The Arts and Science Students’ Union are currently holding our regular Fall term by-elections. We have two positions available on our Executive team for the 2019-2020 academic year. Nomination forms can be picked up in the ASSU office in SS1068. The nomination period is open until Thursday, September 19th at 5pm.
For more information get in touch with us at students.assu@utoronto.ca
The ASSU Executive represents the academic concerns for over 25,000 full-time Arts & Science students on the St. George campus. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to – holding weekly office hours, attending Executive meetings, reporting at ASSU Council Meetings, sitting on various ASSU committees, representing ASSU at Faculty meetings, working with and helping Course Unions, working on ASSU projects and any other academic concerns affecting A&S students that might come up during the year.
If you have the time commitment and the passion, why not consider running for the ASSU Executive! Any Full-time, Arts & Science Student registered on the St. George campus, or ASSU-fee paying student can run for a position.
Nominations Open:
Thursday, February 28th – 10 a.m.
Nominations Close:
Thursday, March 14th – 5 p.m.
Elections:
Friday, March 22nd – 5 p.m.
Nomination forms available at the ASSU Office
We are super excited to announce that at our first council meeting on September 28th, we elected two fantastic new Executive members.
Welcome Foti Vito and Sarina Wong to the ASSU team!
They join Haseeb, Ikran, Joshua, Martha, and Victoria as ASSU Executives.
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.
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE – acclaimed
Haseeb Hassaan
Hi everyone, My name is Haseeb Hassaan I’m a 4th year student studying Political Science and Religion. I am currently serving as an executive on ASSU and I am running to be your President. This year I was able to do a few of the things that I wanted to do as an exective, we hosted an AMA to do reach out to more students and currently working on Student Success Day a conference for marginalized students in the GTA area. As ASSU president I want to do a few things. Firstly I want to get involved in the wider community, charity means a lot to me and I want to make sure that were active participants in helping community organizations. I want to also continue the great work that we advocating for students. Holding administration accountable is essential so that students can feel comfortable within our faculty. Fighting homophobia, racism and fighting for equity is at the core of our union and is something that I hope to continue to do.
EXECUTIVE NOMINEES – 15 candidates – 4 positions
Roya Abedi
Hello! My name is Roya Abedi and I am interested in running for one of the ASSU executive positions for the 2018-2019 school year. I believe I am qualified for this position due to my prior experiences of being on student unions and being part of many U of T affiliated clubs and organizations. Furthermore, I am both a Science and an Arts student which introduces me to a wide spectrum of peers and their wants/concerns. Due to my experiences and studies, I believe I am well rounded and fit to be able to speak on my peers’ behalf and will constantly strive to represent and serve them better if given the chance!
Zara Ahmad
Hi! My name is Zara, and I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience. I hope to minor in Computer Science, and I am still deciding on what else I want to minor in!
I usually only run on the treadmill, but this year, I have decided to run for ASSU Executive. I will tell you a few reasons why.
As a confused first year, I found a haven in the ASSU office. They provided past tests that were extremely helpful in my courses. They occasionally gave out free food. They were my big sibling, advising me not to enrol in private test preparation courses, and instead to seek out the help that was already available on campus. They provided 5 cent/page printing, unlike the library which ripped me off. The staff were so nice too, and I felt like I belonged in the U of T community.
In my second year, I read about an opportunity to be a speaker at the ASSU Undergraduate Research Conference. I applied on a whim and was delighted when I was selected. Presenting at the conference validated me as a researcher and gave me the confidence to continue applying for research positions.
In short, ASSU has given me so much, and I want to give back to them. I want to run for an executive position so that I can have an important impact on students as well. With my passion, I know that I am an excellent choice.
Joshua Bowman
Hello Course Unions! My name is Joshua Bowman, and I am running to be an executive on the 2018-2019 Arts & Science Students’ Union. Like many of you, before I came to the University of Toronto, I was told I would be just a number. Sure enough, on my first day, I was given a student number. 1002427563, loud and proud. There are groups on campus that work to consolidate that, behind every student number, is a student; it is because of course unions like yours that I found my footing at our University. Through my work with the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union, I have realized that small course unions have huge voices! With a small executive of five and an average turnout of a few students at each of our general meetings, you would not be able to tell that we hosted one of U of T’s largest events of the year: The Honouring Our Students’ Pow Wow. With the right amount of support, like the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union were fortunate to have received, I believe that every course union can have their bright ideas made into substantial realities. If elected to the ASSU, I will work to give the huge voices of small course unions the platforms their hard-work merits, specifically by altering the provisions of journals on campus so that they are more inclusive. Moreover, I believe that Arts & Science is an interdisciplinary program, and we should encourage collaboration that is reflective of our studies.
Alice Cao
Hello everyone! My name is Alice Cao, and I’m a first year student studying in life science program. This year, I’m going to run for ASSU executive position. I’m an independent, dedicated, reliable, energetic person who is passionate about participating in ASSU. As an ASSU executive member, I will be organizing various campus events, such as social conferences, academic study/entrepreneur workshops, exam jams and as well as providing students with sufficient aids and help towards their requires! I believe I will be a good executive member if selected because throughout this year, I have joined many organizations, such as ASSU sponsorship team as a sponsorship director, U of T Pop (Pencils of Promise) as the Vice President of External Affairs, etc. Thus, I have gained so much experience by working with these amazing teams and people, and I believe I could do more for students in a broader way, that could make it another memorable year for all the UofT students!
My name is Alice Cao, and please vote me as executive member for ASSU 2018/2019 Election!
I appreciate for your votes! Thank you very much!
Victoria Chen
As a first-year student in Life Sciences who is living with a physical disability, I have first-hand experience with the challenging transition from high school to university, as well as the day-to-day hardships of navigating campus life as a student with accessibility needs. At ASSU, my ultimate goal is to work with my team to create a positive and inclusive environment for all UofT students free of discrimination, prejudice, and bigotry.
I believe that I can bring a unique perspective and voice to the ASSU team. As a former Provincial and National Ambassador for Easter Seals—an organization that supports children living with physical disabilities across the nation—I have extensive experience in public speaking and advocating for causes I am passionate about and can lend validity to. I know that active involvement outside the classroom is essential to a student’s personal well-being, and this has led me to earn a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and a Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program Certificate of Honourable Mention. I am currently in the FLC Program and a firm believer in improving the emotional well-being of first-year students during what may be a harrowing transition period.
I plan to improve the student experience through:
Weijia (Jasper) Chen
Dear members of ASSU,
Greetings, I am a third-year international student majoring in Economics, and also the secretary in CASSU, this year. ASSU as the important academic student union in UofT serves more than 20 thousand students with diversified course unions. In the past years, ASSU continually created a friendly, professional and inclusive environment for all members to study, research and live with Art & Science. Hence, I am so proud to join this big family.
As the secretary in CASSU in this past year, I learned a lots of with CASSU and ASSU, and I always try to be active and involved in the affairs and events related to my course programs and student unions. Based on my personal and most international student’s experience, we feel strongly that there still have some barriers for us to conveniently and consistently involve in the events, academic opportunities provided by ASSU and course unions.
Hence I wish to join the executive team to serve all members with focusing on how to let ASSU and each course union be more attractive to international students and minority groups. In addition, I will cooperate with other executives to improve the support for each course unions with their events and individuals with their academic and living issues especially for minority and disadvantaged groups. Equality cannot be ignored in every aspect at UofT.
I am eager to share my ideas with anyone that is willing to listen. If you have any questions, please email me (wjasper.chen@mail.utoronto.ca).
David de Paiva
My name is David de Paiva. I’ve been at the University of Toronto since last September, but it feels like I’ve been here longer. This place is special. When I step onto campus, I feel like I belong. Whether I’m in Hart House or Convocation Hall, I feel like I’m surrounded by a home.
Yet, I know that not all Arts and Sciences students feel the same way. At the ASSU, I want to bring us closer to the students we represent. We can serve as the link between academics and life. The ASSU was created to encourage “meaningful student participation”, and I think we can do more.
I propose that we increase our social media presence, first by establishing a weekly profile on our Facebook and Instagram accounts that highlights each course union and their activities, and second by creating an “Ask ASSU” biweekly post where students can submit questions to us, and we can post our answers.
By highlighting different course unions, we will help link curious students with their program’s student representatives. By answering questions submitted to us, we will showcase our approachability.
I want us to be a Google for our students. I want us to be the first place they go when they need help. I think we can do it by making ourselves more visible on the platforms that students care most about. With my experience running the Department of Spanish and Portuguese’s social media, I know I can help. That’s why I’m running.
Ikran Jama
The last time I wrote this statement, I spoke about how I was a first-year student new to the campus world, but not new to the world of student empowerment. As one of your current ASSU executives, this year has given me the experience and knowledge valuable in continuing to act on the issues that impact our campus community.
Currently, I’m working alongside ASSU executive Haseeb to organize the first Student Success Day, a high school conference dedicated to giving students in marginalized communities the experience of understanding the diverse programs university has available to them. Coming onto council, I wanted to prioritize the aid of students who come from low income schools –I am thankful that ASSU has given me the platform to truly make this difference on campus.
Working alongside course unions for our high school conference has given me the opportunity to understand how our communication and collective work can lead to greater things –I want to expand on this cooperation next year through greater course union related projects, and to continue the projects we have created this year (Undergraduate Research Conference and Student Success Day).
Through my last statement, you took a chance to vote on a first-year student who was eager to make changes, to listen, and to embrace student voice. Through this statement, I hope you will understand that through my current ASSU commitment and experience, I am eager to continue the extensive work I have already created.
Remember, we can with Ikran!
Abdullah Malik
No Statement
Dhvani Ramanujam
Hey everyone! I’m Dhvani, and I’m a third year student currently studying International Relations and Ethics, Society and Law.
As an executive, I hope to improve the experience of students in the following ways:
By continuing to promote and provide opportunities for undergraduate research. Undergraduate research exists, as this year’s Undergraduate Research Conference demonstrates, yet many students struggle to find research opportunities. Next year, I’d hope to not only continue hosting the Conference, but to also host a workshop that publicises some of the different and lesser-known research initiatives students can join.
By hosting events that highlight some of the issues most pertinent to students, such as access to affordable housing, and barriers to student success.
And most of all, by being approachable and accessible! I hope in particular to engage students who are beyond the usual network of student leaders on campus, to reach out to those who feel marginalized by this university, and to especially work to make international students feel welcome.
Over the last three years, I have been working to build a more engaged community at UofT from my work concerning refugee sponsorship with Trinity College’s WUSC chapter, to being a committee member of the Hart House Social Justice Committee, to my involvement with the Centre for Community Partnerships. These diverse experiences have given me both the practical organizing skills but also the level of empathy I believe is needed to foster an ASSU that actively supports its community.
Martha Taylor
Hi Everyone 🙂
My name is Martha Taylor and I’m running for election into the ASSU executive team. I’m currently a first year student hoping to do a specialist in Pharmacology and Toxicology.
I’m a person who’s extremely passionate about social activism and representation for people who tend to be overlooked in society. As a result of this burning passion, I became the secretary of the Youth Council at my recreation centre Masaryk Cowan and helped to represent the Parkdale community during excursions to different community centres. I was also an active member of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, where I assisted with the video recording of tenants from a variety of apartment buildings around the Parkdale community regarding different issues that were occurring in their apartment buildings.
Coming to university I knew I wanted to continue being an advocate and joined TASAH, Trinity Against Sexual Assault and Harassment because the time truly is up for sexual assault and harassment to be the elephant in the room. Silence only helps to fuel violence, therefore I believe it’s our moral obligation to create dialogue!
I hope to be part of the ASSU executive team because I believe diversity is the face of the future. I would love to host elementary students from low income communities in order for them to see that university isn’t unattainable, as I hope to possibly discuss the creation of scholarships for disadvantaged students. Education should never be a luxury.
Power to the People!
Endalle-Cassandra Toutou
No Statement
Hannah Turcotte
My name is Hannah Turcotte, a first-year student pursuing majors in Political Science and Planning. I am running for the position of ASSU executive with the hopes of creating a more inclusive, equitable community at UofT. I plan to create programming, social media campaigns and engage in dialogues to improve the programs offered by UofT, eliminate unfair practices within the school and, most importantly, to ensure that your voices are represented in all conversations and decisions made!
I have a passion for ensuring equality and a proven record of success acting on behalf of a large group. In the past, I have acted as a representative of individuals within different communities than my own, as well as those restricted by finances, members of the LGBTQ+ community and mental health community. A passion for equity is my motivating factor, and I will act on behalf your behalf to ensure that your school works for you!
At UofT, it is clear that we are a community of those who try our hardest. For all the
obstacles which needed to be overcome to arrive here, the last thing to hold us back should be factors such as race, income, sexism, immigration status, homophobia, transphobia, or ableism.
As your representative, I’m determined to ensure that students have a fair chance to succeed and will never stop working for those who matter most – you.
I hope that you’ll consider me for your ASSU executive, because a vote for Hannah T is a vote for equity!
Helen Yang
No Statement
Yang Zhou
My name is Yang Zhou, and I go by Vicky. I am a second-year student pursuing a major in Sociology and another major in Linguistics.
I always wanted to become a part of ASSU since my first year, and I believe that from my two-year university experience,
I have grown to be a more comprehensive and capable candidate to ASSU.
I have been very active in curricular and extra-curricular activities. Earlier this year, I joined a global students-run organization, AIESEC, as an Exchange Participant Manager, where I learned to take on more responsibilities to ensure the international exchange experience of other students, and also developed my own leadership skills. Through my daily practice, made realization of the importance of communication and mutual understanding. I always remind myself to be a person that listens carefully and express myself explicitly in all the work that I participate.
I am also an open-minded person. I have been travelling all my life and lived in multiple different societies. Recently, I exchanged to Colombia for a volunteer project to teach English, and this summer I will be working on a teaching project in Poland. I always carry interests and respect to all kinds of cultures, and I believe embracing diversity is a key factor of uniting people.
I will contribute all of these values and capabilities that I have to any role that I take on. I think these are also the qualities that will make me an asset for ASSU.
Nomination Period: begins March 1
Nomination forms for the 2018-19 ASSU Executive (President and four (4) Executive Members) will be available starting now available. You must pick them up from our office in SS1068.
The term of office will start on May 1, 2018 – so Executives must be in the GTA and available during the summer to participate in ASSU initiatives, planning and attend meetings in person. Two (2) more Executives will be elected in September.
The ASSU Executive represents the academic concerns for over 24,000 full-time Arts & Science students on the St. George campus. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to – holding office hours every week in the ASSU Office, attending Executive meetings every few weeks, reporting at ASSU Council Meetings, sitting on various ASSU committees, representing ASSU at Faculty meetings, working with and helping Course Unions, working on ASSU projects and any other academic concerns affecting A&S students that might come up during the year.
If you have the time commitment and the passion, why not consider running for the ASSU Executive! Any Full-time, Arts & Science Student registered on the St. George campus, or ASSU-fee paying student can run for a position.
If you have any questions about ASSU and the executive, you may email us or walk in to the office, SS 1068, to talk to any of the executives or staff!
The ASSU Executive represents the academic concerns for over 24,000 full-time Arts & Science students on the St. George campus. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to – holding weekly office hours, attending Executive meetings every few weeks, reporting at ASSU Council Meetings, sitting on various ASSU committees, representing ASSU at Faculty meetings, working with and helping Course Unions, working on ASSU projects and any other academic concerns affecting A&S students that might come up during the year.
If you have the time commitment and the passion, why not consider running for the ASSU Executive! Any Full-time, Arts & Science Student registered on the St. George campus, or ASSU-fee paying student can run for a position.
Nomination forms available at the ASSU Office for:
– two (2) Executive Members
Nominations Open:
Thursday, September 7th – 10 a.m.
Nominations Close:
Thursday, September 21st – 5 p.m.
Elections:
Friday, September 29th – 4 p.m.
Nominations are now open for the two (2) vacant Executive Member positions. Any Full-time, Arts & Science Student registered on the St. George campus, or ASSU-fee paying student can run for a position.
The ASSU Executive represents the academic concerns for over 23,000 full-time Arts & Science students on the St. George campus. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to – holding weekly office hours, attending Executive meetings every few weeks, reporting at ASSU Council Meetings, sitting on various ASSU committees, representing ASSU at Faculty meetings, working with and helping Course Unions, working on ASSU projects and any other academic concerns affecting A&S students that might come up during the year.
If you have the time commitment and the passion, why not consider running for the ASSU Executive! Nomination forms are available in the ASSU Office. Nominations close on Friday, September 23rd at 5 pm and elections will take place on Monday, October 3rd at 5:30 pm.
At our council meeting on March 23rd, Course Union representatives elected the first of their 2016-2017 ASSU Executives. Two more Executives will be elected at the first council meeting of the Fall 2016 term.
The President-Elect of ASSU is Ondiek Oduor, who ran unopposed. Ondiek was first elected to ASSU at the Spring 2015 council elections.
Both Crystal Gao and Lisa Chen return to the Executive, after having been elected twice and three times before respectively.
Joining the ASSU Executive for the first time are Priyanka Sharma and Amani Bosibori Moragia. They join an already dedicated team who are looking forward to continuing the work of the Union over the summer and into the next academic year.
Ondiek Oduor
Hey Friends®,
I’m a fourth year student studying Social-Cultural Anthropology, Book & Media Studies, and Women & Gender Studies – and I am running to be your President.
Having the privilege of serving ASSU this year has taught me the importance of maintaining a unified sense of community. It has also opened my eyes to the structural barriers that impede our success. While we do have some of the most intelligent individuals in the world—both studying and teaching here—we must acknowledge that more work has to be done before we can have a reciprocal relationship with the University.
This year, we actively strived to increase student involvement within our exceptionally diverse community. In my term, I organized and advertised (re: Facebook lol) all three coffeehouses – including Ariana’s Grande which I considered iconic. Furthermore, I organized equity training for the executive members, participated in the Fall Reading Week Referendum, and re-launched the Arbor Journal as Co-Editor in Chief. I also brought my favourite podcast—The Read—to the University for totally unselfish reasons.
I believe that I have the necessary experience to continue our progress. I’ve held several roles including, but not limited to: being the Head of Non-Resident Affairs at Trinity College, interning for the Office of Student Life’s social media networks, co-founding Intersections: the Clapback journal, and being a regular contributor to the Salterrae and Gargoyle.
It would be a privilege to take on the presidential role, and I can’t wait to see what the new year brings!
Tian Yi Bao – no statement
Nathan Chan
Hello!
My name is Nathan Chan and I hope to become an executive member of ASSU. I am currently in the third year of the Physiology Specialist and Pharmacology Major Programs.
Previous commitments have lent extensive experience that is applicable to ASSU. Having been both the Executive Administrator and Second-Year Representative of the Undergraduate Physiology Student Association, I have two-years’ experience collaborating with course unions and developing academic and social programming for students. Within Trinity College, I have served two years as Vice-President, Academic of LGBTQ+ support group “Rainbow Trinity”, two years as Co-Captain of student safety group “Sober Patrol”, and two years as a Member-at-Large of anti-sexual harassment advocacy group “Trinity Against Sexual Assault and Harassment”. I further have founded “People of Colour at Trinity College”, a social support group for racialised students.
Through my experience, I have interacted with hundreds of students from various identities. As an executive member of ASSU, I hope to improve student experience in three ways:
1) encouraging greater inter-course union collaboration to provide greater opportunity for student engagement
2) educating course unions to ensure campus-wide social and mental health resources are used and accessible
3) engaging in campus-wide student outreach to address issues of social and financial inequity
Above all, I recognize the diversity of our studies and the diversity of our lived experiences. By focusing on the aforementioned goals, I hope to improve the student experience for all students.
I hope you will strongly consider my candidacy for executive membership of ASSU.
Jia Chen
Hello,
My name is Lisa Chen and I am finishing my third year at U of T, as well as my third year as an executive on ASSU. If elected for a fourth year, I will work to bring more structure to the Budget Review Committee and Course Union Special Funding Request forms, as well as continue to push for improvement in the Faculty’s annual Course Evaluation.
In the three years that I have served on ASSU, I have helped the union push for Faculty-wide change such as Syllabi Regulation and an International Students Survey in 2014, and a referendum for a Fall Reading Week in 2015. Both with my team and as an individual, I have hosted internationally-renown speakers such as Wab Kinew and Ta-Nehisi Coates, in addition to fun de-stresser events such as a Nightmare before Christmas themed coffee-house, a ‘90s Themed Dance Party and cupcake decorating.
This year in addition to being an executive, I held the position of treasurer and worked closely with the Budget Review Committee to approve the Special Funding Request forms of Course Unions. I found that the Committee did not have a concrete set of guidelines to work from, and we had difficulty reaching consensus on which parts of a request to grant, and whether or not to grant 100% of the request. In 2016, I hope to create a solid set of guidelines based on precedent and approve SPFs in a fair and objective manner.
Crystal Gao
When I joined ASSU in 2014, I aimed to make an impact on the academic experiences of students in our faculty. Little did I know how this space would change me. Each of you play an important role on your course unions and engage with student affairs beyond… I am certain you can relate. Somewhere along the work we have been doing, this big campus began to feel a lot smaller.
Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege to work on initiatives to support our first year and international students, Mental Health week and course evaluations. This week, I am proud to be hosting our first Transition Week to help first year students find their crucial next steps for off-campus housing, academic planning and program enrolment. On Election Day, I will share a more in-depth overview of my past and ongoing projects as well as what I hope to achieve with ASSU Council next year.
To the course union leaders here today, I want to say, thank you for giving me your trust for the past two years. I hope you will give me another opportunity to work with you and continue on the projects that I’ve begun!
Amani Bosibori Moragia
Hey y’all,
My name is Bosi and I’m running to be your next ASSU student executive. I’m looking forward to bringing a dose of consistent black excellence to the Arts and Science Students Union, as well as a wealth of activities and initiatives that cater to the diverse student body. It’s lit.
Harrison Perry-Daiter
My name is Harrison Perry-Daiter and I am running for election to the Arts and Science Students’ Union Executive. I am a second year student majoring in European Studies, with minors in Russian and Jewish Studies.
I have been a firm advocate of student activism throughout my academic career. Pursuing broad education reform, I presented my speech “Sexism in the French Language” before a forum of Ontario secondary school French Language Department heads, for which I was awarded the Emblem of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
I have prior experience in student governance, having served as Vice President-Academic of the Slavic Languages Student Union. Acting upon our members’ right to efficient course evaluations, we are working with the Department to facilitate access to internal reviews, drawing from standardized year-end student feedback. Among my other student leadership initiatives, I served as Vice President of AFTER UofT. In this capacity, I co-organized a Professional Development Conference, a full day event that featured thirty guest speakers, and accommodated over three hundred students.
While building upon ASSU’s successes, my targets for 2016-2017 include efficient course evaluations, by offering accessible sessional feedback on professors, course instructors and teaching assistants. I would apply ASSU’s broad student outreach to promote engagement in Course Union events of all sizes.
Natalie Petra
I’m Natalie Petra and I’m running for re-election for the ASSU Executive. I am majoring in Ethics, Society and Law and Peace, Conflict and Justice, and minoring in Equity Studies. I am also a course union executive with the PCJ Society. I have served as an elected member of the Faculty’s Committee on Standing, on the UCLit’s Finance Committee, and as an orientation executive. Outside of school, I am a library board trustee, and serve as the Director of Communications for the New Democratic Youth of Canada.
Working with ASSU and the Faculty, I have learned and grown immensely. I had the pleasure of seeing the work of course unions and hearing student needs. Last year, I implemented an email system for ASSU, and ensured budgets, policies and minutes were accessible online. I was proud to work on the Fall Reading Week Referendum, and to advocate for an improved Course Evaluation system, better support systems for first years and international students, and mental wellness resources. I want to build on this by:
1) Implementing a feedback system for course unions, and providing resources to facilitate joint events.
2) Lobbying for nap spaces, improved mental wellness services, equity training and ending exam deferral fees.
3) Creating an open committee for students to get involved with the ASSU Executive’s work, and promoting ASSU’s services more widely.
4) Working to create a bursary for students in crisis.
Thanks for a great year – I sincerely hope to be able to serve again!
Priyanka Sharma
Hi there! I’m Priyanka Sharma (call me Pri!), studying Criminology and Psychology with a minor in English. As my second year comes to a close, I find myself at a place where I have gained enough experience to enhance my initiatives to the greater UofT community, and now am just awaiting the opportunity to do so – ASSU Executive is that perfect opportunity.
In the past two years I have been involved in my college and the university in almost every capacity. At Trinity College, my involvement ranges from being an executive member for organizing Frosh Week, Saints Charity Ball and Conversat Ball, to sitting on the executive panels for the Equity Committee, the Trinity Against Sexual Assault Initiative, Dramatic Society and more. As part of the larger campus community, I have had the pleasure to play on the St. George Tri-Campus Volleyball team, photograph for The Varsity, and represent the Pre-Law Society at competitions.
Through my interactions with the wide range of students at UofT, I have seen the possibility of creating a positive space, and how ASSU can expend it campus-wide to provide the healthiest and best academic and social experience to the largest faculty at UofT. I aim to focus on raising awareness of our student’s rights, varying from academic to other code of conduct policies (i.e. campus sexual assault). Through information empowerment and community events, I hope to foster an equitable space focusing on positive mental health, where every student can be engaged and supported.
Elena Iourtaeva