2010-11 BUSU Elections Vice President of University Affairs
Deniz Ozturk
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: News
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Deniz Ozturk
Fourth Year -
Political Science
What do you feel is the strongest aspect of your platform for the 2010-11 year, that you feel will benefit students both now and in the future?
My platform is based upon not only students' wants and needs - but also student advocacy. "Be the Change" refers to realizing the voice and influence we have as university students - and embracing it. Not only do I want to hear students' concerns, but also engage people in thinking "what is the remedy?". Many of us are aware of the problems and no one has all the answers, but together, we can find prescriptions.
What do you feel is the most important academic issue facing students, and how will you address it?
Budget cuts & flat-fee tuition. Every cent cut from each department constitutes a danger to lowering the quality of education that we receive. This affects everything from growing class sizes and cutting seminars to limiting access to professors. The issue of budget cuts is a two-way street that requires dealing with the administration and the provincial government. Flat-fee tuition needs to be reversed before the issue is long forgotten. Students now pay more, and receive less.
How do you see Brock's relationship with OUSA and CASA in the upcoming year?
OUSA and CASA membership is crucial to providing a strengthened and an organized voice for students, as well as sharing ideas and taking examples from other schools to improve BUSU. It is also important to work with student bodies from other universities across the province and the country to address our common issues which are rooted in under funding, regardless of the national organization to which students unions belong.
What Brock related issues will you fight for at the governmental level?
Issues faced by Brock students are issued faced by all university students. One primary example at the provincial level is OSAP. OSAP fails to fully assess students' needs in terms of overestimating parental contributions, while underestimating living and textbook costs. OSAP must be modified to enhance access to resources for education. This requires the cooperation and the alliance with the student associations in order to effectively influence all levels of government.
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