Working Together candidate: Julie Rempel
Experience
- U of M food bank coordinator
- President of U of M chapter of Unicef
- Involved with U of M chapter of
Amnesty International, Engineers
Without Borders, Indian Students’
Association
Why did you decide to run?
I have been involved in a variety of areas on campus: student groups [ . . . ] and I have been involved in the academic realm with organizing a conference and so that has really given me a large scope of current issues of things that are facing students. I feel that with my experience of conversing with students with a large background that I am equipped to use that to my advantage, and I am very passionate about ensuring that student needs are met.
What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
UMSU has a larger role than a lot of people realize. They are not only involved in everyday services like the Copy Centre, Degrees and IQs; it also goes above and beyond that. Providing communications to admin, to other realms on campus, connects all three campuses, as well as communicates with the governments. And in doing so UMSU tries to take the input from the students and formulate campaigns on what students would like.
What campaigns would you like to work on this year?
Lobbying for international student health care coverage, creating more sustainable practices on campus, which includes ethical policies and environmental sustainability, as well as opening the dialogue for what the students want, as well as accessibility for post-secondary education. Because with rising costs — textbooks, parking, housing — all of these things can create barriers in how a student can access post-secondary education.
Independent candidate: Chantal Shivanna Ramraj
Experience
- Involved with Rainbow Pride Mosaic, U
of M Womyn’s Centre - Volunteered for Pride Winnipeg
- Participated in MS bike tour in 2009
What made you decide to run?
I’ve always been very interested in issues about social justice. I studied political studies and sociology. I’ve been involved in causes and campaigns my whole life, especially on campus with the Womyn’s Centre and the RPM.
What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
From my point of view, [UMSU] unites students and that’s really good from a community standpoint, but I enjoy looking at it from a historical standpoint. Student unions really came about to represent the students’ interests in relation to the administration. I think that it’s super important for students to come together and agree on what is important to them. It has been super important with tuition — of course going right back to that, having the Day of Action and doing that effectively. It’s not going to work with a few people standing in front of the [legislature]; we want to engage all students.
What are some of the campaigns you would like to work on this year?
With a provincial election coming up in October, I think we really need to lobby the government to have low tuition fees.
Another big issue is transportation, because transit fares go up way too much and way too often. [ . . . ] It’s one thing going to university, but you have to get to university, to go to university, [ . . . ] so a big thing is alternate fare payments, longer bus schedules and of course fares.
Note: Ramraj was previously running under the Get More slate, but decided to run as an independent candidate “due to considerable value conflicts,” she told the Manitoban.
Clean Slate candidate: Ian Literovich
Experience
- Experience in debating and public
speaking - Co-president of U of M Debating Union
- Involved with various U of M student
groups
Why did you decide to run?
“[ . . . ] I’ve always been interested in there being right answers in politics, and it seems like that concept has fallen by the wayside, to a certain degree.
What I sort of thought is that this would be a good way to get involved in actually making a difference on something and actually being part of a broader process, and make the culture of the UMSU executive more based on [ . . . ] practical solutions for students, as opposed to pet projects.
What do you think the role of UMSU is on the U of M campus?
Our big thing about UMSU for this election is we think it should be something that’s easily accessible by students, so that they know what it is and at that point leave it up for the students to decide what they want it to be. For me personally, I see UMSU as being a functional body, [ . . . ] making sure that students have options to be involved in student government and have their own voices heard.
What campaigns would you like to work on this year?
The chief issues I see [ . . . ] is the UMSU position on Canadian Blood Services [MSM deferral policy]. To me, that specific issue is very important because I have given blood, and I think it is important. I would like [ . . . ] strongly lobby Canadian Blood Services and strongly lobby to ask either for a sufficient answer to why that question is still relevant, now that we have an effective HIV test, which they didn’t have when the question was first introduced; and second, if that isn’t available, then I think it would be reasonable to ask Canadian Blood Services to change that question.
