The Tribune’s Editorial Board presents its midterm reviews of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) executives. Tribune editors researched and communicated with each executive before leading an Editorial Board discussion on the executives’ work and accomplishments. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews.
SSMU President: Dymetri Taylor
So far, one of Taylor’s most significant projects has been working to draft a proposal for changes to the SSMU constitution with the goal of creating a better-functioning student union. SSMU’s relevant governance bodies must approve these changes and the constituency must vote on them before they are adopted. In proposing revisions to the constitution, Taylor hopes to improve SSMU’s governance structure such that it will better delegate responsibilities between the Board of Directors (BoD) and the Legislative Council. As it stands, all of the Legislative Council’s resolutions must be ratified by the BoD, which means that the latter has veto power. The Tribune encourages Taylor to use the proposed governance restructure as an opportunity to increase the power of student representation at SSMU in the Legislative Council.
Another one of Taylor’s goals is to increase efficiencies in the work of executives. For instance, he is considering a proposal to merge the Vice-President (VP) Internal and VP Operations and Sustainability positions, which would reduce the money SSMU spends on salaries. Given that recent executives have expressed concern about the workload of the executive team, The Tribune urges Taylor to consider how these changes might serve to better support them, and not just cut costs. During his tenure, Taylor has worked to improve the internal regulations of SSMU elections and is negotiating a new management plan with McGill regarding the leasing of the University Centre.
Student engagement has also been among Taylor’s top priorities for the semester, and he views events as a crucial way to reach the student body. Among Taylor’s accomplishments are hosting an interfaculty welcome dinner for faculty associations and helping to plan the upcoming Gatsby Gala for students. While his commitment to strengthening students’ relationship with SSMU is crucial, especially considering poor voter turnout in recent years, a meaningful engagement strategy demands more events and more than just events to reach all parts of the student population.
SSMU VP Finance: Pauline Jolicoeur
When Pauline Jolicoeur assumed office at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, SSMU had a budget deficit of over $726,000 CAD, and had just run two unsuccessful referendum questions for a SSMU base fee increase. Given these circumstances, her immediate priority was to reorganize SSMU’s finances to address the budget deficit. Jolicoeur told The Tribune that through a consolidated downsizing effort in May, removing subscriptions to several softwares, renegotiating contracts, and many smaller adjustments, the entirety of this year’s projected budget deficit of $426,000 CAD has been eliminated. The actual numbers and reports supporting these figures are not currently available to the public, although Jolicoeur mentioned that they would be made available in the next few weeks. Jolicoeur said she was proud to have eliminated the deficit, and to put SSMU on a more sustainable financial path moving forward.
In the coming semester, she hopes to revive SSMU’s Finance Committee in order to conduct an in-depth review of SSMU’s reserve fund investments, as well as streamline the accounting paperwork by using a webform. She also discussed the possibility of creating bank accounts for student services, similar to the ones that student clubs currently have, and developing a more user-friendly budget template for clubs to use. Although SSMU’s request for a base increase failed to pass again this semester, Jolicoeur said that it should not threaten any of SSMU’s existing functionality, but would prevent SSMU from increasing the salaries of its employees represented by the SSMUnion, amid demands for increased pay in line with the current cost of living. While eliminating SSMU’s budget deficit is a crucial step, The Tribune urges more transparency around the financial breakdown and reports. Moving forward, more work will be necessary to balance SSMU’s functions with fair compensation for SSMU employees given the rejection of the fee increase.
SSMU VP Internal: Zeena Zahidah
Zahidah began her role as VP Internal with an idealistic vision. While she had strong goals for the position, she admitted she didn’t understand all the inner workings of the SSMU, and how much her position involves administrative work. Her priority was inclusive representation for francophone students, a mandate which is now held by the VP External Affairs portfolio but was under her purview during her campaign. Now, over half of her committee members are fluent in french, and she’s successfully implemented a form in the office to let staff choose their language of communication. She also hosted a francophone club night called Femme Fatale, and is planning other diversity-focused events at Club 212 for next semester.
Another goal has been connecting first-year students to the wider McGill community—she’s started work on a “buddy system,” which has started slower than expected thanks to by-elections and midterms, and is planning a social event in January with the Students’ Society Programming Network (SSPN) and First-Year Council (FYC) for students who missed frosh. In collaboration with SSPN, she negotiated a deal with 212 to host events like the Great Gatsby Gala, 4Floors and Faculty Olympics while Gerts is closed for maintenance. Zahidah has also been working hard to support the full-time SSMU staff, campaigning for the base fee increase to support their salaries and benefits. Though the levy did not pass, she plans to continue advocating for SSMU full-time staff so they are supported and recognized for their work. Zahidah also wants to pass updates to the VP Internal mandate and set up better structural and financial support for the following VP Internal, so they can start next year in a better position.
SSMU VP External: Hugo-Victor Solomon
Solomon’s goals as VP External were focused on addressing pressing social justice issues at McGill and fostering stronger community ties. He prioritized addressing the militarization of McGill’s campus, aiming to ensure the administration upholds peaceful and educational values. A key initiative under his leadership was the organization of two critical walking tours in Milton Parc. These tours, led by students, faculty and organizers from the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG) and the Milton Parc Citizens’ Committee, discussed issues like Indigenous rights, climate change divestment, as well as the removal of the James McGill statue. For Solomon, supporting Indigenous communities has also been central, including helping the Mohawk Mothers with travel expenses for their legal appeals in Ottawa. He is currently working on creating a permanent Indigenous art exhibit in the University Centre slated to open in February.
Expanding the Community Solidarity Fund— though its implementation will be delayed due to an issue with Elections SSMU—was another key initiative, alongside his work supporting Francophone students. Solomon also collaborated with the Black Affairs Committee to develop a Black Solidarity Policy. Additionally, Solomon presented a policy to combat antisemitism, stressing the importance of distinguishing it from anti-Zionism. As the policy did not pass, The Tribune urges Solomon to continue pushing to implement a policy against antisemitism within SSMU. Looking ahead, Solomon remains committed to connecting McGill with the Milton Parc community and continuing his work on establishing a food bank, which he aims to launch in the coming semester.
SSMU VP University Affairs: Abe Berglas
Berglas entered their role as VP University Affairs with a strong focus on accessibility, governance transparency, and protecting protest rights. Thus far, they have done a commendable job. They aimed to address the lack of resources for disabled students, emphasizing the importance of student-led advocacy to avoid treating disabled individuals as a monolith. This goal evolved into a deeper collaboration with McGill, particularly on accessibility strategies, where they partnered with the equity team to gather and compile student feedback. Berglas also sought to make governance processes more accessible, filling all advisory board positions for the first time in years, despite challenges with training gaps and inactive boards. On academic advocacy, Abe revitalized SSMU’s Accessibility Committee, reinstating accessibility-focused training and events. They also updated resources for student rights, incorporating protest rights into workshops and expanding collaboration with student senators across faculties.
Despite fostering fruitful dialogues, Berglas told The Tribune they have faced administrative barriers, such as uncooperative committee structures and logistical skepticism, which they have worked to address through formal complaints and demand letters citing legal obligations for student representation. Looking ahead, Berglas plans to audit McGill’s EDI and anti-Black racism plans for 2020 to 2025, advocating for a critical review of their progress. They aim to foster stronger ties between SSMU and faculty members and enhance record-keeping through senator reports and a public blog to ensure continuity. While balancing sustainability with flexibility, Berglas remains committed to advancing accessibility and equity while empowering students to engage with university decision-making processes. Berglas’ plan sounds realistic, well-structured, and impactful for McGill students—but they are also taking on a significant workload. The Tribune recommends delegating tasks to others when possible to ensure that all goals are met within their term.
