The Student Union Society (SUS) is a student run organization that operates with a governance style leadership elected on behalf of UFV students. The student government represents the needs of the students and works towards creating a better campus experience for them. Every year, SUS holds an election for different positions to represent and serve the students, including the President and the Vice President Internal. The voting period for this year’s elections is from Mar. 21 to 24, 2022.
The 2021 elections had a voter turnout of 522 students (a mere three per cent of the student body) voting for the uncontested President and Vice President Internal nominees, with approximately 15 per cent of those votes becoming null due to being “spoiled ballots”. According to SUS elections officer Caitlin Garfias-Chan, students will receive an email on March 21, 2022 to vote, noting also that “there will be occasional reminders for those who have not voted.”
According to Garfias-Chan, to help engage more student voting participation, SUS is focusing more on their social media presence this year. They have filmed the candidates debate and will be creating videos of each candidate as well. Students can read more about each candidate’s platforms on the SUS website.
The Cascade sat down with each candidate to create this guide to help you decide who to vote for in this upcoming election. All UFV students who pay student fees have a say in who represents them in their student government. Please vote.
Presidential candidates
The president represents the student body at UFV. They are the official spokesperson of SUS and the liaison between SUS and the university. Working with the executive director, the full-time staff member hired by the executive team, the president runs the day-to-day operations of SUS and ensures the strategic direction of the board of directors is put into action.
Nikiel Lal (rerunning)
Can you tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV?
I am the current president of SUS, and I’m running for re-election. One thing I’m proud of, for myself and our team, is with the ever-changing dynamics of what this year has brought, we have been able to pivot and react very quickly to every situation. Specifically, what I’m proud of this last year was our Kickback event, which increased campus engagement. It was made in a way that was accessible and inclusive to a wide variety of students. I’m proud of the campus shuttle and improving community partnerships; I partnered with the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Abbotsford Canucks, and other local businesses for discount programs for UFV students. These mostly small wins to community partnership was something I was happy with, and I want to continue to grow because it adds to that experience and advocacy. We did a lot of that with provincial and federal governments, and lobbying UFV as well, in advocating for students during the tough times, like the B.C. floods and pandemic. Prior to my presidency at UFV, I was at Douglas College, which was where I sat on their student union government, so I definitely understand the scope of government from many different lenses.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
My pitch is definitely impactful leadership. I think what’s really important is that all students should be heard, and, as president of the Student Union Society, my job is to listen to their voices, to understand the issues that students are facing, and tackle those issues, and to allow for students to have a safe place to have access to services and resources, affordability, campus life, and engagement. My job is to ensure that these projects are being pushed and these things are happening for students. I want students to know that voting for me is a vote for impactful leadership that students will see and continue to see.
What are the main goals you’re hoping to achieve if you are elected?
I do have a lot of new goals that I’m very confident I can achieve. It’s no secret that we need a route back to Langley for the shuttle. All year, our team has been working with BC Transit and trying to figure out a solution. If re-elected, I will be working hard to ensure that there is a plan for a transit service available from Langley to our UFV campus. Along with our student discount program, we’ve been working hard on our students perks program that is going to be launching in May. I want to make sure that it is going to be sustainable, and that we continue to build off this program and add value. Mental health is something I’m also extremely passionate about and it’s something that I want to make a big difference on, because mental health services are essential. I plan on launching a big survey regarding mental health in September, and with that data, I’m going to create a strategic plan that addresses barriers that exist for students to access support. I’ll be working very closely with the university to continue to grow the support already in place and grow services. We have our JEDI program, which is justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. It’s something that I’m also very passionate about. UFV is a place where all students have the right to feel successful, and welcomed, and I want to continue to work towards creating that safe place for students. Another big thing I’m super passionate about is the food bank. Food insecurity is a problem that no students should face at all. This last year, I have had the opportunity to meet with a couple different student unions, such as the University of Alberta and MacEwen, and we have done extensive work on tackling food insecurity, and I am very dedicated to continuing that work that I’ve already started and providing students and our food bank with sustainability. With the success and feedback we received over Kickback, I want to continue to grow engagement on campus to ensure that there are more fun and exciting events and ways for people to get involved. I want to increase inclusivity. I want to intentionally plan both online and in-person events to increase opportunities for engagement. I want to make sure that everyone has an unforgettable experience here at UFV.
What about SUS as an organization would you look to improve or change?
That’s a tough question. I think this last year, our team has done such amazing work to really hear students’ voices and work towards building better in the work [we’ve] done with the university, growth in our organization, outreach to students, working with other universities, having the opportunity to work with our lobby organizations, such as the Alliance of BC Students, and the Canadian Federation of Students. There has been a lot of great work that has been done to advance our student union, and to provide a space, opportunities, and services that students can be proud of, and want to be actively involved in. However, I understand that that is continuous work that will never stop.
Danika Elias
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I first became involved with the Student Union Society last year when I ran for faculty of College of Arts representative in winter 2021. That was my first introduction to SUS, its mission, and all the amazing people that are involved with the organization. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work as a board member, getting acquainted with the internal functioning of the organization and doing my best to increase student engagement on campus. I played for the Cascades women’s rugby team for a short while; I was involved with the Academic Success Centre and the Political Science Student Association.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
Students should vote for me because they can count on me to be somebody that’s going to listen to them. I want them to feel like when they see me on campus, they can say “hi,” and I think that a lot of the time, people that are represented by the students, they can become out of touch with that, because they might get caught up in the administrative duties and all these other responsibilities that are associated with the job. But campus engagement, student engagement, and what students care about most is what’s at the forefront. I want to make sure that when people come to UFV, that they feel like they have a place here and they belong. So that’s what I think SUS should be about. It’s about [the students’] concerns. And that’s always going to be at the forefront for me.
What are the main goals you are hoping to achieve if elected?
I think that I want students to have more events that they feel comfortable attending, whether they’re coming with a group or they’re coming alone. I think that as a bit of a commuter campus, we sometimes will head off after our class, and don’t always take that extra minute to make that connection. I will change that; I would like to try and work on the environment. So people say, “You know what, I’m gonna head over to the university tonight and see what’s going on, there’s always something going on and I know that I’m welcome there.” That’s something that I would really like to make happen on campus. That can happen through increasing the amount of funding available to clubs and associations, and also other great events that the Student Union Society hopes to put on in the coming years. I know that we have the staff and also the passion available. So, I’d like to put that to use and make sure that we’re giving back to the students.
What about SUS as an organization would you look to improve or change?
I think that the mandate of SUS is something that doesn’t need to be changed. I think that it is a fantastic ideal that supports the will of students. But I think that sometimes it’s not the words, it’s about the culture. I think that’s something that might need to change. I’m running for president because I believe it needs to change [because] I haven’t always felt that my concerns were being represented at the highest level. I sometimes felt like they were not the reason that decisions were being made. I felt like it was important for me to be able to run for president to have a seat at the table during those important times where student concerns [are met].
Vice President Internal candidates
The vice president internal role is related to the internal workings of SUS. They are the treasurer and secretary of the society, and oversee finances, ensure adherence to the budget, and review and update SUS’s bylaws and policies.
Adam Magalhaes (running unopposed)
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV
I started my relationship with SUS when I first enrolled in fall 2019. We had the [federal] elections that year and I joined the Get Out the Vote campaign, which [is] a nationwide campaign in Canada to increase student voter turnout in participating universities. In 2021, I did the same thing. Also [during] my time at UFV, I participated as a member of the Debate Association (which no longer exists), organizing debates, events, designing promotional material, and some of the social media aspects of the association. Currently, I’m the sitting co-president of the Political Science Association.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I would like to keep SUS on track as it’s been for the past few years now. There’s a lot of new changes that have been implemented on the website, a lot of new events that they’ve organized; of course, COVID-19 really disrupted all of that. But [SUS is making] a lot of changes to make the organization more transparent, which, as a paying member of the society, benefits everyone. I would like to continue to carry that torch. Some of my plans are to digitize all of the archives of the society which have a room stacked full of files, but also to standardize the policies and bylaws that govern the society from within. Which, to be fair, sounds boring, but that’s a job that needs to be done, especially because it pertains to the financial aspects of the organization and internal management. That is important.
Are there any current SUS bylaws or policies that you would want to change and why?
Not necessarily changed, more so revised. As in wording everything to make it clearer, not for the sake of the current administration, but the future administrations. And it’s a work that is ongoing, but there’s still lots to be accomplished in that regard.
Is there anything within the SUS budget that you would like to see revised?
We are making a few changes from internal discussions. I’m not sure how much freedom I have to speak of them. But we’re speaking of increasing the budget for clubs and associations for the organization of events, which is important. Lately, we haven’t done much of that because of obvious reasons. The campus has been shut down for a long time. Also, more allocation for student funding regarding emergency funds, [such as] the food bank and all of that. So, we’re working on those changes.
Vice President External candidates
The vice president external’s role is to advocate for UFV students with both the university and local, provincial, and federal governments. They represent SUS on various committees at the university and in external advocacy groups. Right now, SUS is a member of the Alliance of B.C. Students (ABCS) and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).
Ashley McDougall (rerunning)
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I have been the vice president external at SUS since the by-election in October, and I have been working on projects in my role here, [such as] campaigning for a fall reading break for the university. That’s been a huge kind of advocacy project for me during this term, and if re-elected, I aim to continue that project. We’ve also started a video series here at SUS called “Know your Rights,” which is basically interview style videos for the SUS YouTube channel, breaking down UFV policies. That’s a project I’ve been working on with our vice president internal, and that’s another project that, if re-elected, I would love to continue. We’ve also done some provincial and federal advocacy through our lobbying partners here at SUS, as well the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the Alliance of B.C. students. Outside of SUS, I’m also the co-president of the Political Science Student Association.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
If students vote for me, I will continue advocating for a fall reading break and continuing advocacy provincially and federally through our lobbying alliances. I want to advocate for the best interests for students and student advocacy is a passion of mine. If re-elected I will continue advocating for the best interests of students at UFV.
How will you look to make tangible changes with your advocacy work around the university?
I know I have talked about it quite a bit, but going back to advocating for a fall reading break, the goal would be to work with the university to implement that, and I think that would be a tangible change that I really aim to make at the university.
What do you think is a priority issue that UFV students want SUS to advocate for?
I think right now especially, mental health is a huge issue on campus. I think that is something that really needs to be supported, and as the vice president external, I would want to support students’ mental health in any way possible, especially just coming out of all of the waves of COVID-19 and the flooding. I think [it has] taken a toll on students’ mental health, and I think that’s probably a big concern right now on campus.
Naman Tachilote
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I am a third-year UFV student, but my first two years were in the Chandigarh [India] campus. So, I was involved in many activities over there, I was involved in many clubs, and I was the student company coordinator for two consecutive terms.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I am bringing a new perspective to the table. The majority of students in the student union are domestic students, and their perspectives of the problems they see are related to the issues they see as domestic students. When you’re not able to see a problem, you cannot give a solution. As I recently moved here from India, I know how tough it is for the transition between India and Canada; it’s a totally new country and campus. There are different things that international students go through that they shouldn’t have to go through. So, I want to make sure that does not happen to them. I want to make sure that everyone gets comfortable here.
How will you look to make tangible changes with your advocacy work around the university?
There are many changes that I want to make, such as the abolishment of the flat fee system, which is a system that makes international students pay for four courses even if they don’t take four courses. If I only decide to [enroll in] three courses, I still have to pay for four. The fees are already more than 450 per cent higher for international students, so that is very tough.
What do you think is a priority issue that UFV students want SUS to advocate for?
If the COVID-19 cases start to increase again, one big struggle that will come is the decision between online or offline or hybrid education. I would like to make a new type of education that will be student choice: they can attend the class or they can attend the online lecture [depending on their] preference; if they feel safe coming to the university, they can come and attend classes in-person. In case this scenario comes in, which it likely might because of how things are going and changing, I would really like to work on it. And any other thing that I can get to know from people, I would like to make sure that happens. I would like to make an open door policy for the union so that people can come anytime and make it easy to be accessible.
Vice President Students candidates
The VP students’ primary role is student programming: they advise Clubs and Associations (C&A) executives and work with SUS staff who develop and organize events.
Stefan Boekhorst
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I’ve actually been working as a facility crew member and technician for about three to four years now. I’ve met a lot of people through SUS because the office staff has changed quite a bit, as well as new electoral staff such as the president and vice president, so I’ve definitely seen SUS grow over time. I’ve actually been a student here since 2013, too, so I’ve seen it all. I remember when [Building S] wasn’t even a building and when U-House was still a thing too. I’ve seen a lot of people and have made a lot of connections; it’s been a great learning experience and I’ve become more open minded about things that I’ve never thought of before. It’s been great being here.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I feel like students should vote for me because I want to create a lot of engagement events that we used to have; not even just SUS events, but UFV as a whole too. Especially with COVID-19 and everybody being inside all the time and not used to being around people, I want to create ways for people to start to reconnect with each other as well. Sure, we all want to have fun once in a while, but for me, the important thing about creating more events and creating more opportunities for clubs and associations to grow is that, at the end of the day, a lot of these people that you’re going to classes with, you’re going to be working with them in the long run, so why not make it a great experience? Who knows? Maybe those important people that you meet in the future are your classmates right now, so I feel like it’s very important to create positive relationships while you can.
What kind of programming do you think SUS is lacking right now and what would you do to change that?
I feel right now, just because there is brand new office staff, trying to make more engagement with students. I feel there needs to be a little more communication with students about what kind of benefits they have, what kind of environments that they’re allowed to be in — for example, the SUS lounge that opened on the second floor. Something like that wasn’t publicly announced. I understand that because of COVID-19 protocols there is a certain limit of how many people can be in there, but it would’ve been nice for students to know, “hey, we’ve got a pool table upstairs.” I feel like SUS definitely needs to work a little more on communication and giving people information because at the end of the day, knowledge is power.
What would you do to increase student engagement on campus?
Definitely create more engaging events for [students]. I’d love to reintroduce live music into the SUB lounge, like when Cambree [Lovesy] was performing; I believe she was performing before COVID-19, and a lot of people really seemed to enjoy that. Also creating more engagement for clubs and associations, because I did actually go onto a lot of their social media pages and they’re still quite active, but the last major event a club has done through myCampusLife was [in] January, and before that was [in] October. So, if we made those events more public for people to join, we could make more connections and more positive experiences for people on campus as well.
Bailee Jacques
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
As far as SUS goes, I haven’t had direct involvement, however I did work for Student Life and I did a lot of volunteering over my first three years at UFV. I was involved in the leadership program, both as a mentor and then later I was the assistant. I also worked for clubs and associations through myCampusLife, so that was a really great experience. I did lots of promotion for community engagement events on campus and essentially just supported clubs and associations. I was also involved with new student orientation; I was a leader, I did a lot of campus tours, I spoke at the orientations. I essentially guided new students through the campus, networking and finding support for them and referring them when needed.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I think the biggest thing is because I’m human. I’m really wanting to dive deeper to understand what students need, to navigate and refer and to be able to improve students’ lives. I think a big part of that is allyship skills and being able to walk through the university experience with my peers. I’m well-versed and I feel that I’m ready to take on something a little bit bigger and just provide more support, to get on an individual’s level and see what’s really needed to make positive changes.
What kind of programming do you think SUS is lacking right now and what would you do to change that?
I’ve been doing a lot of community networking with clubs and associations at UFV and different avenues within UFV International. Something that I’m really passionate about is seeking more professional development opportunities because I find that we focus a lot on fun, exciting engagement activities. Which, don’t get me wrong, are very vital to the university experience. But I want to be able to put in some foundational blocks to enhance the university experience. And then blocks that go on beyond the university experience. A couple of years ago, there was an advanced leadership program that focused on societal issues. Community leaders came in and spoke to students with lots of resources. Really amazing things were going on, and that’s something that I would like to implement again, because students need something more for our development.
What would you do to increase student engagement on campus?
I’m essentially just getting on their levels. I’m a student myself and I like when someone comes to me with open ideas or asking, “what can I do to support you in this?” That’s very much the approach that I’m taking. Even currently interacting with all these clubs and associations and asking “What support do you need?” and directly hearing it from the students. So, just being able to connect, be human, be vulnerable and just say ‘how can I support you?’ and ‘how can we do this together to get the best outcome for the university experience?’
Claudia Daboin
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I don’t really have any experience with SUS specifically. This would be my first role with them. With UFV, I have experience working with Campus Rec during my first three years of university. I currently work at all the varsity games. I used to be a varsity athlete and played soccer for my first three years at this school, which was a really good experience. I really understood what it was like to represent the school in that way as a student, which is really cool.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I think students should vote for me because I have a lot of passion when it comes to helping and supporting others, and I really want to create an environment on campus where students feel that they’re supported by not only the school, but also by other students. It also ties into mental health, where people sometimes feel like they’re alone. I personally know that’s not a great feeling. So, just having communities, especially on campus, feeling supported is really important and I will make that one of my biggest goals if I get elected.
What kind of programming do you think SUS is lacking right now and what would you do to change that?
I think that one of the biggest things that I’d like to change going into SUS or just improve is the awareness and accessibility of student resources. Things like the Academic Success Centre, Advising, counseling, career education centres, increasing awareness and accessibility to those and other student resources. I think that’d be best to minimize the stress and anxiety for students who feel kind of lost. I know I felt a little bit lost with what career decisions I wanted to make. So, understanding where I can find those resources has really made it a lot easier for me. It kind of felt like doors were opened, even though those doors were technically open the whole time. It just eased stress and anxiety. That’s definitely something that I hope to improve. I also hope to also maintain relationships with other members of the student union, and also make better relationships with clubs and associations.
What would you do to increase student engagement on campus?
I definitely want to, of course, make more social events. Another thing is there are so many events that are already happening on campus that students aren’t aware of. I would make a student calendar; maybe send out an email every week or so about what events are happening on campus that students can go to, because all the events that clubs and associations and organizations have are open to all students. So, I think just making people more aware of what’s [already] going on and getting people out there would help.
Student Representative At-Large
The SUS board of directors consists of the executive team and 10 student representatives. In previous years, there were student representative positions from specific faculties and programs. This year, there will just be student representatives “at-large” who act as the voice for all students.
Ravneet Sohal
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I ran for the health faculty and sciences representative last year, but I didn’t get in[to the board]. So, I’m rerunning this year. Other than that, I’ve been serving on the Senate since September and joining the general Senate meetings, and I’m also serving on the Undergrad Education Committee and the Student Appeals Committee. That’s something that I plan on continuing to do and to reapply for the coming year as well. I have also been volunteering with KINPALS, which is basically like a mentorship program through the Kin department. I’m also currently an SLG leader for KIN 170, which is like the anatomy course.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
My main thing is that I want to be an honest and transparent voice. I think a lot of the time when we have these governing bodies, you vote people in and then that’s kind of the end of that and you don’t hear a lot about what actually goes on at meetings and you don’t see that constructive change. I think when I went into the Senate, I had all these expectations and then being in that environment was completely different from what I had imagined. So, I think the skills that I developed from that — just being able to voice my opinion in a room full of people — that’s something that, you know, going into that, you’re like, “oh, this is going to be really easy.” But then all of a sudden you’re surrounded with so many people that all have different perspectives. I think it’s important for me to voice my own perspective. I think because of the experiences that I have, I do have a unique voice to bring and I want to bring that forward for a lot of other students that might feel the same way.
What about SUS as an organization would you look to improve or change?
I think the Kickback was something that was really amazing. I would like to contribute to helping plan and coordinate a lot more of those events hopefully, as we get some of these restrictions lifted. That was something that brought together this sense of community, which I felt was kind of lacking before this year. So, I feel like that’s something that I would want to contribute to, and that I’m really passionate about — holding more of those events where people can kind of let loose and let go of that constant stress, which I can imagine is there for everyone.
Moninder Grewal
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
So, my previous involvement with SUS was being elected as a student-at-large representative at the by-election last year. I wasn’t able to do as much during that time because of the floods. So, I’m looking forward to doing more now in this up-and-coming term. I’ve also been part of WUSC, a program that sponsors refugees to be students at UFV. I’m going to be part of UFV’s Senate in August as well.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I’m running so that I can represent international students and represent accessibility, which I think is underrepresented at UFV. Also, just to see how I can help UFV in the future and what are the issues that UFV is going through the most and how we can fix it as a team. That’s the main reason I want to work on the board, so we can work as a team rather than be an individual.
What about SUS as an organization would you look to improve or change?
Personally, I would say the health insurance policies. The health insurance policy is great compared to other universities, but it’s the quality of student care, getting [access to services] involved so much. Sometimes they say I’m not approved, sometimes they’ll say that I didn’t pay when I did pay, or that I’m not a part of the plan that I’m actually a part of. Sometimes there is such a long time that you have to wait on the phone and you have to do paper submissions. So that’s one thing that I’ll work on. Also to advocate for why students have to pay for parking fees when they already pay so much in university fees, textbooks, and other expenses. Hopefully with SUS we can talk to politicians and bring more public transportation here since the price of gas has increased so much, so we can bring other alternatives to students. UFV plays a big role in the community because most students who graduate high school in Abbotsford come to UFV, so we should play a greater part not only in Abbotsford, but in Mission, Chilliwack, and all the Fraser Valley.
Ishika Sethi
Tell us about your previous experience with SUS and outline other involvement you’ve had at UFV.
I haven’t had any experience with SUS directly, but I served on the board of governors for one year as a student representative, and then the Senate for one year as well as a student representative. So, I’ve dealt with those governing bodies, I’ve had a good chance to interact with different students and to hear what their concerns are and bring those to the governing bodies.
What’s your elevator pitch for students on why they should vote for you?
I just want to ensure that students feel comfortable and they feel that their voices are being heard at UFV, and I just want to serve as a voice for them. I want them to feel like their voice matters, that they feel like they’re a part of this university, and that their voices will be represented. As well, I want to include the student life at UFV. I want to engage with the community and bring more clubs and activities so that students’ support is coming aside from just their classes.
What about SUS as an organization would you look to improve/change?
I would just look to engage with other clubs and bring more clubs to the university and make sure that there’s more activities for students to engage in, and host more events to bring students from different faculties together so that they can meet new students.
Interviews were edited for length and clarity.
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
