Currently, the Student Union Society (SUS) is implementing and focusing on their core value of Impact to help make the most out of students’ experiences at UFV. On the SUS website, they write that “we seek to provide an inclusive community where the supports we offer students are accessible, equitable, and impactful.” The SUS president, Nikiel Lal, graciously sat down for an interview to explain more about this goal and why they are primarily focusing on Impact right now.
Could you talk more about the core value of Impact?
What Impact means to us and the student body is essentially how we can provide that meaningful impact to students by providing them with the best post secondary experience possible through services, events, hearing their voices, [and] through advocating. I want to make sure that I am doing my part for the student body to [ensure] that we are being represented adequately.
What does SUS plan to do with this initiative?
We have decided that [Impact] is the biggest core value we are going to focus on this year. At the beginning of the year we had our big orientation [and] Kickback, and that was the start of our big events. [Students] really enjoyed the community and engagement aspect of that and the post secondary experience that [it] brought. We wanted to do more of that, and then we got hit with [roadblocks], such as COVID-19 and the floods, and we had to pivot and do things online.
We want to make sure that everything we do this year is very impactful. We want to make sure that students know about all our services, who we are, and that they can reach us at any time … We really want to make an impact on [students] by providing services, support in general, and by providing events … that are big and drive activity and community engagement, while also providing mental health activities and services … and just bring meaningful things to students that impact their [post-secondary] experience.
I think it is so important to destigmatize the negative assumptions regarding mental health and [let] people know that it’s okay to have struggles, everyone struggles, and it’s important to know that there are so many services here in place and it’s okay to use [them]…
Has it been just as impactful online or was there less engagement?
We are doing our best to provide the best service we can. When UFV announced they wanted to come back in-person, right away we put out a survey to the student body; we did a poll on Instagram and sent emails. We want students to get their voices heard, we want to hear it, and we want to advocate for them. It was great to read everyone’s comments and feelings. We want to make sure we are there for [students] more than ever…And that we continue that momentum forward when we transition out of these tough times.
How did SUS come up with the idea to pursue the core value of Impact?
Our core values are Respect, Stewardship, Impact, Compassion, Leadership. With the crazy year we have all had and all the uncertainty that it brought, we see Impact as … ensuring our services are meaningful, have power, and add meaning to our students’ post secondary experience.
We want to make sure that Impact is felt at all capacity and that we are able to provide the kind of services, events, and compassion to students to let them know that regardless of what state we are in the world, the Student Union has got you.
Is there any advice you would give to students to help them have an impactful year and to make a difference?
I would say stay hopeful. We are almost at the end of the tunnel. I want to thank students for being so responsive for filling out our surveys, for engaging and for reaching out. It really empowers students to continue to do that. Without the students we wouldn’t be who we are. And for us to do great work, it starts with the students and it starts with the team. No student is alone; we are all together. We will make it through the storm.
Is there anything else you want to add about Impact and what SUS hopes to accomplish?
Students, please continue to reach out and email. Come visit the office; everyone at SUS genuinely wants to hear about how students feel and [wants to] continue to make an impact on the student body, the students’ lives and the students’ experiences. We are all in this together. There’s so much to look forward to this year, so stay excited.
Interview was edited for length and clarity
Image: Laura Ayres / The Cascade
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.
