What do you think the biggest challenge is going to be next year?

I think the biggest challenge is communication. I know everyone drops that as a buzzword, but it’s difficult because McGill is very big. There are so many different departments that can intermix, and have a lot of great things they could be doing with each other, but it’s about being able to find the information, aggregate all of that information and then be able to sit down and analyze and implement the information. So it’s a really big project to undertake.

What experience do you have that will prepare you for the position?

I see [myself] as having a very broad experience. As president of a faculty association I do a lot more work on the ground … Events planning is a big part of the position, but it’s not the only thing. There’s a lot more talking to individual students and dealing with individual academic issues. I also had the opportunity this year to sit on the president’s round table, [where we] discussed more broad issues … [sometimes including] meetings with Masi and Heather Munroe-Blum. And then my experience as VP External last year … that was more organizing charitable events, and I also sat on legislative council, which gave me really great insight into SSMU. In addition, I worked on the SSMU interest group committee, so I have a good idea of the overall scope of clubs and services, which is the core of SSMU.

Do you have any ideas for new events next year?

I think homecoming is a good idea. Then again, McGill is known for having low school spirit … Logistically, [homecoming] kind of falls by the wayside to Frosh because you have to plan it so far in advance over the summer, but that’d be something I’d like to look into. 

I really want to do more diverse events … stuff that really engages people on a more academic level without stepping on what the university can already offer … I want to look into the idea of working with smaller faculties to either bolster something they want to do at a faculty level, or maybe hold small events or info sessions around campus. I want them to say “We’re SSMU. We’re on campus. We’re not just here at the Shatner building – we’re everywhere.”

If you could high five anyone in history, who would you high five?

I’d probably go with Susan B. Anthony.