www.theotherpress.ca NEws. Get to know your Douglas Students Union representatives Shila Avissa fights for rights of marginalized student populations Julia Siedlanowska Staff Writer hila Avissa is a Member- at-large of the Douglas Students’ Union (DSU) representative committee. In her interview with the Other Press, Avissa talks about her role, the issues important to her, and how she got her start in student politics. Could you explain for us your role as Member-at-large at the DSU? What duties does this include? There are currently three Members-at-large, and our mandated role is to assist the Constituency Liaisons (Pride, Women’s, Aboriginal, and Disabilities Representatives) with their events and duties. We are also responsible for making sure all events, campaigns, and tablings done by the DSU go smoothly. I make sure I’m present at our film screenings, free food days, tablings, and [other events] to promote our campaigns and to provide more information for our members regarding the DSU. We're also responsible for keeping all message boards on both campuses clean and organized. When did you start being interested in student politics at the DSU? I got to know the DSU last year when I was working for the Women’s Centre as we did quite a few events collaboratively. Through this opportunity, I got to know the students’ union, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), and student politics better. Let’s just say I was definitely very inspired by their work and the things they believe in. In addition to that, I thought it is extremely important for this DOUGLAS STUDENTS: Local 18 = Canadian Federation of Students: ’{ a | 7 yak! ae Faas, : fis 1 i college’s student union to have at least one international student representative, especially since the college has such a large international student population. I was also interested in supporting the roles of Constituency Liaisons, to fight for the rigthts of marginalized students at Douglas College. Because of this, as a queer woman of colour and an international student, I decided to run for the position. I’m so proud to say that this year’s Board of Elected Representatives Sa UNION Wo | LAWS Phato courtesy of Joel McCarthy has two international students and comprises of such a diverse group of folks. How has working with the DSU affected your life? Have you found it helpful in other aspects of your daily life? Working here has definitely changed my life. ] became more involved politically. I also have become more aware of the struggles that students experience, from skyrocketing tuition fees to systemic and institutionalized oppression. I definitely became more passionate in, together with the DSU, CFS, and post-secondary students all across Canada, to create change. So, yes, this experience has definitely created a positive impact on me. If you could change one thing at Douglas College, what would it be? I would like to see Douglas College pay more attention to its Women’s Centre. It can play such a crucial role in providing important services to self- identified female students. There is a large population of women in the college at both campuses, and there is an obvious need for an active and functioning Women’s Centre. What advice do you have for Douglas students? Always have an open, inquiring mind, and try to bea humble person. What advice would you give someone wanting to get involved with the DSU? We love, love volunteers, so please do come by our office at New West or David Lam if you'd like to find out more about how to get involved! Over the next several weeks, we will be featuring the various members of the DSU representative committee. If you have any questions you would like to ask, email them to news@ theotherpress.ca or send us a tweet @TheOPNews. Hungry for change Welfare Food Challenge meant to illustrate required changes to income assistance Patrick S Vailancourt News Editor Ss news@rheotherpressca BC group with goals of lleviating poverty and homelessness in the province is inviting the public to participate in their second annual Welfare Food Challenge. The challenge, which saw over 130 people participate last year, insists that a participant live on only $26 of food for one week, roughly the amount a recipient of income assistance would have left after paying for expenses such as housing and transit. The week-long challenge begins on Wednesday October 16, coinciding with the United Nations’ World Food Day. A single income assistance recipient with no dependents receives $610 per month, a rate which has been frozen for over six years. Bill Hopwood, the organizer for the Raise the Rates campaign which launched the Welfare Food Challenge, says that $26 seems to be the average amount remaining for an income assistance recipient once all other expenses are factored in. “This is based on the knowledge that welfare recipients have to pay for rent, bus tickets, phone calls and some hygiene out of their $610, and there is little money left for other expenses,” said Hopwood. Hopwood states that while income assistance is meant to provide some protection for people who have fallen on hard times, the amount of assistance provided is inadequate to prevent people from falling into poverty and the associated stresses that come with poverty. “[We’re] working to raise public awareness of the extreme poverty of people on welfare and how this causes ill-health, stress, and emotional harm,” said Hopwood. Hopwood laments that while the income assistance regime costs billions of dollars in BC taxpayer money every year, raising the income assistance rates may provide the provincial government with savings in other areas, such as in health care and other social services frequented by people on income assistance. Organizers of the Welfare Food Challenge are actively looking for participants to take it up this year. Last year, over 130 people took on the challenge, including journalists, students, politicians, and health care workers. In January of 2012, then- Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar spent the entire month living on the income assistance rate, moving into a small room and spending no more than the income assistance allowance for food and other items. After completing the month- long challenge, he had lost 26 pounds. “I learned a great deal from my experience of living on $610, the welfare rate, for the month of January 2012,” said Brar in a statement made last year on the Raise the Rates website. “One thing I know is that it is extremely difficult to get enough nutritious food. I was often hungry and at times my head was fuzzy.” Those interested in taking the challenge can get more information on the Raise the Rates website at raisetherates. org