THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
March has marched on, and with it, another University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union general election. Less than 10 per cent of undergraduates students voted in the election that named University Students’ Council and University Senate members, including the four executive positions that entail a salary of almost $40,000.
An underwhelming 1,697 students — only 9.34 per cent of the 18,175 undergraduate students at the U of S — cast their votes in the election. The presidential position was the only contested one, and Regan Ratt-Misponas won the seat by a slim 66 votes over Kylie Phillips. Maintaining a more than 10-year-long trend for uncontested positions, each of the sole vice-presidential candidates secured their seats.
Although all USSU executive positions have been filled, 12 of the 25 seats on the USC remain vacant — which means that students can expect to see a byelection in the fall. Likewise, one of the six student seats on the University Senate remains unfilled.
Presidential position secured with 689 votes, 40.6 per cent of the total votes
How are you feeling about the win?
“I am feeling content. It feels like there is a huge amount of pressure of my shoulders. I spent much of the last two weeks on the ground meeting people, and that’s what I want to continue. I can only say thank you to both the other president candidates.”
One word to describe the U of S?
“Home. For the last four years, I have been here. I came to Saskatoon for this reason — to get post-secondary education. I can’t say how much I love it and the community here. I’ve met some of my best friends here. This is a privilege. Getting to come here and experience life here as a student has been one of the best things.”
Do you have a message for students?
“Especially during finals, just know, my friends, that we are going to make it. It’s going to be heavy for the next few weeks, and we may feel like this isn’t something we want to do for the rest of our lives, but it only lasts a short time. But the benefits from it are going to last a lifetime. Just push through.”
Will you pursue the creation of an Indigenous Students’ Union?
“It is true I have been involved in the movement for an ISU on campus. It is still something that I see can happen on campus, but at the end of the day that decision has always been in the hands of Indigenous students. It’s not my decision. It’s the decision of the 3000 Indigenous students that make up this community. Tat is self-determination.”
Vice-president academic affairs position secured with 1051 votes, 61.9 percent of the total votes
How do you feel about the win?
“I feel pretty content. It was an uncontested race so it was more of a race against yourself, more or less. You’re fighting yourself in an election — like your reputation and what you say. I was really relieved that it turned out the way it did.”
What is the most important objective for you in the upcoming term?
“Working with the affordability proposal in my platform… At the end of the month, it’s always really tight, so giving students the opportunity to have access to money and funds by applying for these scholarships is defnitely beneficial for them.”
Do you have a message for students?
“My door is always open — I love talking, and getting to know people in general is really fun. If you want to talk about academics, you’re more than welcome to come into my office. If you want to talk about your day, you’re welcome to come into my office. I’m here to serve and to help people, so my time is for everybody.”
What is step number one in bringing your proposed scholarship bundles into effect?
“My first step is assessing all of the current scholarships that exist in the university and trying to see what requirements each scholarship has, and based on that, trying to group them together depending on your major [and] depending on the application process you need and just trying to make them work together.”
Vice-president operations and finance position secured with 994 votes, 58.6 per cent of the total vote
How do you feel about the win?
“The win for me is reaching a goal I’ve set out for myself in the past few years because I’ve wanted VP Operations and Finance for a few years, and now, I’ve just reached a point where I felt ready to actually run for it. I felt prepared enough that, if it were a job application, I would feel comfortable enough submitting my application.”
What is your timeline for when your proposals can be utilized by students?
“I want to start having these discussions as soon as I’m in office. I want to survey work nationally — similar work that’s done to get a sense of what I can do, what is culturally appropriate, what I can take from cultures … to guide me in my discussions.
“I want to have this all done and published — again with the budget documents — by August, so that way, students can have them ready to go when they come on campus in September.”
Do you have a message for students?
“Don’t procrastinate — I know it’s hard. I just pulled an all-nighter, and it sucks. Do your projects, do your readings, [and] study. For frst-year students specifically, try to get involved as much as possible, because the more you integrate yourself with your campus and your classmates, the more fun you’ll have the rest of your degree.”
What is a fun fact about you?
“I’m a notary public. Services and rates are available at jamiehbell.com.”
Vice-president student affairs position secured with 856 votes, 50.4 per cent of the total vote
How are you feeling about the win?
“I’m really excited — even to get to know the other executives, the staff and to see how I can engage with students. Tat is something that I think is needed.”
What are some of your hobbies?
“I like photography, … travelling whenever I have time of, [and] I like driving. I really like going out to Vancouver — that’s my favourite place.”
Fun fact about you?
“I know how to salsa dance.”
One word to describe the U of S?
“Connected. Not just within the university but how it connects to Canada through research or whatever. Tat’s what I like about this position — I get to connect with many different people.”
What is the most important thing you plan to do this year in your position?
“Student engagement. If I could get student groups doing cross events, seeing different groups of people work together, that’s the main thing.”
Do you have a message for students?
“I really want students to get involved with extracurricular activities — especially if it can somehow connect with their studies, so they can bring it all together.”
Exploration was part of your platform: what tangible ways do you plan you explore campus?
“Getting to meet all the ratified campus groups and then getting to know the challenges that they might have.”
College of Agriculture and Bioresources
College of Arts and Science
College of Education
Edwards School of Business
International Students
College of Medicine
College of Nursing
St. Thomas More College
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Note: There were some seats for which no one was nominated. Therefore, there are eight other vacancies.
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Tanner Bayne / News Editor
Jack Thompson / Sports & Health Editor
