Here are the candidate statements for students running to be an ASSU Executive in our Fall 2024 By-Elections. ASSU Council will be electing two (2) new Executives at our September Council Meeting taking place on September 27th
Executive Candidates
Jacob Buchan
My name is Jacob Buchan.
I’m a fourth-year student intent on joining the ASSU’s Executive. Three years as an Arts & Science student and three years as an elected student leader have shown me what student advocacy requires: commitment, communication, and clarity. These I can offer to the ASSU.
I served as Chair of the student government at Trinity College, and before that I was a Year Head. That’s three years of budget proposals, negotiations, and allocations. I’ve been on both sides of the funding equation, so I’m ready to attend to course union funding with perspective and nuance.
I was a student representative on Trinity’s Senate and its Board of Trustees. In both roles, I advocated for my student community to the college’s administration. As I did then, I would represent my peers to the Dean as an ASSU executive with concern and confidence.
I’ve published in research journals, presented at academic conferences, and I’m a volunteer editor for the peer-reviewed journal for secondary school students, The Young Researcher. I care about scholarship. I’m ready to combine my passion and my experience to bolster The Arbor Journal and our Undergraduate Research Conference.
Student leadership and academic engagement have been cornerstones of my time at UofT. But in my final year, I’m ready to step up and represent our community across the faculty.
Sincerely,
Jacob Buchan
Shahreen Chowdhury
Hihi, my name is Shahreen, and I’m a first-year student in the Faculty of Arts and Science!
Just as a brief introduction, I live off of diet pepsi and goldfish. I have a tendency to say “I got it” when something needs to be done, despite looking like the abandoned offspring of a dehydrated raccoon. I also claim that I can live without a lot of things because I am “lowkey low maintenance,” I am lying.
As for actual qualifications, back in Vancouver, I served as student council president after being involved since grade eight. Through that experience, I have learned how to navigate school board approvals, collaborate with administration, students, and outside organizations, and think critically to solve problems. During my time on council, I created and led a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative that was adopted by the Vancouver School Board.
I have experience with being a peer tutor, a TA, a service assistant and a tutor at a learning centre. I would be in my element when it comes to assisting the student body during office hours. I also noticed that one of the ASSU’s ongoing projects, Universal Minds, is right up my alley and I would love the chance to work on it.
It would be ignorant for me to come in saying I know exactly what the students of UofT needs, but I am confident in my ability to communicate with my peers and implement positive change!
Thank you!
Shahreen
Rad Fathi
In legal traditions across the world, it has been found that, to have a just society, it is necessary to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an accused person is guilty. The reasons behind this go far and wide, but despite these reasons, UofT does not have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that its students are guilty of academic offences.
If you are accused of an academic offence at UofT and plead not guilty, you will be sent to the University Tribunal, where you will go through a trial to find you guilty or not guilty. The only problem is, the lawyers sent on behalf of the school are only required to prove that you are guilty merely on a balance of probabilities.
The result has been that, since 2018, only 1 student has been found innocent, and every other student who was found guilty was either suspended or expelled from the school. Moreover, the inevitable severe punishments that follow having a hearing before the Tribunal leads many INNOCENT students to plead guilty before having a Tribunal hearing in hopes of less severe punishments.
My name is Rad Fathi, second-year pre-law student, and I want to ensure that these injustices that have been happening to my fellow students do not happen again. Moreover, I am currently an executive member of the Pre-Law Society and Mock Trial Club and am getting more involved in leadership positions every day.
Grace Johnson
My name is Grace Johnson and I am a second year student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Visual and Caribbean Studies with a certificate in Business. Moving to Canada alone from The Bahamas 4 years ago, I have had academic, and prefect positions through highschool to volunteer and leadership positions in clubs like the West Indian Students Association in university. I always want to be a voice for those in my communities.
We all share a common goal towards success. However, it is not about the destination but the journey. I want to build our ability to communicate with other students by developing more public activities where we can causally interact and feel comfortable teaching one another. I want to also get to know more of you and be more than just an email or a union team member. Although UofT is huge, we are not just a number. There is always room for new ideas which is why each of our journeys matter. I hope to provide a sense of relatability, community, and belonging to the ASSU and, therefore UofT. With my passion for art, I hope to encourage the accessibility to creative-focused events for all students who may feel intimidated to try new things. I also want to bring a sense of humour because I think that I am quite funny and enjoy making people laugh. I would love to support you all and learn with you on our way to achieving our dreams.
Roy Liu
Hi everyone, my name is Roy Liu and I am quite happy to announce my candidacy for the ASSU executive election. As an aspiring member of the arts and science community, I deeply believe in the collective power of student representation to shape a more inclusive and enriching experience for everyone. Throughout high school, I was battered with stress and challenges that arose everyday, and during those hardships I bonded with my friends to overcome obstacles. These experiences firmed my beliefs in the importance of community and perseverance. A pivotal experience I had was at a one term co-op at a pharmacy. I felt really overwhelmed as I lacked any kind of working experience, thus my interpersonal skills were lackluster. I was lucky with a supporting and understanding team around me to teach and nurture my confidence, whilst being honest and upfront when I make mistakes. Through this experience I learned that with dedication to transparency, collaboration, and initiative, anyone can improve at even the areas you think you are weak in and achieve success. As an executive of ASSU, I will commit to engage with general student bodies to collect information and make sure the general consensus is heard in board meetings, advocate for more resources and opportunities that will enhance everyone’s academic goals, and develop and shape future events to foster personal growth and inclusiveness within the student body. Thank you for your generous support.
Layan Mhaish
Hello everyone!
My name is Layan Mhaish, and I am absolutely thrilled to be running for the Arts and Science Student Union. I am a first-year student currently studying Political Science, Economics, and the TrinOne PPE program.
As the senior representative of my high school’s student government, I have honed my skills in advocating for the needs and wants of my peers. Founding and running the IB Student Society, I have gained valuable experience supporting students’ academic and cocurricular demands. I have a proven track record of organizing workshops where students discover learning strategies that help them achieve their academic goals.
As part of ASSU, I want to create career-based workshops where students can gain valuable skills and insights to help them succeed in their future careers. These workshops will cover resume building, interview preparation, networking, professional development, and internship opportunities. I plan to connect with UofT alumni to lead these workshops. At the same time, I plan to implement social events strategically scheduled so as not to interfere with academic commitments, in order to help students de-stress from academic pressures.
I am overjoyed at the prospect of bringing my abilities and knowledge to our Arts and Science faculty, ensuring that every voice is heard and represented. I am deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. Thank you for your support!
Vote Layan for your ASSU executive!!!
Sia Sarin
Dear Fellow Students,
As many of you may be, I am a first-year Arts and Science Student here at UofT! In just two weeks, I have already met so many amazing and unique people! I have quickly come to care deeply about our new environment, the student community, and the wellbeing of my fellow classmates.
I know it is daunting for many of us to connect right away and to feel that we are in a place where everyone is respected and supported. Let me be the first to say that you are not alone! Starting university is a huge transition, and I understand the challenges we all face in balancing academics, personal growth, and finding our place in the UofT community.
My name is Sia and I would be honoured to represent you as a First-Year Executive with the Arts and Science Students Union! I am a Life Sciences student with aspirations to pursue medicine, and I am looking forward to seeing my peers fulfill their goals as well!
I bring to you many years of experience in leadership with organizations throughout high school, as well as coaching and developing youth in academics as well as sports. With a commitment to collaboration and inclusivity, I’m dedicated to making sure your concerns are addressed, your needs are met, and your student experience is shaped by what matters most to you.
Let’s work together to build a campus community that truly represents all of us!
Thank you for your support, and
Victoria Spiterie
My name is Victoria Spiterie, I am a 2nd year undergraduate majoring in psychology and I am running for the executive officer role within the ASSU. My zeal and impel to involve myself in a way that implicates meaningful responsibility towards the Arts & Science population stems from my earnest desire to be that reliable, trustworthy, and approachable junction between knowledge of what services and resources exist through the ASSU, and a student’s personal circumstances so as to promote agency and confidence through clarity and grounded support as they navigate their academic journey. UofT being my fourth university, I’ve myself experienced, and have been exposed to, particular circumstances challenging academic progress, and so I recognize the great value of a student union, along with the people within it who can connect with you, and, advocate for you! I wish to be a presence that effectively furthers the mission of the ASSU.
My desire to fulfill the role I am running for is guided my recognition that students require a place, along with an alternative, spirited, and informed representative where and with whom they can: (1) be heard, (2) have support in being proactive in their journey, (3) for their (each’s) unique experience in fulfilling their academic requirements to be positive – to minimize impediments that can be worked through with a combination of resources and support, and (4) to maximize experience! My promise is to nurture trust and to promote the transmission of knowledge of resources, options, and of opportunities in
