The GSA elections race
Words from the candidates in the graduate students' association
COMPILED BY SUSAN COLLINS EDITOR
OF THE GRADZETTE.
INTRO BY DYLAN FERGUSON STAFF
The GSA! No, not the Wu-Tang Clan member! That’s GZA with a “Z,” you hip-hop moron! I’m talking about the Graduate Students’ Association, the body that represents all the graduate students from our esteemed university. Campaigning is well underway for UMGSA’s 2007 general election, to decide who will hold which positions and lobby on behalf of the U of M’s degree-holding crowd. This year, however, every position is going uncontested, and five of the six candidates are running on the appropriately titled “Unite!” platform (the exception being the health sciences VP). So, basically, eligible grad students can cast a “yes or no” vote for these six individuals. To help you decide, here are some words from the candidates themselves. Voting will take place between Feb. 21 and 23, so go out and show your support or disdain for Unite! And remember: the Graduate Students’ Association ain’t nuttin’ to fuck wit’.
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MATT MCLEAN |
My name is Matt McLean. I am ajmcgreevy@gmail.com a PhD
student in history, the current GSA vice-president (finance), and your
Unite! candidate for president of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA).
This past year has seen significant changes in our GSA. Most importantly,
the GSA negotiated an autonomy agreement with UMSU — a victory 40 years
in the making! Next year will be an opportunity to expand the GSA and build on autonomy. As an independent graduate students’ union we must increase our efforts to lobby university administrators and government on issues such as intellectual property, academic freedom, copyright reform, and research commercialization. We must work to maintain the current continuing fee system, oppose ancillary fees, and lobby for the elimination of international differential fees. Working through the Canadian Federation of Students, we will lobby the provincial government to expand the Manitoba Graduate Scholarship program and the federal government to increase funding for the tri-councils (NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR). The creation of a graduate student house or pub has been vision for the GSA for years and our autonomy agreement with UMSU has enabled us to seriously consider this project. We will conduct a feasibility study into a pub or house — an important first step in a long process. Since its inception, the GSA Innovation, Stewardship and Excellence Awards have been controversial due to the limited number of awards available. Using both the spring 2006 GSA review of the ISE award, and consultation with graduate students, a Unite! executive will review the current award structure to expand funding available to students. I have had the privilege of serving as vice-president (finance) for the past year and I hope to continue the work begun. On February 21, 22 or 23 vote “yes” for experience and commitment. Vote “yes” to building a progressive graduate movement. |
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AARON GLENN |
Good day to you, fellow University
of Manitoba graduate students! I feel that it would be a rewarding experience
to serve graduate students on campus and that I could do a marvelous
job representing the Graduate Students’ Association in all external
matters. I look forward to the potential opportunity to work with other
student groups, organizations, associations, and unions at the U of
M. I pledge to actively promote and improve the semblance of a strong
campus community and our vital role in Winnipeg and beyond. I will collaborate
with UMSU on issues of common concern to undergraduate and graduate
students in Manitoba, such as tuition fees, government funding, and
academic freedom. I will stand in solidarity with CUPE Local 3909 on
issues of relevance to student academic workers on campus, including
assisting upcoming collective bargaining and wage negotiations. On the
provincial and national stages of the post-secondary education theatre
I will work with our fellow member locals of the Canadian Federation
of Students in lobbying governments to adequately fund universities
in Canada and in the fight to keep publicly funded research transparent,
accountable, and beneficial to society. |
| I am Caroline Rosa, your Unite! candidate for GSA vice-president (academic),
and a second-year student in the master’s program in the department of
food science. I am the current president of the Food Science Graduate
Students’ Association, a GSA councilor, and a student representative on
the Food Science Faculty Council. As an independent graduate students’ union the GSA will be responsible for assisting graduate students in academic advocacy cases. As VP (academic) it will be my duty to assist graduate students in these circumstances. I will dedicate myself to both representing students who seek help, and publicizing the availability of the GSA to support students who have problems with their advisors, committees, and all issues pertaining to their studies. The GSA currently hosts a monthly seminar series, and I plan to build on this program. I believe that inter-disciplinary networking and idea sharing is essential to our development as scholars, so I intend to expand the opportunities for intellectual exchange through the GSA Seminar Series, workshops, and the Gradzette. I look forward to serving graduate students as VP (academic) this upcoming year, and encourage you to vote yes to Unite! — vote “yes” to building a progressive graduate movement. |
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 FAISAL SHIBLEY Master’s, computer science Candidate for vicepresident (internal) Unite_umgsa@hotmail.com |
My name is Faisal Shibley, and I am your Unite! candidate for vicepresident
(internal) of the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association.
I currently serve as a GSA UMSU councilor. Last year I promised to better
represent graduate students at UMSU and help the transition to autonomy.
I am proud to have played a role in the historical GSA-UMSU autonomy agreement,
which will remain as a milestone in the history of the GSA.
As VP (internal) I will be responsible for GSA finances, policies and bylaws. I have been a member of the UMSU finance and bylaws committee and learned to work with the budget and bylaws of a large student organization. With autonomy we will have a much larger budget and control over the newly created GSA Endowment Fund, allowing for increased funding for GSA conference travel grants. As an association we are constantly reviewing our by-laws and policies to ensure we are best representing and serving graduate students. I will continue this important work as the GSA expands to fulfill services and representation formerly provided by UMSU. When you vote in the GSA election, vote “yes” for Unite! Vote “yes” to building a progressive graduate movement. |
 WENYUE (STEVEN) WU Master’s, biosystems engineering Candidate for GSA senator Unite_umgsa@hotmail.com |
My name is Wenyue (Steven) Wu, and I am your Unite! candidate for UMGSA
senator. I am currently enrolled in a master’s program in the department
of biosystems engineering. As a GSA senator it will be my responsibility to represent the interests of graduate students to the university senate. This representation is especially important in our first year as an autonomous graduate students’ union. My extensive involvement in student groups and university committees has made me an ideal candidate for senator, and I will fulfill my duties with innovative and fresh ideas. I worked as the vice-president of the Biosystems Engineering Graduate Student Association and currently serve on the GSA finance committee and the Engineering Endowment Fund committee. This experience has developed my ability to effectively raise graduate students’ concerns. On February 21, 22 or 23 vote “yes” to building a progressive graduate movement. Vote Unite! Vote for Wenyue (Steven) Wu! |
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When I arrived at the University of Manitoba, the Health Sciences Graduate Students’ Association helped me make this place my home. As for so many of you, my life revolves around the ivory towers of Bannatyne Campus, and it truly is a different experience from that of our friends at the other campus. The HSGSA recognizes those differences and gives us a voice. Some of the best and brightest minds in Canada are here to work and to play, and your Graduate Students’ Association should be letting you do just that by listening to the things you already do and making them more available, more accessible, and cheaper. That’s the power of 300 students working together. I want to see the HSGSA provide students with the tools to make their own opportunities, through awards, funding, and socials. As graduate students we know that our education is what we make of it, and I encourage you to do the same with student life. We’ve all had different paths getting to this point, and with your support I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together. |
