As per the ASSU constitution, ASSU Council elects five members of their Executive in the Spring, and two members in the Fall. On Friday, September 28th ASSU Council will meet to elect their two new Executives. Here are the statements from the candidates running in this by-election.
Hi all, my name is Kuan Yi Chou but you can call me Anthony. I was born in China but I lived in Canada for eight years now, currently I am a second year student pursuing an Applied Statistics Specialist and Economics Major degree.
I decided to run for ASSU executive position because I want to make life easier for all of the students. Being a student in UofT has its ups and downs. Ups include studying amongst the best students in the top University of Canada, not to mention that we have great (both academic and recreational) programs for our passions. The downs, which I believe most of you can relate, is that the course load is usually time consuming, confusing, and very stressful.
If I am elected, I have three major goals for the ASSU.
First, to bring back the Anti-Calendar or create something of the like. Personally, I would want to know what I am getting into when I enrol in a course or even just to plan for the future. Instead, we should be relying on local and accurate reviews.
Secondly, to place stress relieving stands in libraries (Robarts, Gerstein, Kelly…) and the exam centre to help relieve pressure during hard times. This can help many students during the hardest periods of their year.
Thirdly, I aim to organize study groups, workshops, note-sharing websites and counselling sessions from the ASSU that can help each students’ academic and personal needs.
Thank You!
Kuan Yi Chou
Hello,
I’m Spencer Robertson, founder and President of the University of Toronto Tabletop Gaming Club, having also served as President for the past three years. The University of Toronto Tabletop Gaming Club merged merged with two other tabletop clubs on campus, in an effort to strengthen and centralize the tabletop gaming community. Last year I assisted with running Extra Life at UofT, and am currently in the process of planning Extra Life 2018 for this upcoming November with the CSSU, UTSU, ASSU, and other student unions and societies.
Beyond campus life, I am also active within student politics. I currently sit on the UTSU’s Clubs Committee as a community member, and declare any conflicts of interest I would face, something not currently required. I am involved with the UTSU’s Students with Disabilities Collective, with a focus on making American Sign Language more accessible for events hosted by student organizations. In August I approached UTSU Vice-President University Affairs Joshua Grondin about making room bookings more accessible for student clubs. This resulted in the Academic Campus Events department introducing an online booking form for recognized campus groups, making booking rooms easier for already busy students.
I’d like to be an Executive member of the ASSU so I can improve the campus experience of ASSU members. I believe my dedication, tenacity for improvement and advancement, and steadfast in my commitments make me an ideal candidate for the position. I would be a great asset to the ASSU Executive and membership.
It is with great pleasure I submit my application to compete in the 2018 Arts and Science Student Union by-elections. As a nominee for an executive member of the student union, I will strive to advocate for student rights and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. Despite having little experience in student unions, I do not lack the passion to represent the student and help remove the systematic barriers that restrain them from achieving their true potential. Over the past couple of weeks in university, I have experience how such barriers can be problematic for students to focus on their studies and pursue their desired careers. I believe these barriers such not hold back students from achieving their goals.
Hi everyone!
My name is Foti Vito and I’m a second-year student studying International Relations, Political Science, and European Union Studies – I’m running as one of your ASSU executives for the 2018-2019 year!
Having had the privilege of working closely with ASSU this past year as Logistics Director for the inaugural Student Success Day High School Conference, I could not be more excited to continue contributing to the valuable work ASSU does. By partnering with various course unions and inviting disadvantaged Toronto high school students to explore the prospect of higher education at the University of Toronto, I have a demonstrated commitment to highlighting and celebrating what the Faculty of Arts and Science has to offer.
As a current elected Social Sciences Student Representative on the Arts & Science Council, I believe that my experiences on a faculty level would prove central in best representing student interests on a union level. Additionally, as a Second Year Head of Trinity College, External Communications Coordinator for Hart House Debates, and Fellow at The Mosaic Institute where I am committed to dismantling prejudice and racism, I aim to bring my enthusiasm, dedication, and valuable experiences to the table.
My goals for the 2018-2019 year include promoting and providing undergraduate research opportunities by strengthening support for course unions and re-launching the Arbor Journal of Undergraduate Research; offering students the opportunity to participate in the creation of a distinguished academic journal and have their work published among all discipline.
Remember, Voti for Foti!
A few weeks ago, I stepped on campus for the first time. And though some Trinity upper-years shouted to get off the grass, I felt at home.
The thing is, though university life is daunting, I knew that if I needed help, I could get it. This is why I’m running for ASSU.
As a former executive of DECA Ontario, representing 15,000+ students, I learned the importance of communities and our student power to enforce change. When TDSB’s ban on US travel prevented students from traveling to compete in DECA, I gained airtime on CBC & got thousands of signatures on a petition, overturning the ban. In response to student interest, I published a 54-page textbook, ran 6 events with up to 7,500 in attendance and raised $18,000 in funding to finance these initiatives. In the same way, I want to make your university life better.
For example, many students are unsure of their POSt. While we have Degree Explorer, it is only really useful if you know what you want. If you’re unsure, you will need to take prerequisite courses “just in case”.
What I propose is a “Degree-in-a-day” program, combining our need to figure out our lives with a love for Buzzfeed quizzes. It would include an online personality quiz that matches students with POSt. Once completed, the questionnaire sends students a list of classes and professors in those POSt so students can sit in on a class or find out more information.
