Since deciding to run for COMPSA president, Julia Duimovich has been eagerly seeking advice from past presidents.
“Presidents say they find themselves the most prepared at the end of their term, so talking to them seems like the best strategy,” Duimovich, CompSci ’15, said, adding that she’s heard from those she’s talked to that enrolment is a major issue facing most faculties.
“I would say the School of Computing desperately needs new professors and I can’t imagine there’s a lot of money waiting around for the right candidate to show up,” she said. “I think lobbying, working with the AMS to make sure we get better resources for all Arts and Science, and actually all faculties, is a good goal.”
Duimovich said she pledges to COMPSA Site Services, a new web-design business run through the School of Computing faculty, to create a student lounge for computing students, increase the resources available to students and to make COMPSA more visible both in the School of Computing and on campus.
If elected, she plans to start preparing for next year in the coming months by creating a product manager and business manager position which she hopes will make the business more feasible. Duimovich said she’s been involved with COMPSA since first-year, and it’s been helpful in creating her “niche” on campus.
“It’s given me a lot of upper year friends who have taught me a lot about Queen’s, about how orientation runs, about a lot of things,” she said. “I wouldn’t be so politically inclined without them.”
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Sahib Purba wants to make COMPSA more visible if elected as president.
The second-year computing student has been involved in COMPSA throughout his time at Queen’s, last year as the first-year representative for COMPSA and this year as a tech and as the vice-president for University Affairs.
Purba hopes to increase COMPSA’s presence by building on this year’s ‘Frost Week,’ as well as hosting more events throughout the year and increasing attendance at inter-faculty events.
“I think it’s a big issue because we are a small group on campus and I feel like we don’t get enough recognition,” Purba said. “I want COMPSA to be a name around Queen’s.”
By increasing the number of events, Purba is optimistic that COMPSA can attract a greater cross-section of the computing student body. He said currently the same group of students comes out to every event and he’d like for more people to become involved.
He hopes to plan events next year for the return of Homecoming, which will coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the School of Computing.
Purba said he feels there’s been a great discrepancy between what past presidents said they would do and what they ended up doing.
If elected, Purba would also like to increase the role of the fundraising and sponsorship committee to help bring in funds to host more events.
He said he feels it’s important that students become involved while at Queen’s so they can develop their skills and connections, preparing students for the workplace.
“With greater participation I feel like it brings our already small family closer together,” he said.
Voting takes place on Jan. 29 and 30.
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