VP University Affairs

Opening:
Ted Horton: reduced tutition fees, bank of exams, etc. He has said that there are 4 good candidates; but that UofO needs a VP University Affairs with experience. I think he's going to try and say that he's the guy with that experience.

He's speaking about PRD right now, and now he's talking about organizing info sessions about students who are looking for leases. Says candidate "Equal in their interests but unequal in their experience."

Sydney Loko: Says most of us don't know him, is providing a brief history. Says foot patrol is a good way to communicate things to students (services etc.). He says he also has experience working with international house, and that most people there are Canadians looking to learn about other cultures. He is mentioning that he has started a West African association. He says that he can represent all students at the UofO.

Cameron Montgomery: Says that she has plenty of experience as president of student association, and as BOA member. She thinks that SFUO has students attention which is a pro, but that student-administration relations are not ideal, which is a con.

THE MICROPHONE IS CUTTING OUT! IT'S THE END TIMES!

She is also bringing up living conditions, and international students etc.

Moderated questions:
I missed the question
Ted Horton: Ted is talking about how issues such as racism are important. wants international students to have health insurance, he wants to represent students to the world and to the administration. wants to better daily life.

Sydney: According to Tristan: we need to understand the problem first before we can solve it. Or something like that

Cameron: Also is talking about dealing with issues of daily life. As well as bursaries, and the microphone is having issues again, and she is now discussing the issue of the student "ghetto" and poor living conditions.

Is there good enough representation at the BOG and Senate?
Sydney: He thinks that he thinks it's good that more people are interested in the campaign. He thinks federation is supposed to represent all students on campus, not only those who are most interested in issues/most involved.
Cameron Montgomery: Says that students too often don't show up to their spots on these boards. Says if students don't need to worry about paying for school etc., they will be able to concentrate more time to school politics.
Ted: We don't have enough representation. He says we need more seats on the BOG. Says SFUO needs better relationship with students to bring needs to admin etc.

A question at Cameron: How do you see the relationship between the SFUO and the University?
She says we need to address issues in a mature manner and it will be better respected.
Ted: We need to speak to the administration, if they don't listen then speak louder, and if they still don't listen we need to act. But dialogue and discussion are the essential aspects which first need to be covered.
Sydney: There is a problem with the current relationship. He says people need to respect the procedure.

What is the biggest academic issue facing students, how will you resolve it?
Ted: Lack of information, students don't know their rights. They don't know about appeals etc. He says students have rights and duties, but they don't know of them.
Sydney: Mentions that Student appeals centre published report condeming administration; he says that neither side really took the time to discuss the problems instead of being more confrontational.
Cameron: Microphone again. It's allergic to her or something. She says that there is due process, to change problems we need to be respectful. Says that students are here to learn and the University often seems to forget that.

Audience questions:
Based on past work by VP UA, what would you do differently?
Ted: Says that he sees large scale involvement as positive; but he also thinks that there should be more quiet diplomacy, quotes experience with UPass etc.
Sydney: Says he saw creation of Human Rights centre, says it's a good step. Says that most people don't know about it's existence as a problem.
Cameron: Thinks that enthousiasm toward this position was good, but that there was too much of a focus on campaigns and not enough on academics etc.

How are you going to get outside of the group of people who are regularly involved with the SFUO?
Syndey: You can only bring issues which are interesting to students; need diverse campaigns.
Cameron: Students who are involved don't neccesarily know how to reach out to other students. Talks as well about accessibility and bilingualism. She thinks online voting is good way to involve more students.
Ted: Says campus is a series of cliques, not just SFUO clique etc. Need to go beyond advertising on facebook/la rotonde/the fulcrum. Thinks there are many different groups.

I missed the question, they're speaking about the budget and surpluses

If the smoke free campus referendum passes what will you do to ensure it is successfully implemented?
Cameron: We'll need to work with the admin and protection. Mic problems again!
Ted: Need students to work towards it too.
Sydney: Needs admin employees to understand referendum, must convince them in order to have it successfully implemented.

There was another question but I've been caught up in other happenings around here.

Closing: Again, there are things going on, this debate has enough to read, I've been busy. Sorry.