what are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I have been working tirelessly to serve students over the past 6 years within the Dalhousie Student Union and university. I have extensive experience working in the DSU, and have a strong understanding of how the DSU works; including its budget and resources, and know how to best utilize these resources to benefit grad students. With the knowledge gained from my student leadership experiences, I will be able to make policy changes to ensure the DSU fundamentally serves Grad students. My experience in the DSU includes: Serving as Chief Returning Officer for the 2018 DSU Elections Serving as Vice President Internal (2015-16) - responsible for supporting all student societies. Chair of: Budget and Grants Committee, Society Review Committee, Accessibility Fund Committee, Phone Line Steering Committee, and Executive Review Committee. DSU Councillor – Arts and Social Sciences Representative (2013-15)Orientation Week Planning Committee (2014 & 2015) I have also worked throughout the University representing students across every level of academic governance. As a result, I have a strong understanding of how academic governance structures work in individual faculties, but also how these structures come together in bodies like Senate. I would use my knowledge to voice graduate student issues where they will be most effective. I have been involved in changing this University through a variety of avenues, including successfully petitioning the Board of Governors and working within the University to implement the DSU Sexual Assault and Harassment Phone Line as a pilot program. My extensive experience working with University academic governance structures, as well as Student Services and Health and Wellness, will allow me to be a strong voice for grad students while simultaneously working to ensure grad students are structurally included in more University decisions – especially relating to support services and academic innovation. I would work to strengthen the current graduate student presence in university governance structures, and work to build our voice into more decision making bodies within the University. My experience within Dalhousie includes: Serving on the university’s Senate as the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Student Senator (2016-17).Serving on Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Council (2012-17) President of the Arts and Social Sciences Society (2014-15) Vice President Internal of the Arts and Social Sciences Society (2013-14) Member of Faculty academic committees such as Appeals and Student Matters 2013-15)Why do
you think you are a good candidate?
I believe I am a good Presidential candidate not only because of my extensive experience, but because of my relentless passion to serve students. Using my years of experience in advocating for students, I hope to fundamentally change how the DAGS, DSU, and the university support graduate students.My goal is to amplify graduate student voices, and direct that voice to where it will make the most impact. Increasing grad student representation within the DSU and University, in both academic and student life governance structures, will strengthen the voice of grad students within the university. The University currently does not adequately financially support grad students; therefore it is necessary to increase funding to TA positions and research grants. I plan to use my in-depth knowledge of the DSU to improve the way the DSU fundamentally serves graduate students. Revitalizing the engagement of graduate students with the DAGS is important to me, as too many graduate students do not know about their representative society. Inclusivity is at the forefront of my leadership, and I want to work to ensure that all graduate students feel supported and represented by the DAGS. Using every communication avenue available, making executive members accessible to students on every campus, and transparent society operations will ensure that members can engage with the DAGS on their own terms with the confidence that their voice is being heard. This is especially true for student societies who have taken on a lot of the advocacy work themselves. I would work to establish relationships with our member societies enhance their advocacy- and further it within the university. I want to put my years of student experience and passion to serve students together to help build a DAGS that every graduate student feels a part of. With my knowledge of student societies, the DAGS, the DSU, and university governance I plan to structurally amplify the voices of graduate students. I plan to support rebuilding DAGS into an association that provides resources and programming that directly meet the needs of its students. I have experience within university and DSU governance structures, and hope to use this knowledge to ensure that university processes involve graduate student voices- for both academic and student life initiatives. Ensuring that the DAGS is designed to communicate most effectively with graduate students will be my focus. I will work to ensure students are able to engage with the society in a way that is most meaningful for them to empower students to take charge of their student experience, and have confidence in the DAGS to represent their voice most effectively.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
increase in funding to TA and student research positionsIncreased representation within DSU structures and university decision making bodies Establish a fully transparent and accessible DAGS to all our members across every campusWhat inspires you and why? Student engagement and empowering others to become agents for positive change in their own lives is what most inspires me. I love working with others to transform ideas into actions that can make a positive impact for our community. My focus is to make every graduate student at Dalhousie feel they have a say in their student experience and feel empowered to drive the change they wish to see. My goal will be to provide opportunities for grad students to communicate their needs, and work to align the DAGS, DSU, and university to meet those needs. It is vital that the DAGS is accessible to all students by being present on all campuses; including services and programming. Transparency is crucial to engagement, as members need to always able to access the information they need. My goal is to establish a community where grad students feel they can directly inform their academic programs and support services across the university
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
Vice President-External in Islamic Relief Canada – Halifax Chapter.Research Assistant for two years in Cyprus.Teaching Assistant for six years in UAE.Event Organizer with the Cyprus Red Cross.
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
I am passionate about serving students and strongly believe in continuous improvement. I want to speak up and listen to the entire graduate student’s community, enabling everyone to contribute and have a hands-on experience in the development process. I have eight years of working experience at different universities located in different parts of the world. During this period, I have gained rich experience regarding working in competitive academic environments. This taught me a lot about working closely with people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds which helped me overcome these boundaries without disregarding others’ sensitivities. I believe this is critical in a diverse community such as Dalhousie’s. In addition, working as a researcher since 2011 has familiarized me with the challenges faced by graduate students and exposed me to a variety of possible solutions.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
Money Matters: Reducing the tuition fees or increasing the funding for graduate students.Mental Health Insurance: Providing full or partial mental health coverage.Position of DAGS: improving the representation of DAGS in Canadian Federation Council (CFC) and DSU. What inspires you and why? I am inspired by highly Influential individuals who have changed the lifestyle of entire communities by standing and speaking up for what they believe in and for those who cannot speak for themselves. They inspire me because their achievements are tangible evidence of the change that a single person with a powerful idea can make. Some of those are Martin Luther king, Malala Yousafzai and Mark Zuckerberg.
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I am currently in my first year of a Master’s program in the department of Chemistry, working in a Materials Science lab. I have served as the representative of groups in the past and have been sent to an international leadership training conference under one such role. I have worked on a diverse array of action/planning committees in the past, all of which saw successful end results despite being subject to financial and resource constraints. I also have plenty of informal experience with respect to the budgetary aspect of my running position, as I manage to pay rent, tuition, eat and sporadically socialize despite earning a graduate student income.
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
In addition to being frugal and budget-conscious, I am also a very passionate and hard worker. I am easily motivated; all it takes is a difficult issue to draw me in. Given the state of the DAGS budget and representation on campus at present, it should suffice to say that I feel incredibly motivated to work through these issues should I become VPFO. I believe I can offer the energy, determination and resilience needed to make DAGS a true resource for graduate students once again.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
(1) increased and more equitable funding for graduate students and their societies (2) improved accessibility and visibility of DAGS and the services it is responsible for on all Dalhousie campuses (3) greater allocation of resources towards services, programs and events directly geared for graduate students (thereby allowing more events, programs and services to be provided to all graduate students)
What inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by the people around me. The people in the network I surround myself with, including my supervisor, lab mates, friends and family, never cease to amaze me with their accomplishments. Whether it be in the area of self-growth or a novel scientific discovery, I draw from the energy and ethics they project. Their cumulative resilience and success inspires me to push through the rough, take risks and appreciate the situations I find myself in.
Jonathan Frontain Vice-President Finance & Operations Candidate
Questions:
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I am currently the President of Sodales, the debating society here on campus. I am also enrolled in programs on campus to build my abilities as a university educator. I completed my undergraduate studies here at Dal and have been a student employee of the university for three years now and feel like this would help me to understand the circumstances of many graduate students who are dependent on the university for their incomes. I have volunteered as an advisor for Junior Achievement programs in the past helping students to build their entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy. I have taken graduate level classes on strategic financial management and am set to take a course on program evaluation over the summer.
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
As an MPA student I am taking a program which focuses on the skills needed to be an effective manager and to manage an organizations finances effectively and also teaches us how to analyze and formulate policy. I feel this skillset is advantageous to the role of VPFO in DAGS. I have very effective oral advocacy skills and feel like I could do my part to negotiate a better deal for graduate students.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
My top priority is to push for more transparency in council meetings and in sharing the finances and objectives of DAGS with our members. I want to ensure that DAGS uses its resources effectively and to develop a plan to improve our financial situation. I also want to help contribute to a council which pushes for better grat student spaces on campus and programs from government which benefit graduate students specifically, like better terms for teaching assistantships or health programs to help international students.
What inspires you and why? My biggest inspiration is probably Justin Trudeau, not because of partisan reasons but because he constantly reaches out to people on social media and travels the country to meet with everyday people and engages wither them even if they don’t agree. I feel our world is missing dialogue and always admire those who try to foster it.
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I have experience working with the Dalhousie Student Union (DSU), the Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia (CFS-NS), and Dalhousie University, so I am in a good position to effectively communicate between DAGS and the DSU and DAGS and CFS-NS, and to effectively lobby the University. I have extensive experience working on campaigns around social and environmental justice and student issues. I have also had the opportunity to advocate on behalf of students with university administrators and government officials.
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
I think I’m a good candidate for DAGS VP External because I have the experience necessary to work on campaigns, advocacy, and collaboration. I take my roles seriously and put in the work to ensure my work gets done well. I’m a good listener and would make myself available to hear students’ concerns, thoughts, and feedback, and to ensure the direction of our campaigns and advocacy comes from students’ needs and priorities. I also understand the importance of care in organizing and academic spaces, and I hope to foster a caring community for grad students at Dal through DAGS.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
I want to improve communication and collaboration between DAGS and the DSU and DAGS and CFS-NS to work together more effectively. I hope to work on campaigns around increasing the accessibility of grad student education and to fight for equity for grad students at Dal.I would prioritize working to demand more for grad students from Dalhousie University and provincial and federal governments.
What inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by movements, including the student movement, the youth climate justice movement, and so many movements led by those on the frontlines of struggles. We have so much power to create change when we take our lead from those most affected and work together to organize in good ways.
Campaign Links:Facebook: Laura Cutmore Twitter: @laura_cutmore_ Instagram: @laura_cutmore
Raqhav Gupta Director Architecture, Planning, Computer Science, Engineering Candidate
Questions:
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I have not held significant positions at Dal. However, I have been actively engaged as volunteer under various student societies at Dal. I have experience of being a representative during my Bachelors in my home country.
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
In addition to my educational qualifications and experience which I believed prepared me for this role, I am a hard-worker, a team player and work tirelessly to get the job done.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
My top priority would be to make sure the voice and opinions of every graduate student be heard. Supporting the increase in graduate grants and getting it passed on time would be the other task. Bridging the communication gap between graduate students, DAGS and DSU would be the final goal I want to accomplish in a term.
What inspires you and why?
I think what inspires me the most is my friendship with people. My instinct to know more about people, different cultures, behaviour allows me to understand them, learn from them and bring positive change in myself. A small good thing we learn from others can have a big difference in our lives.
Jay Patel Director Architecture, Planning, Computer Science, Engineering Candidate
Questions:
What are your qualifications and/or experience that relates to the position you’re running for?
I am super inclined to work as a part of this society and try to further push the efforts made by the existing DAGS team. I understand some of you might not know me well (yet) and might have some questions about my experience for this position. Please be assured I will be a welcoming addition to this team as I have over 5+ years of cumulative experience of managing events and activities from college level till being an integral part of international committee member for several groups (mainly IEEE and its subsidiary societies/chapters).
Why do you think you are a good candidate?
With 3+ years of strong ground level experience in my college and 2+ years of international level commitments (part of events and visited 5 countries so far), I believe I am an ideal candidate to best represent this position.
What are the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish during a term at the DAGS?
Funding to the students.Food & Services improvement to the existing campus services.Increasing & transparent Representation of/and graduate students.
What inspires you and why?
I believe DAGS provides very good opportunity for us to integrate and further uphold various activities across the campus for us, graduate students. Hence I am super inclined to work as a part of this society and try to further push the efforts made by the existing DAGS team. I have worked for the various student councils over the past 6+ years. I am excited to serve Dal students a transparent Representation of/and and for the students. ]