Working Together candidate: Nour Rashid

Experience

• Worked as a Resident Advisor, helping
  students in progression into
  university residence environment
• Program coordinator of PRAXIS
• Involved with U of M campus chapters
  of Amnesty International, Unicef

Why did you decide to run?
I have been involved in many avenues on campus since I moved here from Morden, Man.. [ . . . ] So I feel like this is just a natural progression in my campus experience, being able to give back to students.

What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
UMSU provides many services and opportunities and events to students. [ . . . ] Students need to know that we are looking after their best interests and that any decision we make is made with them at the centre; they are the priority. I want students to know that we are on their side for any decision and that we run on their behalf.

What do you think are the biggest advocacy issues on campus, and how would you address them?
Well, the ombudsman’s office was a place where any parties on campus could go as a service to deal with conflicts. I believe that with its closure we are going to have to work to find ways to provide that service. And a different outlet on campus where students on campus, and other parties, can equitably resolve issues in an unbiased fashion.

Mental health services are definitely an important issue in our community, and we need to make sure that everyone on campus are given the full extent of our support.

I think it’s important for students to know their rights and make sure that their rights are upheld and that there is someone looking after their interests and their needs.

Get More candidate: Nick Humniski

Experience

• Amateur kayaker, helped coordinate
  and coach PaddleALL, a program that
  helps individuals with disabilities
  participate in sport of canoe-kayak
• Volunteers regularly with Siloam
  Mission
• Peer-support worker at Rainbow
  Resource Centre

What made you decide to run?
As a second-year student, I wanted to be way more involved in the university. It’s always been in the back of my head to someday get involved with UMSU. I have a lot of awesome ideas and a lot of experience to bring to the table.

What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
I would say their role is to provide the best university experience possible and to make university fun, easy and less stressful. I’d say the overall role is to make the university a vibrant community for every student and all people involved.

What do you think are the biggest advocacy issues on campus, and how would you address them?
One of the things we really want to do is effectively communicating and bringing into focus a lot more things about UMSU that people are currently unaware off. One of those things is increasing sustainability and awareness of student health services, so those include things like counsellors and health professionals, which many students are unaware that they even have.

Also, issues with the new stadium and making sure student voices are heard and are the priority when it comes to things like transit. One last point is that we also wanted to increase opportunities for practical experience for students, especially in faculties and departments where it’s not mandatory.

Clean Slate candidate: Tina Fahmy

Experience

• Minister of finance on student
  council in high school
• Member of WarChild youth outreach
  program, which raises awareness about
  child soldiers and children affected
  by war-torn countries
• Currently working to start own
  charity “to get youth up and active
  in making a difference in the world”

Why did you decide to run?
Tyler had come to me about a year ago. [ . . . ]The platform he set up [ . . . ] — accountability, transparency, reform — all of it was just fantastic and it sounded so appealing. I definitely wanted to part of a change and bring awareness to what students should know.

What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
I feel like currently UMSU hasn’t been meeting its potential and that’s no one’s fault in particular. It just seems like if you go ask the average student, [ . . . ] they’re unaware of UMSU’s duties and possibilities, and I feel that UMSU should be such an important part of students’ lives. They should be there to create a unified student body and supply resources that help students not feel disconnected. [ . . . ] UMSU’s job is make students feel at home on campus. If you need anything, they’re right there supporting you.

What do you think are the biggest advocacy issues on campus, and how would you address them?
[ . . . ] I think, right now, it’s easy for advocates to give up and see a case that maybe they’ve seen before and seen that it’s never really worked and tell that individual that, when I feel like it should be [that] when you think there’s no hope, you take it the extra mile.