March 3, 2008 By-election for student seat on College Board begins March 3'¢ By Nikalas Kryzanowski, News Editor Te election time again at Douglas College and a by-election has been set in motion to fill the one vacant student representative position on the Douglas College Board of Directors (the other student seat is already held by Yasmin Irani). The Douglas College Board acts on behalf of the public and oversees the affairs of the institution (including property, revenue and expenditures) and the student seats are there to provide a voice for students within the college business framework. Voting will be held between March 3-7, 2008, and eligible students are encouraged to either vote online or on campus. This time around, students have four candidates to choose from. Running this year for the seat are Priscilla Bartleman, Sebastian Bubrick, Alysia MacGrotty and Matthew Steinbach. Here is a closer look at each candidate in his or her own words: Priscilla Bartleman I am a Tsartlip first nations from Victoria BC. I have many years of experience being a voice for my peers and feel this experience would make me an asset to the College Board. I am ready to work with the current board to make positive advancements. I have a fresh pair of eyes and I will work on speaking for the student body as a whole. I am a strong believer in good communication and having worked with a variety of boards where I have gained the tools needed to communicate efficiently on the board level. I understand what it takes to be a representative for a wide range of people and their individual or collective needs. I also see the barriers that some may face in their educational and life goals, this gives me a better understanding as to what is expected of me when speaking on their behalf. I believe in empowerment through unity and cooperation; and we as a whole student body, young and mature, have one thing in common and that is the drive to succeed. I will make choices that will enhance the opportunity for us to reach our goals individual and collective. I believe in team work and leadership and believe that it takes someone who can do both to be a good participant in any movement. I would like to assist in helping the school strive towards the future standards it wishes to achieve. Sebastian Bubrick My name is Sebastian Bubrick and I would like to be your Student Representative on College Board. I am currently enrolled in the Commerce and Business University Transfer program. I sit on Education Council, another government mandated board required by the Colleges and Institutes Act just like College Board. I also sit on the Standing Committee on Admissions and Language Competency Standards as well as the Occupation Health and Safety Committee, all here at Douglas College. My involvement in school politics started about two years ago and it really came about because I wanted to learn more about this kind of stuff and be a part of my school. I feel very passionately about representing students on College Board and I have a lot of experience that I’d like to put to use. If elected to College Board I will make sure student concerns are heard at the table and we, the students, are represented. Alysia MacGrotty We are all uniquely different, yet we all have an equal right to vote, be heard and express ourselves. By electing me, Alysia MacGrotty, as your Student Representative for College Board, you are making an informed decision. I am a strong believer that things happen for a reason and in a way I’m here because I have a purpose at Douglas and a genuine spirit to enhance and contribute to students’ post-secondary experience. 1. Clear, Concise and Coherent Voice for Students Your opinions and concerns are valued; especially in regards to student space, food options, and transportation or tuition fees. 2. Work to Implement the UPass Douglas College has potential to provide students with a UPass, which is inevitably highly demanded by students. 3. Support a Campus Wide Recycling System Only 30% of classrooms at Douglas have recycling bins available for paper. As a member of the College Board, I will address those issues and collaborate effectively. with you, staff, faculty and administrators. Above all, it is the students and the community at Douglas that inspire me to take on the initiative of running to be a Student Representative on College Board. I value the concerns and issues that affect students and want to ensure that their voice is being heard. With positive thoughts and intentions, I am confident that I have ability to make progressive change to help students achieve their goals at Douglas. Matthew Steinbach I decided to run because I represent the Douglas Students’ Union at the table already, however, they do not have to recognize my speaking rights. If the speaker wishes to, he can pass over me. If I am elected that is not the case. The reason this is important is because at one of the meetings I heard a member of the board discuss the reason that students are not taking a full five course load is because they are here to party and a variety of other reasons. I had to speak up, I tried to as a non student representative on the board, so did other groups in the same situation, but alas we were not able to discuss the issue. I have plenty to offer students and the board and I want to bring this to the table, discuss the issues and make a difference. Currently there are many courses that could be cut. This will affect students’ ability to access classes they will need over the next year. It’s incredibly important to ensure that all students are taken care of. By working with other student representatives on the College Board, we need to stay together and present a united student voice. By doing so we can ensure that our issues are heard and that we will be well represented for years to come.