2010-11 BUSU Elections
The Race for VPUA
Amanda Roth
Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: News
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The race for the 2010-11 BUSU Vice President of University Affairs (VPUA) will seemingly be a close one. Daud Grewal, Deniz Ozturk and Luke Speers, all political science students, will be heading off for the VPUA position this week.
On Feb. 2, Grewal, Ozturk and Speers took the stand for the first of three BUSU executive election debate at Decew cafeteria.
The VPUA is responsible for campaigning for Brock student interests at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Grewal's introduction discussed his campaigning initiatives, including connecting Brock students with BUSU. Ozturk discussed her concerns in her introduction. She discussed campaigning against budget cuts at the provincial level and encouraging keeping three-year degrees and scrapping flat fee tuition.
Speers introduced goals within his platform as a 24-hour learning space and, similar to Ozturk, keeping three-year degrees at Brock University.
When asked about student unemployment and how they would combat it, if given the position, Grewal mentioned campaigning for more scholarships in BUSAC and the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA). He also talked of encouraging students to get involved in extra curricular activities to boost their resumes.
Speers, to this question, expressed his wishes to increase provincial and federal support on this issue. Ozturk talked of providing students with jobs at Brock University, rather than outsourcing these jobs to community members.
On Feb. 4, the three candidates met up again for the second of three debates at Isaac's.
When asked what their top academic priority for undergrads, candidates gave an array of answers - some overlapping.
Speers discussed his focus on keeping three-year degrees and protecting seminars and labs. Grewal also showed the importance of keeping seminars, reducing classroom sizes, and increasing or maintaining the quality of education in the face of budget cuts. Ozturk campaigned for keeping three-year degrees as well and scrapping flat-fee tuition.
Another question addressed the issue of keeping students aware in the workings of the VPUA, even when they are away from the school for their many responsibilities. Ozturk mentioned utilizing the newspaper to bring campaigns back to Brock from their many conferences.
Speers talked of writing articles in the newspaper to inform students on his successes and endeavours while away on conferences. Grewal also mentioned working with the newspaper to write on issues addressed while away at conferences.
On Feb. 8, the final of three debates was held in Isaac's.
When asked what the top priority of their platform was, Grewal discussed campaigning for more scholarships because of the rising price of tuition, also to find other ways to help students in financial need, such as lowering textbook costs.
Speers discussed the importance of online voting for executive elections, and how this would decrease student apathy.
Ozturk discussed campaigning to get rid of flat fee tuition and installing a new online textbook renting Web site for students.
"Promise what you can deliver, and then deliver more than you promise," said Ozturk in conclusion.
In his conclusion, Grewal handed the microphone over to two members of his campaign team, who then performed a rap promoting Grewal for the position of VPUA, repeating the slogan: "Throw some D's on that ballot".
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