Figureheads face off
The two candidates for UMSU president talk issues and ask for your vote, March 1-3
Kyle Lamothe Staff
What made you decide to run for the president of UMSU?
Patrick Smith: Basically I loved this university as soon as I got here. I really like being around University Centre, seeing what UMSU is doing. I think that UMSU has done really good work in the past and I think that it could be even better, so basically myself and my slate member have some ideas of what could be improved upon from what’s already a great campus.
Garry Sran: I have been here for four [years] and involved with UMSU for two. And the last couple of years all the changes, the movement, getting out, getting heard and noticing the increase in voter turn-out, and I feel that with students I can bring something to them. I have the experience with UMSU. Obviously some of the reasons I do want to run are the changes that I think can still occur . . . .
What in your background do you think properly prepares you to be the President?
PS: Well, I’ve held two management positions with Junior Achievement of Manitoba, a local charity. Right now I’m a marketing coordinator for a management company in the south-end of the city. I have one year of experience on a charity volunteer board of directors, and I’m currently the executive director of the POWAR organization, which promotes active living amongst high school students.
GS: . . . I started with the Arts Student Body Council. I was the UMSU rep for three months from a by-election, then Senate rep for another year. Then all of my hard work and dedication to the Arts Student Body Council landed me the spot as president [of the council], and this year I’m the past executive.
What have you seen from UMSU council in recent years that you are proud of and/or that you would have done differently?
PS: I’m very proud of the student services that we have on campus and our University Centre. I love everything that they do. I think that the health and dental plan is an important part . . . . I think that student groups represent the immense diversity that we have on campus, and I think that those should be nurtured.
Things that I have seen that I would like changed — probably the professionalism of the organization. My slate member and I would like to explore alternate communication with both the administration and the provincial and federal governments, perhaps a more diplomatic approach to problem solving and working together. And just bringing an overall look of professionalism to the union.
GS: I guess just keeping that open-door policy and engaging students, I’m a big part of that, doing more vocal work, standing up against things that we don’t believe and students don’t usually have the time, but the union is actually making their voices heard.
A lot of the things that have been done I’ve been involved with, so I’m not sure what I would have done differently. But some of the programming events could have been a lot better . . . . A little more Bison Sports I think I would have done differently. Probably the [biggest] thing would be coordinating with other student councils and promoting more campus life and culture.
What are the main issues facing both UMSU internally and the students of the University of Manitoba?
PS: Internally, I think UMSU businesses need a revitalization; in particular I think the food services on campus could be changed around a little bit. We would like to promote more open-market tendering for food services on campus. I think that that is an issue that affects UMSU internally and the students on campus.
GS: I think one of the major issues is going to be these new fees that the university tried to pass last year . . . . There’s also the food services issue because I’ve eaten the crap they have here. One of the worst things with ARAMARK is that not only does their food suck, but the way they do their plan sucks . . . they have been on campus for a few years now and they still can’t figure out how many meals students can eat per month, or will eat . . . . Not only that expensive cost issue but just the general crappiness of the food. Transportation [is] also a big issue because our university is growing.
What are your thoughts on the tuition fee freeze?
PS: We don’t think that tuition fees should increase — it’s very dangerous because you’ll never know when they are going to stop. We think that a diplomatic approach to working with the administration to keep tuition fees low and also so they keep ancillary fees low is essential and also a diplomatic approach with the provincial and federal government. By diplomatic approach I mean setting up meetings, setting goals that both parties can work towards [and] having a very pro-active, cooperative relationship.
GS: My thoughts about the freeze are that it’s shitty that with the freeze you can’t make tuition fees lower, so that’s the way I view it. I think that it’s needed to ensure that students can access the university. We see continually increasing numbers of students coming into post-secondary education. I think that this needs to be reflected back into government, because now you see people sitting on floors, no desk-space, the technology we have is crappy. What we need to do is fight for more funding.
The food service contract with ARAMARK will be up in April 2007. What would you like to see happen with food services?
PS: It’s unrealistic to say that we will get rid of ARAMARK and that there will be complete choice for food services on campus, because the fact of the matter is a large food service provider can offer better rates and work better for the university. However, we would like to see their presence reduced. We would like to promote open- market tendering for food services so [at] certain locations on campus, we would like to bring more choice and this will allow for better pricing for food products on campus. We would like to open up food service locations to local businesses that can come in.
GS: Get ARAMARK the hell out of here. Basically what’s being worked on at UMSU is to have a student-run bid, so having the union engage with students, see what they want and then put together a bid for food services run by students and for students. Obviously, throughout the year pressuring ARAMARK. Tell them, “Your food sucks, you’re lucky that you have a monopoly, if there were any other businesses here you wouldn’t last a day with the prices you’re charging.” That’s one of my plans.
UMSU elections have a history of low turnout. What would you like to tell students to get them out to vote and to vote for you?
PS: I like to say that there are upwards of 23,000 voices not being heard on campus right now and this is a huge problem because the voices of those who vote aren’t the only voices on campus. The voter representation is extremely discouraging — that’s why we introduced the “Big Five” [campaign promises]. We want to keep things simple for university students. We realize they are in the middle of exams, courses — we are too. And we put the “Big Five” out there to keep things simple . . . .
GS: Over the years it has been low, but I have noticed an increase over the past couple of years . . . . I think that now students feel that they are a part of the students’ union. It isn’t a bunch of suits running in there with students not knowing what’s going on. To get them to vote for me, well, my experience speaks for itself. I’ve been president of Arts Student Body Council. Started off as UMSU rep, then Senate rep the following year, and because of my hard work and dedication, the arts students elected me president . . . .
What do you think differentiates you from the other presidential candidate and what would you say to students about why they should vote for you?
PS: I would say that I can identify with the common student extremely well. I am young, I am used to taking a full course load of classes, I know what it’s like to be here every single day of the week, what sort of problems there are on campus, what is great on campus and what can be improved upon. I feel that I would be a professional voice and a voice that advocates rights for students in a diplomatic and cooperative — while taking a hard line way — in developing relationships with the administration and with the provincial and federal governments.
We would like to increase student group funding by $30,000 just as a means of further expansion so that it can continue to grow . . . We’d also like to develop “archives online.” It’ll be the best source for books on campus. It’ll work like an eBay-type system auctioning off books and purchasing, facilitating a market place where buyers and sellers can exchange. We would also like to create a one-time opt-out option for the health and dental plan . . . . We would [also] like to get complete autonomy for the Graduate Students’ Association.
GS: What I would say differentiates me from the others are that since I’ve been here I have been heavily involved in student council and UMSU, student groups. I have been involved in the undergraduate economics society — I was their director of public relations. I’m just used to engaging students. I’ve always volunteered my time.
What I have said is what I believe in and what I’m standing for. I believe in better food services; putting together a bid that’s made by students, for students. Taking a tough stance on tuition, fighting for more money for education. Promoting student groups and providing more funding for them, helping them out a little bit more. More emphasis on campus sports and building school spirit. Working with other student councils and student associations, I can bring that to the table. Working towards having better transportation to the university, fighting for that. Generally everything, I have been through it for the last few years and continue to work because in a few years this University Centre will be called the UMSU Centre, with everything being for students.
