Your GSA candidates

Message from the Chief Returning Officer

Compiled by Susan Collins

The University of Manitoba’s Graduate Students’ Association is holding its general election from March 1 to 3. This is your chance to have a direct say in the affairs of your student organization — make sure your voice is heard.

The candidates are listed below along with a brief message and their contact information. They will be attending an All-Candidates Forum on February 27 at 12:00 p.m. in Room 214, University Centre. At press time, polling locations and times had yet to be determined, but look for posters on the Fort Garry Campus and Health Sciences Campus for further information. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact Julia Campbell, the Chief Returning Officer, at cro@umgsa.ca or (204)-995-5809.

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Candidates for President

My name is Meghan Gallant. I am a master’s student in chemistry, and your Graduates for Progressive Action candidate for re-election as president of the Graduate Students’ Association. I have had the privilege of serving as GSA president for the last year — one that has seen the GSA make significant progress towards achieving its potential in representing, serving and advocating for graduate students at the University of Manitoba. I look forward to continuing the work begun this year.

This has been a successful year for the GSA. We participated in the campaign against ancillary fee hikes that saw $465 in new fees reduced to $150, and we forced a discussion on graduate fee systems in the face of a restructuring. We’ve made real progress on an autonomy agreement 40 years in the making. We have participated in provincial and national lobbying efforts, and have engaged in effective and important campaigns on such issues as research privatization, academic freedom and continuing fees.

Still, much remains to be done. Continuing fees are still under review, the new and unjustified $465 ancillary fees remain on the books, and differential fees remain at their recently doubled levels. Implementing an autonomy agreement will be a substantial undertaking — one that will require the GSA to offer services currently provided through UMSU and that will provide us with the opportunity for new initiatives. Campaigns on research commercialization and intellectual property are more important than ever, and graduate students will always need an effective voice in provincial and national lobbying efforts.

I have the experience and ability to continue with this necessary work and am running with a slate of talented individuals who have demonstrated their ability and commitment to improving the GSA. I encourage you to vote for experience and dedication, for Graduates for Progressive Action.

My name is Eseosa Stephanie Osagie. I am a second-year master’s student in the department of computer science. I am your candidate for UMGSA president. I served as a student representative during my undergraduate studies, speaking on behalf of students to faculty and administration. Having visited numerous countries around the world, I have seen how education serves to enrich one’s perception of the world, while increasing one’s marketability in the work force.

The spirit of the GSA is to voice the concerns of all graduate students and not just a selected few. If elected, I will restore confidence in the GSA so that issues are managed in a timely and responsive fashion. I will draw from my extensive experiences to offer the UMGSA a broader and diverse view of the way things are done. I believe that the ability to balance and appreciate different opinions is an essential ingredient to the effective decision-making process of any student organization. I have a passion for doing things right, and this enterprise will be no different. I intend to introduce new and innovative ideas into the UMGSA, such as increasing funding opportunities to all graduate students.

As president, I will ensure that all the departments affiliated with UMGSA feel the need to co-operate; therefore, no department will feel marginalized. If elected, I will apply the principle of economies of scale, thereby effectively utilizing the vast human resources available to the association, which includes listening, asking and seeking the input of graduate students in policy formulation. I believe that UMGSA policies, first and foremost, must represent the academic interest of its membership. I intend to build a bridge between graduate students and their respective professional bodies across Canada by establishing workshops specifically designed to improve opportunities open to us as graduates. Vote change, vote me!

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Candidates for Vice-President (Student Affairs)

My name is Jason Kelly. I am a second-year master’s student in the Natural Resource Institute, and the Graduates for Progressive Action candidate for vice-president (student affairs). I was elected a GSA/UMSU councillor in 2005 and have been active in both organizations this past year. On UMSU I served on the policy and bylaws committee and the election expense committee, and I created and chaired the UMSU ad-hoc environmental sustainability committee, which established one of the few university campus farmers’ markets in Canada. I have also sat on the GSA executive, finance and campaigns committee. Finally, I have been active in NRI, sitting as student representative on faculty council, organizing social events and advocating for students to the department and faculty.

One of the greatest problems facing the GSA is membership alienation. After our election, the current executive began a variety of initiatives to engage graduate students. This must be continued, and people with experience are needed to maintain this momentum. I propose hosting socials at more regular intervals as a way to increase student attendance. Further, a lecture series for graduate students would allow students to share their research. Finally, workshops should be held to cover information that is often not in regular curricula, including how to write a CV and funding application.

This past year I have participated in a number of campaigns, perhaps most visibly the Academic Freedom Forum. With issues such as graduate fee restructuring, commercialization of research and intellectual property, it is important that people are well-versed in the issues represent graduate students. For more information on these and other issues, please see the GPA website: www.mts.net/~umgrads/gpa.html.

Serving as an UMSU representative this past year has given me the experience needed for the vice-president (student affairs) position, and I ask for your vote in this election.

My name is Wenyue Wu. I am your candidate for UMGSA vice-president (student affairs). I am currently enrolled in a master of science program in the department of biosystems engineering, specializing in air dispersion modeling.

I received an MBA in a joint program with the University of California and Nanjing Normal University. As an Environmental Inspector for EPA in China, my primary responsibilities were to inspect local plants and to initiate the enforcement procedures to charge or to shut down a certain organization. My extensive work experience and MBA education will make me a suitable candidate to bring in innovative and fresh ideas to help organize the UMGSA. Success encapsulates greater services for graduate students, better co-operation and partnerships with units at the U of M and attractive surpluses in the fiscal year.

As the vice-president (student affairs), I have three goals. First, I plan to increase UMGSA collaboration with various departments and units at the university. The spirit of the UMGSA is to speak on behalf of graduate students to various organizations that will improve graduate student experiences, especially in our areas of research.

Secondly, it will be my job to ensure that the UMGSA advocates and protects the individual rights of graduate students in non-academic and academic disciplinary affairs. Though finance is not part and parcel of my portfolio, I will work hard to make research funding alternatives available to assist those in great financial need, both domestic and international graduate students as a whole.

Third, I will work hard to ensure the focus of the UMGSA is on target, precisely the generation, discussion and distribution of scholarly work. Endorsing a “community of scholars” entails that graduate students remember the reason why they are here in school, to research, discuss and ultimately publish their findings. On 1, 2 and 3 March 2006, vote for change! Vote for WENYUE WU!

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Candidates for Vice-President (Finance)

My name is Matt McLean. I am a second-year master’s in history student, and the Graduates for Progressive Action candidate for vice-president (finance). I have served as the history students’ GSA councillor since May of 2005 and during this time served on the finance committee, campaigns committee, faculty of graduate studies executive committee and the faculty council of graduate studies. I have held various posts in the History Graduate Students’ Association, including social convener, communications director and student representative to faculty/administration.

With GSA autonomy negotiations with UMSU in the final stages, next year will be important in setting the direction of our student association. With autonomy comes greater responsibility to our members, and more resources to meet these needs. There are important decisions to make in terms of where to dedicate the student fees being redirected from UMSU to the GSA. It is imperative to get membership input into this project, and as such I will practice consultative budgeting. Both online and paper surveys will be made available for students, and I will hold town hall-style meetings with graduate students to consult with our membership. Further, the state of GSA finances must be readily available to graduate students, and I will make the current budget available online to promote transparency.

Personally, I would like to see a greater allocation of funds to departmental grants, travel/conference grants, social event planning, workshops, the Gradzette, and for campaigns/lobbying. Additionally, I would like to establish an emergency bursary fund to assist graduate students in dire need. Ultimately, though, the allocation of new discretionary funds will depend on the input of graduate students. As a member of Graduates for Progressive Action I have a progressive vision for the Graduate Students’ Association, and I ask for your vote to make this vision a reality.

My name is Anandakumar (Anand) Palanichamy, your candidate for UMGSA vice-president (finance). I am working on my master of science in biosystems engineering. I am researching in the field of “food safety engineering.”

As UMGSA vice-president (finance), my first priority is to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability. It is my duty to guarantee that the finance committee, the council and the executives process all conference travel grants, bursaries, special projects and other monetary matters in a reasonable and timely manner. A vote for me will re-examine the current budget lines to determine whether its reconfiguration will increase disbursements in the aforementioned areas.

Second, I will also focus my attention to find ways to increase UMGSA relationships with various units at the university, such as the faculty of graduate studies. A smooth partnership with these units will lead to other possible external donors that may generate additional research funding opportunities for all graduate students.

Currently, as a member of the innovation, stewardship and excellence committee, I fully understand the controversial nature and sympathize with the spirit of its prestigious nature. At this time in 2006, it is true that the disbursement of the award to a selected few is unfair. However, in the years to come, the endowment fund will have the potential to enrich graduate student research at the university.

Along with financial matters, third, I will help coordinate UMGSA involvement in creating a “community of scholars.” The UMGSA is an organization that first and foremost must be devoted to the discussion of research and academia. A vote for me secures that the focus of UMGSA will be the welfare of graduate students’ life and their research at the University of Manitoba. On 1, 2 and 3 March 2006, vote for me, Anandakumar Palanichamy.

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Candidates for Vice-President (Health Sciences)

Hi, I am Miten Dhruve, your candidate for UMGSA vice-president (health sciences). I am enrolled as a master’s student in the department of biochemistry and medical genetics, researching at Cancer Care Manitoba.

I am currently the general secretary for the Indian Students’ Association, an active member of Let’s Talk Science, a member of Amnesty International and have been engaged in the community as youth president of the Gujarati Cultural Society of Manitoba. I was also an Ambassador to the Indian Pavillion during Folklorama and the Gujarati School of Manitoba student president. My role in these organizations has been extremely positive because of my constructive ideas and suggestions and, most importantly, my persistence in following through with the ideas.

My goals as UMGSA vice-president (health sciences) are four-fold. First, I will work to champion the academic interests of graduate students at the UMGSA council. Second, I will ensure a working and cooperative partnership between UMGSA and the university administration. Third, I plan to increase the issue of graduate student funding by seeking out the ways to increase the availability and amount devoted to UMGSA travel grants, scholarships and bursaries. Finally, I will foster the “community of scholars,” which will be the sharing and debating of intellectual ideas amongst the various streams of graduate research from both science and the arts at the University of Manitoba. I am confident that as UMGSA vice-president (health sciences), I will increase the necessary opportunities that will enrich research at the University of Manitoba. With your support, I will have an opportunity to sow the seeds for “change” at the Graduate Students’ Association. March 1, 2 and 3 are the days for change. Vote for change. Vote for Miten Dhruve!

My name is Meaghan Labine. I am a first-year master’s student in medical microbiology, and the Graduates for Progressive Action candidate for vice-president (health sciences). I have been involved in student activities for many years, and am currently the president of the Medical Microbiology Graduate Students’ Association. At UMFM, I served as the director of campus programming and hosted and produced a regular radio show. Further, I have worked as a music/stage coordinator for various UMSU events.

When choosing a candidate, you want someone who has experience, a good platform and the ability to represent your interests. I know many graduates are immersed in their own research, so it is very important to have experienced and knowledgeable representatives. During my tenure as a student I have at times considered myself well-informed, but at times have been unable to keep up with current student issues. I understand that graduate students fluctuate between the two extremes depending on their ability to access important information. I know the importance of a strong GSA to both represent the interests of graduate students and provide important information to its membership.

This year, I plan to bridge these information gaps by helping build a strong graduate community, but also through fair representation and consultation within the HSGSA. Uniting the study body and the GSA is a gradual process, but this process is made easier through providing important information and increasing the opportunity to influence decision-making.

Aside from holding regular social events, the GSA must continue to lobby and campaign for reasonable tuition fees, the efficient use of university resources and administrative transparency. We work hard for our money, and students do not appreciate increased fees without good reason. When you vote, vote for an experienced, progressive and active GSA executive — vote GPA for GSA.