What relevant experience do you have to prepare you for the position?

I’ve been in many different types of grassroots movements throughout McGill, a lot of social causes. When I first started off I was … [involved] with Greenpeace, Organic Campus, Midnight Kitchen, a lot of these types of things. Outside of McGill I’ve been part of so-called community centres which are very informal and very effective, I think. 

I’ve also worked for the last six years at a family restaurant; lots of budgets, human resources, making sure people are doing their job, throwing events, all these types of things.

With SSMU and McGill related things, I’ve been on the periphery of the formal. I’ve been to BoG meetings,  I’ve been to Senate, I’ve sat in on AUS …. I’ve been mostly [an] informal, periphery kind of person and I think I have the experience to be in SSMU because I’ve worked a lot with Joel, who is External of SSMU this year.

What are your thoughts on the Frosh reforms and what do you hope to change next year?

I would like to continue the tradition of diversification…. One thing that I really want to do is diversify events and integrat[e them] within the Montreal community and integration within McGill…. [I want to have] off-residence people come into McGill and feel welcome … because the McGill bubble not only leaves people in the bubble, it also leaves people out of it so it’s a lot to do with popping the McGill bubble.  

And what I mean by diversification of events is … let what Montreal [show what it] has to offer, Montreal has a lot to offer, [such as] … jazz bars, lofts, poetry readings. 

How would you address those who may be more critical of the role you played in the sixth floor occupation?

I find this question to be irrelevant to the position of SSMU VP Internal. I am not an ideologue, and I do not like to be characterized as essentially this or that; I strive to critically assess and question all positions I take, I do not stand by them dogmatically. I will have to let my platform, one of accountability, openness, dialogue, equity, community, and accessibility, speak for itself.

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

Diogenes or Neill Tyson.