Please note that the comments and questions listed below are a result of typing as the individuals spoke and, as such, should be treated as a summary of the general response and NOT as a direct quote. Paraphrasing has been utilized in some situations and complete answers are not given. These responses should be treated as general guidelines to the response and do not reflect the full answer by the candidate.
The WLUSU Elections Team will be posting a video of the Open Forum in the next few days that will give an exact account of candidate responses.
12:15pm – Open Forum begins
Brantford Campus Council opens with 1 minute introductions.
Trevor, Dan, Zach, Samira, Cam, Alex, Noel and Anthony.
12:23 – Question Period
- During introductions, we hear about candidates wanting to do what students want. What is the most creative plan for what each candidate wants to do for Brantford.
- Dan – Pub nights to hear the voice of the students. More involvement from Council with student body. Council Activities – appetizer/meet & greets
- Zach – Video Conferencing system between two campuses. Environmentally sustainable, limit travel, bridge a connection campuses
- Samira – More campus clubs & organizations. Example of growing Brantford Residence Council for student involvement.
- Cam – Campus paints. Tap into student creativity to paint some of the blank walls around the campus. Colourful campus.
- Alex – Promoting education in the community. Create student involvement to represent Laurier Brantford at the local high schools for recruitment.
- Noel – More fun things. More students creates more involvement and more creative minds. Starting new fun events.
- Anthony – Work mutually with Waterloo campus to feed off of each other’s ideas for events and programming
- Trevor – Expansion of Athletic complex. Wilkes is full and needs to be expanded to allow student activity.
-In one word describe yourself and in one word, describe Brantford
- Zach – Leader; Innovative
- Samira – Passion; Improvement
- Cam – Fun; Special
- Alex – Objective; Community
- Noel – Energetic; Home
- Anthony – Epic; Family
- Trevor – Involved; Expanding
- Dan – Unique; Possibility
- Zach: As VP: Brantford Operations for two years, what is your biggest accomplishment and since you’ve been here why do you want to do another year and not give others a chance to have involvement you’ve already have
- Zach – My accomplishment is that people know who the VP is. In past years, in my opinion, people haven’t been able to identify the VP. I feel I have been open and transparent and have worked to know people on the Waterloo campus. I am running for BCC because I feel I have a lot to offer the campus. People with a good understanding should take on the role of representation. In current years first and second years have been running for council instead of committee positions and with my VP experience, I have the ability to be a good representative
- This year, Council has been made a standing committee of the Board of Directors. In your opinion, what does this mean for the future of council and what policies if any require changing
- Zach – I feel this means more autonomy. Brantford wants to be autonomous, a separate entity, and this is a step towards that. From the Board and Council, there should be more meetings. I have yet to see a Board of Directors meeting on this campus. If that is put in place two times a semester, it may allow students who are unable to get up for BoD meetings to voice their opinions better.
- Samira – Important to be well rounded. More ideas and creativity are included. Not sure about the policy at this time.
- Cam – Means a greater respect for decisions made on Brantford Campus. Important because of greater communication. Policy changes could require that there be one female counselor required for campus council on a campus of 80% women
- Alex – Create more autonomy and more respect with more freedom to do what is required without worrying about beurocracy as much. Not too sure about policies, though if elected I will work to know them.
- Noel – Puts an expiration date on the title of Campus Council, as if it is to end at some point. Gives us more power but leads us to autonomy, as we will eventually have a Board of Directors. Should have our own representation making our own decisions. Should be more BoD meetings in Brantford. As sitting member of BCC, should see BoD down here more often, as they still impact Brantford lives
- Anthony – As current member, we were excited to be a standing committee as it gave us limited freedom to make decisions for Laurier Brantford. Policy changes should be consulted with BoD to get input of everyone else. Would rather see input of everyone else to see what is best for Laurier Brantford.
- Trevor – Offers more cohesion between the two groups. As far as policy goes, would like to see Brantford have more of a voice on what policies are made and what policies effect us.
- Dan – Unifies campus and gives Brantford more of a voice. Policies could include not just having a female voice on the council but someone from every year to expand the voice.
- Trevor & Cam: Trevor promises student athletic facility, Cam you promise a bar; Sputnik says we’re paying for a dining hall but not getting one. Are you intending for students to be charged fees and not see these facilities.
- Trevor – First I have not promised an Athletic facility, I have committed to looking into the potential. I don’t see fees as part of my platform, as it is still preliminary work. It is important to focus on the Dining Hall
- Cam – I also never promised a campus bar (social facility), just to get the ball rolling. With more students coming in every year, we will want a place for students to gather. Possibly a referendum in the next election to get student opinions. We have current fees to pay and should look at policy changes that have to be made to make sure what happens with the dining hall doesn’t happen again.
- Zach – I ran the campaign for the Dining Hall last year and it was on track until someone lost money. If you want projects to go anywhere on any University campus. We have tried going to the government, private investors, local people, but whenever we come to the students to ask for money it is because other resources have been tapped. I can answer more later on if you would like.
- For all, but only answer if you feel you have an understanding: Why did you chose to run this year as opposed to last year or next year and what if any policies would you change next year to further improve elections?
- Samira – It’s my first year, so I wanted to use my skills to help WLUSU and students. Policies, I don’t understand them at the moment so I won’t comment.
- Cam – I didn’t run for campus council last year as I was applying to be a Don and with a ConEd student in 2nd year I decided to hold of. I have found, however, that I do have downtime and I have decided that this year could be my time to help.
- Alex – Last year I lived in residence and felt I didn’t know enough about living in Brantford or university life so I was trying to figure everything out. This year I’m in the Leadership program and feel that it is something I can do. As for policies, I would increase the promotions.
- Noel – Last year I was acclaimed. I came back because I want to make a difference on campus and if I don’t run, then what’s the point? I worked hard to help promote this with the rest of the council. I don’t think there’s a problem with policy, the candidates are a testament to teh hard work we’ve put in.
- Anthony – I’d like to follow through with the steps we’ve taken. As for policies, we could increase the promotions for the positions open on campus
- Trevor – I haven’t run in the past as I didn’t feel I had an understanding in my first year. Now I have experience and I feel I can understand what I can provide. As for policies, I felt the policies were fairly good. I don’t agree that there should be a manditory female position on Council as there should be equal opportunity for all students to be on council.
- Dan – I felt I could better represent everyone this year. As far as policies are concerned, I feel the promotions could be better to get more people to come to things like the open forum.
- Zach – I ran this year because last year I applied to the position of VP: Brantford Operations. I feel policies could include a manditory 6 week campaign before elections even begin so that there is a long time for students to become educated to run for the positions before they are required to submit materials, as I feel this year elections were rushed.
- What does it mean for Brantford to be autonomous from Waterloo. Please be as specific as you can.
- Cam – Autonomy as a campus means not having to ask our older brother for permission to do something. To not have to go to mom for money out of our purse.
- Alex – Autonomy is being able to make your own decisions, spend the money you raise for yourself. If you have the means, then you should be allowed.
- Noel – LB students making LB decisions.
- Anthony – LB students being self-sufficient, independant and self-sustaining
- Trevor – Equals. Being on the same playing field as Waterloo, Board of Directors, especially with respect to decisions that effect our campus
- Dan – Waterloo doesn’t ask us for permission to do things, they don’t understand the uniqueness of the campus. We should make our own decisions.
- Zach – Respect for Laurier Brantford. First year I’ve seen BoD listen to the Council to show that our word means something to them. When it’s time for us to be autnoymous, it will be an easy transition.
- Samira – Being proud of who we are, being part of a bigger, diverse community, with common ties with Waterloo.
- Anthony & Noel: Having been on BCC this year, what have you acomplished this year that will merit voters to elect you to return
- Anthony – We have taken initiatives to environmental sustainability and enthusiasm with candidates. We have accomplished these small goals but are working towards bigger goals which is why we are returning
- Noel – Some surveys, this competitive election is a testament to what we have done. As a team council puts in an effort and we have put in more effort in the past couple of years.
- Cam – Alot of the questions are focused to running against each other, we’re actually running with each other. With new ideas, with experience. When you’re looking at the ballot box, think that you’re running with each other to make a complete council to make a community here at Laurier Brantford.
- Given that there is a large hole beside the Student Centre, what do you think about the lack of construction of the University Centre
- Alex – It’s not good. We’re paying for something that won’t even be here by the time I graduate (2nd yr student). It’s a necessary expansion but needed more thought and more planning.
- Noel – Expecting to see in my fourth year if it was on time, but it is not. I’m paying for something I’m not going to see. I supported it before, I support it now because it builds laurier brantford, but I’m not too pleased
- Anthony – It sucks
- Trevor – The need is there for the facility. The recession hit, money went down everywhere. It is a learning experience for everyone, but I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing, but we can learn from it and manage the problem. It is still a salvageable project
- Dan – Obviously a disapointment. If we ask the students for money it’s obviously a last resort.
- Zach – I hate that I have to come to my office to see a hole. I worked very hard to create a vision for this cafeteria for the students only to find that I had to go back on a promise. If elected, I can’t guarantee you that first years will see a building. What I can guarantee you is that me with other counselors will be working on this
- Samira – It is unfortunate that we haven’t got a cafeteria. All unversities have their downfalls. We need to be patient, see where we can get financial help from, but it can still be done if we all sit together share ideas and be effective.
- Cam – Bad, but we should do what our CT classes are telling us to do. We need to be making the change for our future generations. We pay and we dont get it but we’re making it better for future classes. I think it would be a really cool big pool, but I think we should wait until we get it. Some of us won’t be here, but for those who are, they will have a great time with it.
1:07pm – Candidates have 30 second closing remarks.
