By Jessica Wind (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 13, 2013
The Student Union Society’s third presidential candidate is hindered by his lack of being human. That doesn’t stop the SUS Shovel from speaking to the changes it hopes to see coming out of SUS. We caught up with it last week as it prepared to dig deep and power through the last days of the campaign period.
Why are you running for president?
I think my candidate statement sums it up nicely, you can find it at my Facebook page: “I believe in getting below the surface on student issues, unearthing the average student’s concerns while adding some depth to our advocacy points. But to move forward, we have to acknowledge the ground on which we’re standing. SUS is in the pits, financially speaking. As your [SUS president] and shovel, I would work with the SUS Board [to] fill in the holes in our budget and get a handle on a long-term strategic plan.”
What do you think you offer that a human doesn’t?
Well first of all, I’m grounded in digging deep when it comes to negotiating student issues. When it comes to building a vibrant campus (in our case the SUB) you first need a shovel.
Student apathy is an issue on campus; how do you plan to fix this?
Dig a giant moat around each campus and fill it with deadly animals, no bridges. If you want to come on campus, you’ll have to be committed.
Your candidate’s statement says you dug up some dirt on your fellow candidates, can you elaborate on this?
I may be a shovel, but I’m not a mud-slinger. Once you get into the trenches of dirty politics, it’s tough to dig yourself out. So though I’ve unearthed some dirt on my competitors (and it’s filthy!), I wouldn’t want to soil [their] image.
What about your involvement above and beyond UFV. Do you plan on lobbying the government on any issues that concern students?
CASA, the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations, is a valuable lobbying resource we should mine. Check out my Facebook page and sift through my advocacy efforts [with] Stephen Harper and Barack Obama.
What new and exciting things do you have planned for students, should you get elected? Over and above completing the SUB and other things outlined in your candidate statement, are there any specifics?
I’m not grounded in those issues alone. For example, more online polls. I want to survey the students with spades of questions. We can use the feedback to ditch bad board habits and avoid the pitfalls of past grave errors.
Who is the real shovel? What do you do in your spare time; what are you studying at UFV; what is your favourite book, favourite movie? What should student voters know about you?
I’m labouring on a double major in Agriculture and Physical Geography and have sifted through some Archeology options. My favourite book is Holes, my favourite movie is Holes, based on the book: Holes. And while I usually listen to underground music, the song “No Diggity” is a guilty pleasure. Basically, I enjoy any pastime with some depth to it.
Do you ever feel at a disadvantage, not having hands or feet?
I’ve got a handle on it, even though it makes it hard to get around. Thankfully most folks are willing to lend a hand.
Should we expect other tools to run for office in the future?
Of course, tools run for office in every level of government.
What are you trying to say to the student body with this sort of movement? Or to the SUS board, or about the political system in society itself?
I just dig politics. I support a lot of movements, but having no legs makes it difficult. Students face many grave issues. Issues that are more than surface deep, which I want to bring to light. I just want students to be entrenched in the fun, yet serious, nature of student politics.
