By Vanessa Broadbent (The Cascade/Photo) – Email
Print Edition: February 18, 2015
Sukhi Brar
Vice-president external candidate
Third-year exercise science major, psychology minor
Campus involvement
Resident assistant at Baker House
Student rep, UFV board of governors
Formerly on senate standing committee for academic planning and priorities
UFV 2025 visioning committee
What does the position you are running for entail?
There’s an advocacy part that’s working with lobby groups. On campus, VP external is in charge of making sure students have access to services and to maintain services like the food bank, financial assistance, and advocacy. I’d say the third piece is events.
What appeals to you about this position?
I looked at my experience and what I can bring to the table, and I looked at the position and what the responsibilities are and I also looked at how things are run now. We’re doing great on [advocacy], but I would like to see more on the events side of things. I’d like to see more of a balance on that portfolio.
How do you address the lack of student engagement?
I’d like to strike up an open forum first off to bring different departments to the table. First off, discuss what it is that students want to see on this campus, but then facilitating that and having students involved in the process of putting on those events.
Do you have any specific projects or bylaws you want to implement?
For the events part of things, I want to see more people involved in that process. Why aren’t organizations working together? A lot of the challenges we face are common to all of us, so why not come to the table and talk about it?
What have you done with SUS that you’re most proud of?
Because of my involvement on the board, my biggest piece of that has been to weigh in on what [SUS] is doing, and to respect other people’s opinions. I think what I’m most proud of is that I’ve learned to disagree, but also to see other people’s point of view, even if I disagree. I am one student voice.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I wish I had been a little more comfortable to engage in discussions right from the start. It gives other people the courage to come forward and say things, or a perspective that other people don’t have.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
