New year. New faces. Same objectives.<\/p>\n
The new Brock University Students\u2019 Union executive team is starting off their term with high energy,lots of laughs and excitement for the year to come.<\/p>\n
But if there\u2019s one thing that Patrick Foster, Julia Wood, Faisal Hejazi and Jad Nasser are looking forward to the most, it\u2019s bringing positive\u00a0change to campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day we remind ourselves that we work for 18,000 students,\u201d Foster, BUSU President, says. \u201cWhat we do on a daily basis is shaped by what they need, and those needs change rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new executives agree they are committed to the students and their priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want students to know what BUSU is really about and where our priorities lie,\u201d says Nasser, Vice-President Student Services.<\/p>\n
Transit, food affordability and mental health initiatives will continue to be among their central priorities, with previous years\u2019 programming remaining in their plan for the next academic year.<\/p>\n
However, students can expect to see a renewed dedication to extra study space, a push for flat rate cab fares and increased diversity awareness on campus.<\/p>\n
When it comes to supporting the students, \u201cthere is clearly a great need for us to step up and be more active,\u201d Foster says.<\/p>\n
Wood, Vice-President External Affairs, says\u00a0the team has also \u201cmade sexual violence a priority,\u201d working with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance on creating a crisis management plan and additional support services on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great opportunity for Brock to make that change at the provincial level,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Hejazi, Vice-President Finance and Administration, credits their dedication to these issues to the connections they\u2019ve made with students with strong voices.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur passion for the students is what drives us to continue to make a change,\u201d he says. \u201cEven if I\u2019m able to help just one student, I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the executives move forward with any decision, Foster recognizes the importance of not only checking in with the rest of the team, but also checking in with themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask ourselves, \u2018Is this what\u2019s best for our students?\u2019\u201d he explains. \u201cWe\u2019re conscious of the importance of this job so we not only need to be smart about the choices we make, we should also be transparent and be able to show the students how we came to the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, Foster says the executive team is just ordinary students with an extraordinary job.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see us in class, at an event, or in the halls, come talk to us. There is no barrier, we are students just like you, and we represent you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t