How do you feel about the changes to Frosh?
I believe it’s too soon to take a stand on how we feel about Frosh, but I am totally in favour of how this year we are working more closely with the administration. I’m working hard to keep the parts of Frosh that we like alive.
In general, would you say that open dialogue is a big part of your platform?
Yes, with the administration. In all aspects.
Anything else that you’re especially going to promote?
I hope to foster a sense of community among the students. I feel like this year’s VP internal has done a fairly good job of catering to a small section of the student body, but I look forward to engaging with the smaller cultural groups on campus, the faculty associations, working more with Athletics, and especially working with people from Montreal that still live at home.
Tom has an excellent relationship with SPIN, his events planning committee, and that’s really crucial. But I think he’s stepped on the toes of faculty associations a few times.
Do you have any ideas for new events?
I want to make a permanent student art gallery happen somewhere on campus. I’d also like to do some off-campus events to engage the people that live at home.
How do you plan to engage students when your competition is Montreal?
By working with off-campus bars and organizing cultural events off campus.
What are your strengths?
I bring a lot of experience to the table, working on small events, working on large events, completely conceptualizing events on my own and making them happen, like AUS Charity Week.
I’m really good at damage control. I came into AUS Frosh right before it [ran a large deficit] and tried to minimize the damage, and also was an AUS exec. this year with our whole tax situation and financial situation. I’m really good at negotiating with the administration, and I think that’s something I bring to the table that the other candidates don’t.
As much as this is a job, I don’t see it as a nine to five thing. I see it as signing up to do this 24/7. If it means working 20-hour days, I will. I have an idea of the amount of dedication it takes.
