TEAM CHR
Upholding student’s rights and reinstating Homecoming on our , solar s at Queen’s and debit and swipe cards at Common Ground; these are but a taste of what CHR has to offer Queen’s University. By setting an ambitious yet realistic agenda, CHR believes the AMS can provide tangible benefits to real students who may wonder what their student government has ever done for them. For example, the AMS can provide students with summer jobs in Kingston by forging a long overdue partnership with the Kingston business community. CHR believes that effective municipal advocacy requires gaining the respect of Kingston’s private sector in order to truly engage City Hall and improve town-gown relations.
CHR stands for the meaningful incorporation of equity into student government. The AMS must make this a priority not through rhetorical promises but through tangible action by the student body that shows why equity is important at Queen’s. CHR stands in solidarity with historically and systemically marginalized groups at Queen’s as they work to achieve this crucial goal.
The budget cuts pose an existential threat to many of our academic programs. CHR believes the AMS can be a stronger advocate on behalf of students to ensure academic quality and preserve the reputation of a Queen’s degree. On ‘Fauxcoming’ CHR will educate students on their rights, and ensure that Kingston police understand the student perspective. A positive ‘Fauxcoming’ in 2010 will ensure that Homecoming can be returned in 2011, on our and only for Queen’s students and alumni.
CHR will make your student services more efficient and your student union a more effective advocate for real students. CHR wants to make your student union better, faster, and stronger not only for next year, but for years to come. More information is available at voteCHR.com. And on February 2nd and 3rd , vote for team CHR.
TEAM PNF
Team PNF has the experience and the skills to take on the inevitable challenges of the year. Team PNF wants to Make it REAL: Representation, empowerment, accessibility, and student life (R.E.A.L.) embody their platform. They acknowledge real issues and have real ideas.
First and foremost, budget cuts are a reality and they will affect your time at Queen’s. It’s imperative that your student government acts as your voice to the istration. Team PNF is the team with the skills to do this. They will never give up fighting on your behalf.
Queen’s is defined by its emphasis on the student life experience. From a grassroots diversity initiatives grants program, to for clubs, to ensuring easy and efficient space booking in student life centres, Team PNF will make student life a priority. Team PNF believes that traditions help to further enrich the Queen’s experience, and cherished traditions such as the fall Homecoming should not be lost. Team PNF will work to reinstate it in the fall of 2011. Inclusive food options, and physical and financial accessibility are also priorities for the team. Team PNF will strive to ensure that every student is comfortable calling Queen’s home.
Internally, financial ability within AMS services is paramount. Team PNF will revamp the AMS’s financial system, to ensure efficiency, ability, and transparency. This will also allow for long-term strategic planning and will help to secure future success. Best utilizing the resources of the AMS will ensure the best return on student dollars.
Regardless of your relationship with the AMS, Team PNF will be there to ensure that your needs are met and your voice is heard. Team PNF’s ion, new perspectives, and drive set them apart. On February 2nd and 3rd vote PNF. Make it REAL.
NICK DAY, RECTOR CANDIDATE
It’s an awkward time for student leaders at Queen’s. More than ever, we have our work cut out for us. Classroom sizes are growing while professors are being laid off. Graduate school departments are scaling back their programs, while undergrads are nervous about the quality of their education. Budget cuts are on the rise and we are told to anticipate increasing tuition.
We as a community succeeded in re-dedicating a building to Robert Sutherland. We saw the publication of reports and research about diversity at Queen’s. Student leaders became vocal on these issues. However, this is far from a closed matter. Many individuals and groups on campus, myself included, want to make sure that equity doesn’t take a back seat as the istration tackles the coming challenges.
Though difficult times are anticipated, we mustn’t resign ourselves to a degraded quality of education. Through collaboration, we can find solutions. We can work with federal and provincial governments and lobby groups; create student-led initiatives to influence the istration; and we can ensure that our priorities are heard at the Board of Trustees.
A ionate rector will work with s, the Board, the Senate, the AMS and the faculty societies to amplify our voices and reinforce our communal efforts for a better Queen’s. I’ve already met with the Principal, the Dean of Student Affairs, the executives of the SGPS, the AMS Social Issues Commissioner, and the leaders of many motivated groups on campus to discuss how we can move forward.
The motto of the Rector is “to lead and to serve”. In the face of our obstacles, I will keep this in mind when I imagine what I will do with the position. I hope you give me the chance to live up to this ideal.
Thanks,
Nick Day
NICK FRANCIS, RECTOR CANDIDATE
My name is Nick Francis, I am a first year student, currently studying within the Arts & Science Faculty interested in Political Science. I am running for Rector with the ambition to turn my ion for Queen’s into enhancing the overall experience for all undergraduate and graduate students.
From the moment I stepped foot onto this campus, I have been looking for ways to get involved, moreover ways to give back to the Queen’s community with all I have. The position requires somebody with a strong ion for Queen’s, creative problem-solving skills and the willingness to serve the greater Queen’s community.
Although I am new to Queen’s the position of Rector is not one that can truly be prepared for, I believe that being principally guided, as I am, will allow me to act appropriately to the unique and very challenging situations that may arise. The definitive characteristic of a good Rector is one who can strongly advocate for the student body in these unexpected situations.
If elected as Rector, I would work towards making new connections for Queen’s to the world more than it is already. This could be made possible by implementing co-operative programs, decreasing international tuition fees, and implementing extra-curriculars to stimulate interest and awareness of the international opportunities Queen’s currently offers. The accessibility of the Rector is very important and I will ensure that students have a better understanding of the position along with a system for grievances that is student-friendly.
In addition, one of my main goals during the campaign and if elected to be Rector will be to place a high priority on the grievances of the student body and to understand and create a more holistic vision for the university, which I believe are in the interest of the greater student body.
Cha Gheill!
Nick Francis
RYAN LOW, RECTOR CANDIDATE
My name is Ryan Low and I want to represent all Queen’s Students, undergrad and graduate, alike as your next Rector of Queen’s University. The Queen’s education is a combination of the academic, extra-curricular, and the overall social atmosphere provided to its students, and the level of quality those are provided at. As the Rector, I know I would be able to address issues from the wide variety of students at Queen’s and be able to find solutions and convey them to the istering bodies of the university. The following are examples of current issues facing Queen’s Students I would correct.
Budget cuts are jeopardizing the quality of the academics at Queen’s. So much of the istrative focus has been on “how can we squeeze the most out of the limited budget we will be given”. I disagree, and will strongly advocate for creative revenue sources to continue expending at the same level as previous years so that the high quality of the academics that is offered at this university will not diminish, but instead flourish.
Reputation is another issue facing the quality of Queen’s education. The effects of our reputation being tarnished due to poor homecoming events in previous years has caused decreases in funding coming into Queen’s and has made some employers hold a Queen’s degree in lower standing than in past years. With the position of Rector I would be heavily involved in the re-evaluation of homecoming moving forward from its two year hiatus, and would be a strong advocate for student rights with or without an official homecoming.
These are just two of the issues I would be in the position to correct, and will correct if elected. This is your Queen’s, and the Rector should advocates for the best Queen’s. I will be that Rector.
DIATRIBE
Imagine the following: you’re in the wilderness, surrounded by ninjas, with nothing but a beach towel, a half-eaten bag of Doritos, an amusing novelty hat you bought at the Democratic National Convention, and your wits. What do you do?
A) Write a Journal opinions piece so everyone knows how bad your situation is
B) Call the Obama istration and beg them to bail you out
C) VOTE YES TO DIATRIBE ON FEB 3RD
Diatribe is a free student magazine with a provocative take on what matters in and outside the bubble. We offer an outlet for creative, edgy, and analytical work on any topic on the spectrum, and we’ll publish anyone with good writing, a solid argument, and straight facts. From genocide in the third world, to the mature life of indie rock, to the mass-consciousness of an exploding internet society, to vampires and sex, Diatribe dishes out opinions on all the controversial issues that Queen’s cares about.
Why do we need your 45 cents? Because printing 3000 copies of a magazine costs a thousand dollars once a month, and as committed as our staff is, we don’t have the kind of money to pay that out of pocket. Here’s a better question: Why do you want to give us your 45 cents? With a student interest fee we won’t need ments, and we can print longer issues, more often, with better quality paper and colour – so that rather than just kind of blowing your mind, Diatribe will leave your grey matter splattered all over the back wall of MacCorry cafeteria.
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Queen’s is a group of students who are ionate about
development. Despite what our name suggests, we are open to students from all faculties. We are
dedicated to overcoming global inequalities, but also to understanding that development is not an issue with a simple solution. We build awareness of the opportunities we have as students, residents of Canada and of the global community, to reduce poverty.
We do this by creating opportunities for students with varying degrees of knowledge and
interest. We hold Member Learning meetings to learn about the root causes of poverty, how to tangibly create change in Canada and much more. This learning fosters the attitudes required to create the change we would like to see.
We deliver interactive workshops to local secondary school students on issues such as water
and food scarcity through our School Outreach program. We engage the campus through events like handing out Fair Trade chocolate, running discussions, and inviting speakers. We work with faculty, political representatives and other student groups, informing students on how they can advocate for better government policy.
Starting this summer, we will be sending Queen’s student volunteers to work on Engineers
Without Borders projects overseas. These projects attempt to improve access to clean water and
sanitation, increase farmers’ yields and local entrepreneurs. However, the work of the student volunteer is mostly in ing the capacity of partner organizations in our host communities and is non-technical.
EWB Queen’s is part of a network of chapters at campuses across the country. This network
provides our with opportunities to collaborate and learn from students and leaders across the Canada. Using this network and the talents of our , we aim to create positive change.
Voting for this year’s winter referendum will take place Feb. 2 and 3. For more referendum statements please see Friday’s paper.
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