she is a candidate in... Wow...
We have a high calibre of student leaders apparently. This is what we have come to expect from our SFUO...
Go Adrian Herod for BOA!
Here is the truth about Amalia Savva. It's written in The Fulcrum that she is a Third year, public administration student when she's in fact a SPECIAL STUDENT. Is that even legal to run a campaign and being special student?