In late May, The Cascade met with SUS (Student Union Society) President Bilal Faisal Faheem regarding his experience during the election process and his plans for the summer. Now, as the fall semester begins, Faheem shared a recap of the summer, upcoming projects, and updates concerning the FVX 66.
“Summer was great. Exactly how I wanted it to be — a very balanced summer.”
By connecting with the board, pushing advocacy, and engaging with government officials in B.C., Faheem has focused on leading his team through building momentum and organizing and connecting with students over the summer. This includes Summer Fest, Baker Barbecue, Game Site, and Day ONE.
Faheem spoke fondly of his initiative “Chai with Bilal,” expressing his contentment with meeting his goal in student engagement.
“Chai with Bilal has been going great. Summer is a slow time, but still, getting to talk to so many students who feel welcomed, and that [the] space is a safe space — that was my vision when I started it initially in January, and I’m very glad to see that’s where it’s headed right now.”
The next “Chai with Bilal” is set for Sept. 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. However, unlike past sessions, this one is an RSVP-only event due to the limited space, as it will be hosted in the Friesen House. The event will also be co-hosted by UFV President, Dr. James Mandigo, who, Faheem has indicated, is just as enthusiastic as he is. This is also an opportunity for students to discuss any topics they are curious about.
“There’s no agenda to it. The students bring the agenda — whatever they want to talk about. It’s going to be a regular ‘Chai with Bilal,’ just a different location.”
Faheem explained that the idea came from Mandigo as they were having a conversation at one of the Canuck games during Community Night. He shared that it sparked out of their similar connection as newly elected presidents.
“[Mandigo] started his new term as the president [and I] started my term as the president as well. So, it just came to life from there.”
Faheem also discussed Kickback 005: The Vibe Check, which he described as the biggest event of the year. It marked the fifth anniversary of Kickback, and this year, Faheem said it was their most ambitious one to date.
“We have a photo booth, more stations, more food trucks, [and] better food vouchers. This year we have the most activities we’ve ever had at any Kickback.”
Kickback 005 isn’t the only event students can look out for — on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m., SUS will hold its ‘Backyard Flix’ event. Featuring The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and free popcorn, SUS is encouraging students to bring their blanket and enjoy a chill night on campus.
The Cascade inquired about the FVX 66 as well, to which Faheem commented that over the summer, his team met with key government officials to advocate for better student transit access. They’ve gathered data showing more UFV students are commuting from places like Surrey and Langley, and are preparing to present this during provincial lobby week.
He’s also collaborating with other universities to launch a unified provincial transit campaign across B.C. Each school is advocating for its own transit needs — like UBC pushing for a SkyTrain extension, UVic seeking reduced ferry fares, and UFV focusing on the Fraser Valley Express 66 — but by working together, they aim to amplify their collective voice.
“If we go alone, we are representing 11,000 students. UBC goes there representing 60-70,000 students, [and] SFU goes there representing close to 35-40,000 students. If we all go together, we are representing a hundred and something thousand students. And numbers speak.”
Faheem explained that it’s more about the government’s purview regarding SUS’ plans to expand the opt-out to those who have accessibility issues but don’t own the government issued BC Bus Pass. He stated that the card is the only official way to verify a student’s eligibility — without it, the decision would fall to the student union’s discretion, which they’re not legally allowed to make. He acknowledged that they may explore other options in the future, but the red card remains a requirement for now.
Faheem encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities SUS provides and take care of themselves.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s a lot. I know everybody has that tendency to get the most out of themselves, but sometimes it’s fine not to give your 100 per cent. Sometimes it’s fine to take a break.”
