Bilal Faisal Faheem was elected president of the Student Union Society (SUS) in 2025. As his term comes to a close, Faheem shared with The Cascade the successes and challenges of representing students, team advocacy projects, and his future plans.
How do you feel as your term ends?
“I don’t exactly know how to feel about it, because on one side, it is a monumental time in my life. I’m graduating, I’m done with my bachelor’s, [and] I’m moving on to a new chapter. But on the other, it is the end of one of the most beautiful chapters that I’ve ever had in my life, so it’s a bittersweet moment for me.”
What advocacy projects are you most proud of?
“[As part of CASA] we got $1.2 billion invested in the Canada Student Grants and the Canada Student Loans … [and] that’s a huge win for students, because over 700,000 students all across Canada, use that [fund].
“[Federally] we [also] got $635.2 million invested in [the] student work placement program and work integrated learning over [a] period of three years.
“One of the biggest [wins] that is non-financial … is that international students no longer require a co-op work permit to do a co-op. Now, they can only do it based [on] their study permit.
“I think [the] Fraser Valley Express has been something near and dear to my heart since we’ve started … and we got some wins. The bus hours have been extended. That was one of the biggest concerns, that the last bus used to go back at eight p.m., and now that’s not the case.
“What BC Transit and the Fraser Valley Regional District have done [is] they have reduced the monthly pass fare from $100 to $85, which means that UFV students are now eligible for the concession pass. And, that’s bigger than it sounds, because now that’s not just a $15 saving every month, that’s a $60 saving every semester.
“At UFV… it was necessary for every international student to take 12 credits … but the IRCC requirement is nine credits, so now UFV is approved to match that to nine credits, and that is a huge financial burden that’s been taken off of students.”
What has been most challenging for you?
“There are two … The first one, people think that I can do way more, but I cannot. You have certain restrictions, because power comes with responsibility, so you have to be a responsible leader, otherwise you misuse the power. So, A is that point, but B is [that] I know so many things [and] I cannot let everybody know, because some things are confidential.”
What were the highlights during your term?
“One of the biggest things … was when I got the opportunity to emcee the UFV President’s installation ceremony. Dr. James Mandigo, when he took over as president, [asked] me to emcee the entire ceremony. For me, that was a pretty big deal … and one of the other ones that I like to believe is a highlight, is Chai with Bilal.”
Is there anything you wish you had more time to accomplish?
“Everything. 12 months is [such] a short time … if I had more time, I would love [to finish working on] the Fraser Valley Express. I think we’ve got the ball rolling with the pilot proposal. … [And] that is something that I’m looking forward to [seeing] how the next president would do it.”
What have you learned the most about leadership?
“You’re not a good leader if you don’t have your people around you. That’s it. A lot of people think that leadership is an individual thing … [but] you never get anywhere if you’re running solo.”
Will you continue pursuing politics?
“Yes, I don’t know what exact form it would have … I’m still exploring opportunities to see how I can be a part of the student governance, government affairs in general, and [be] more connected to the community. Don’t be surprised if you see me or my name here and there, working very near to UFV.”
What advice would you give to the new president?
“Lead with your heart. That’s a very important thing to do. Don’t think that you’ve cracked [every challenge] … but, just try to work with [and] learn from people.
“There is always this pressure that, oh, you are the president of the UFV Student Union Society … Take that pressure, because that’s not a pressure, that’s a privilege. Not everybody gets to do that, and just value the privilege, because you’ll miss it when you know that it’s coming to an end. I think the new president has some great ideas and initiatives that they want to accomplish and I wish them the best of luck.”
Q&A has been 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.