Here are the statements from candidates in our Spring 2022 Executive Elections
ASSU Council will elect one (1) President and four (4) Executives at the March Council meeting. These successful candidates will serve from May 1st 2022 to April 30th 2023. There will also be a Fall By-Election to elect two (2) more Executives at the end of September or early October.
Candidates for President
Fatemeh NAMI
Hello friends!
I write this statement with incredible gratitude to you all for allowing me to serve as your President over the past year. Leading the Union has been challenging, but incredibly rewarding. Despite the difficulty of switching between online and in-person, here are some successes from this year: completing the A&S Faculty’s first Student Budget Consultation Process, pointing the Dean’s Office to courses in which there have been violations of the Academic Handbook’s course delivery standards, advocating for the provision of spaces on campus for attending online classes (for instance, the SyncSearch tool), and providing a delayed exam option for those whose exams were cancelled in the Fall.
While the return to campus was often interrupted due to fluctuating Covid-19 case numbers and provincial regulations, the Province is moving towards total re-opening and the University appears to be planning for a full in-person year for 2022-23. This brings a new set of challenges: how will Course Unions shift their events back to in-person after two years of functioning online? How can we still retain some of the benefits of online learning, such as Lecture Recordings? Can some events still be run online to accommodate commuter students? If re-elected, these will be my main concerns going into the next school year.
As always, my email, social media accounts, and office hours are available if you ever want to reach out with any suggestions or concerns. I ask that you trust me, once more, to represent you as ASSU President.
Candidates for Executive
Fayo BAKER
My name is Fayo Baker and I am a fifth-year student Majoring in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies with a double minor in Equity, and Education & Society. I have the privilege and honour to attend UofT, with the experience of attending school in-person prior to COVID-19. There’s a particular feeling of intimidation associated with our campus as there are thousands of students all trying to “find themselves” and their community. As someone who has been in classes that had 500 – 1,000 students in one room, I can definitely relate to the “alienation of the student in a classroom”. With COVID-19, I presume this alienation has intensified for new students searching for connections. It is ASSU’s mission to facilitate these connections and I hope to further contribute to the amazing work that’s already been done.
Over the years, I’ve recognized the struggles we face, such as mental health, poverty, and other systemic barriers (i.e., racism, sexism, ableism, etc). As a current Director of Equity for the Black Students’ Association at UofT (and former Education and Outreach Director), I am familiar with the role of actively listening to student concerns and working towards creating accessible, harm-free, and healthy spaces on campus. I’ve hosted Wellness Events, had open conversations with instructors on accessibility, conducted Equity Training workshops, and even connected with future students about how to best prepare for post-secondary life. It is my hope and intention to continue to advocate for students at UofT. Thank you for your consideration.
Halit ERDOGAN
Hi everyone!
My name is Halit, and I am a third-year student double majoring in Political Science and European Studies. I believe I am a good candidate for the ASSU because I am accessible, organized, and experienced with student governance.
Over the past three years at UofT, I have gained valuable experience serving in the UTSU’s Board of Directors, and the Arts and Science Council. Throughout my time at the governing bodies of the University of Toronto, I have developed strong relationships with the faculty members, professors, and student leaders across the campus.
If elected as an ASSU executive, I will work alongside outstanding student leaders and faculty members to foster an active, friendly, and inclusive learning environment.
My goals as an ASSU executive are as follows:
- Creating an ASSU Career Fair: I aim to create a biannual career fair to support students
seeking internship and job opportunities. - Collaborate with Student Unions across the campus to advocate for tuition equity
- Expand ASSU’s financial aid and bursaries to students that demonstrate financial need. No Arts and Science student should feel limited in pursuing their dreams by the confines of their bank account.
- Introduce a new digital media strategy that aims to increase ASSU’s social media presence.
Vote Halit for a lit year
Jolie GAN
Hello Arts and Science students!
What a year it has been! The 2021-22 academic term has been tumultuous, rewarding, and stressful all at once, and I am incredibly excited to run for re-election and for the opportunity to represent student opinions to make 2022-23 even better.
Over the past year, I have had the honour to advocate on behalf of students through meeting with the Dean’s Office, providing feedback during various consultations, and of course, communicating directly with a diverse array of students to ensure that ASSU is fiercely fighting for what matters most to you. Uniquely, as the only first-year student on this year’s team, I have also had the tremendous opportunity to represent and support new A&S students by initiating ASSU’s inaugural First Year Support Campaign, which reached over 2,000 first-year students, and collaborating with a variety of campus committees, groups, and initiatives to bring A&S students the most holistic, comprehensive pool of resources available.
If re-elected, some goals of mine include continuing support for first-year and new students, improving accessibility to technology for students in need (a project that is already in the works!) and advocating for recorded lectures even as we gradually transition back to in-person learning. Of course, student needs are flexible and dynamic: I will listen to any and all student concerns as they arise and strive to support you in any way I can.
Remember to vote for Jolie!
Paavni GROVER
Hi everyone! I am Paavni. It has been an honour to serve as your ASSU Executive for the past two years, and I could not be more excited to seek re-election for the 2022-2023 year!
During these two years, I’ve gained invaluable experience with the Union, from meeting with the Dean to relay your online learning concerns, to have substantive conversations with the Executive over the commitments that ASSU undertakes. I have also sat on the Standing committee and the Scholarship Committee.
I also started working with the career centre to enhance career opportunities for the Arts and Science students. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the team developing the newly created ASIP. If re-elected, I want to continue to work with them and make these opportunities more accessible to the students. I also want to engage in industry research to expand the ASIP to more majors and streams.
Moving forward, I wish to create new initiatives that strengthen ASSU’s ties with course unions and to make it easier for students to share their concerns in order to better address the problems facing students across the faculty.
I also believe that as an international student, I add additional value to the team by bringing that point of view to the table.
Thank you for considering me as your ASSU Executive.
I hope you have an amazing day ♥
Vote for Paavni!
Cindy LEI
Hello there! My name is Cindy Lei and I’m a first-year Lifesci student. I currently serve as the Events Commission chair on the UTSU First Year Council. For this position, I created surveys and town halls to understand student concerns, planned an academic workshop where professors and student researchers offered direct advice on research job applications to students, and organized a scholarship for first year students based on involvement and financial need. As a house representative for my residence council, I communicated with residents and planned six building-wide events, which engaged over 100 students.
I will focus on personally connecting with students and course unions, listening to their concerns, and lobbying the faculty of Arts and Science with these concerns. As a house representative, I regularly visited other residents’ rooms and asked them directly for their needs, then immediately mentioned these needs to residence staff. My lobbying has led to the residence changing its guest policy, winter break accommodation policy and study room policy. I hope to build more of these connections as an ASSU executive, which will lead to more change from the faculty.
From my dialogue with students on the FYC, I noticed that many students felt a need for more academic or career preparation and more mental health resources. To address these concerns, I will use my previous experience to plan highly focused workshops where students can learn specific work skills, study skills and internship skills instead of only receiving very general advice and experience (for example, cover letter writing for ROPs instead of general cover letter writing). I will also lobby for an expanded, more heavily funded student therapy program because current wait times are usually extremely long, and appointments are inconsistent.
Anusha MADHUSUDANAN
Hi everyone! My name is Anusha and I am a second-year double majoring in Economics and International Relations with a minor in Urban Studies.
Firstly, thank you for giving me the immense pleasure of serving you as an ASSU Executive this year.
In the past year, I created Exam Care Packages for students during finals season, reviewed applicants for the Undergraduate Research Fund, coordinated effective marketing for Program Exploration Day, met with the Dean’s Office monthly to advocate for student concerns, and got to see your familiar faces during my office hours!
Now, I ask you to trust me once again with this role!
Considering the trajectory of the pandemic, the coming year will be filled with in-person activities. These are my key priorities to ensure student welfare:
- Mandate class recordings for in-person lectures to maintain accessibility
- Bring back ASSU’s Open Mic Night (a fun night of food and talent!)
- Ensure Course Unions receive appropriate funding and support for any in-person events they seek to host
- Introduce a new ASSU speaker series, with diverse academic speakers, that is accessible to all artsci students
Outside of ASSU, in the past two years, I have stayed committed to student interests through my positions at the University of Toronto’s Student Union, Trinity against Sexual Assualt and Harassment, Trinity College Equity Committee, and Trinity College Senate. I believe my involvement across campus shows my genuine
passion for bettering the student experience at UofT.
Thank you for reading! Vote Anusha 🙂
Falak NAVEZ
Hello! My name is Falak. I am a third year Sociology and Equity studies major. However, I’ve been at UofT for four years since I came in as a Life Sci student. As a result, I have extensive experience with students across the board in the Arts & Sciences. In the past, I have been Social Media Coordinator for WUSC-Vic and VP Membership for UofT Toastmasters. And right now, I am the Program Coordinator for the Women of South-Asian Heritage Collective (WoSAHC).
WOSAHC has been a lifechanging experience for me. We have hosted events centering around Mental Wellness, Casteism, Toxic Masculinity, current affairs in South-Asia, and much more. Right now, we are working with the CASSU to help create an Anti-Racism Roundtable. Below are my two primary goals,
- Anti-Racism policies and initiatives. I believe the University can and should be doing a lot more for BIPOC students. We often find ourselves in courses that have readings rarely centred around people of color. I have even heard of peers that have experienced various microaggressions. Furthermore, I want to help ensure intersectionality and equity widely taught to prevent misconceptions that inevitably lead to a lot of racist, ableist, and classist rhetoric.
- Students often find it daunting to register for accommodations, receive registrar support, and even learn about what is available to them. Coming into UofT, I didn’t even know Verification of Illness Forms existed. This needs to change, and students in all colleges deserve the same amount of support.
Sidrah RANA
Hi all! My name is Sidrah – I’m going into my final year studying chemistry, physics and math. It’s been a pleasure to serve as one of your ASSU executives this past year and I’m so excited to rerun for an exec position!
The past year, the team has been hard at work with constant academic advocacy through meetings with the Dean’s Office, as we switched back and forth from online to in person. I would love the possibility to continue advocacy, especially for accessibility, with in person lectures in the coming year.
This past year I spearheaded the Academic Know-Your-Student-Rights 101 campaign, as well as directing the Undergraduate Research Conference virtually. I want to continue directing the URC but focus on transitioning it back in person for the first time in 2 years. I believe my experience directing it this year will help tremendously for this.
Additionally, I want to launch a new campaign focused on how to find and apply for Research Opportunities in and out of UofT. I know how incredibly inaccessible & daunting it could be given 2 years of COVID barriers, & how widely dispersed links & dates are or the difficulty in starting. I want to consolidate dates, resources, application links for all departments on a series of social media posts. I also want to moderate several Q&A seminars with professors for ROPs, NSERC, research courses, etc for all students in art sci to attend.
Thank you for considering me! Vote for Sidrah!
Eugene SEO
We are taking progressive steps back towards a social atmosphere with a return of many in-person aspects of our education. However, many may feel drained due to the numerous changes in our lives that we couldn’t control over these last few years.
I want to act as a helping hand and a pillar of support for students during these times of transition.
My name is Eugene Seo, and I am a first-year Life Science student from Vancouver, BC, running for an ASSU 2022-23 executive position.
As a first-year student who participated in high school and university government during COVID, I desire accessibility and clarity from any offered support groups. A common issue that I consistently found in critical conversations, no matter the discipline or group, is a lack of connection with those who want their voices to be heard. I want to support those who lack information, want mental health support, and search for academic support.
Through the ASSU, I want to use my social skills to interact directly with the community and guide those in need. I never want to make unfulfilled promises for any future initiatives. However, I can guarantee that you can have complete faith in my drive. I believe in my ability to facilitate meaningful conversation and keep up to date with relevant information.
My passion, commitment, and empathy are evident in everything I do. I believe I would be a strong candidate for this council. Please consider voting for me! Thank you for your time!
