Students meandered in and out of the SFU Surrey atrium last week while candidates for the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) elections vied for their votes at the first debate of this year’s election season.
The atrium was scarcely populated when the debates began at 10:30 a.m. last Thursday, as students occasionally peeked over the railings to watch candidates debate issues related to advocacy, student involvement, and financial responsibility, among others.
The faculty and at-large representative debates were fairly cordial, as candidates discussed their plans for engaging students and bridging the perceived gap between the SFSS board and the membership. Several candidates suggested creating an online database for their faculties and clubs in order to better connect students across campus.
After an hour, discussion shifted to focus on the upcoming referendum questions. This year, the board of directors has put forward three questions to be voted on by the student body in the upcoming elections.
Current SFSS president Chardaye Bueckert spoke briefly about the proposed reallocation of fees from the Space Expansion Fund Levy to the SFSS Emergency Food Bank Program. If passed, $0.25 per full time student and $0.13 per part time student would be shifted to support the food bank, which has recently expanded its services to SFU’s satellite campuses. “This would provide an annual budget of $32,000 for the program,” explained Bueckert.
Current VP external relations Darwin Binesh then spoke to the proposed shift of $4.75 per full time student and $2.37 per part time student from the Space Expansion Fund to the Membership Fee Levy.
The executive debates started with a bang when Brady Wallace (REAL) was the only VP University Relations candidate to take the stage. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), who was mediating the debates, asked if the audience had any questions for Wallace, after which he queried if he could ask one of his own.
Wallace addressed his absent opponents, asking how committed they are to the position considering their absence. He then responded on their behalfs: “not very.”
After the debate ended, VP Student Life candidate Deepak Sharma (REAL) gave Wallace a standing ovation.
Binesh (REAL) was also the only VP Student Services candidate present, as Shery Alam (SCHOOL SPIRIT) was ill. When asked how he plans to work with transit after the U-pass program is modified, Binesh responded, “I have formal negotiation experience [. . .] I do plan on fighting for a very fair rate.”
All four of the VP External Relations candidates were present to battle for students’ votes during a lengthy discussion, which addressed issues such as government relations and advocacy. The discussion peaked when Bueckert asked how the candidates plan to address sexual assault on university campuses, if elected.
Candidate Blossom Malhan (REAL) said she wants these issues discussed more openly on campus. “You have the right to be protected at this university,” she added.
Karan Thukral (SCHOOL SPIRIT), Arjan Mundy, and Kathleen Yang echoed this advice, with Yang highlighting the need for transformative justice approaches.
The VP Student Life and the VP Finance debates were particularly contentious, with each pair of candidates exchanging quips and questions.
VP student life candidates Hassan Liaquat (SCHOOL SPIRIT) and Sharma (REAL) emphasized that the position should be about more than “throwing a couple successful pub nights” — although both added that they had “done a few of those.”
VP Finance candidates Barbara Szymczyk (REAL) and Karan Thakur (SCHOOL SPIRIT) threw out figures from the current SFSS budget, speaking to what adjustments they would make in the upcoming year.
At 1:04 p.m., the presidential candidates Kayobe Fatoba (SCHOOL SPIRIT), Erik Hadekaer (S.P.A.D.E.S. 2015), Zied Masmoudi (REAL), and Enoch Weng took to the stage. Fellow candidate Johnny Aether (LAN Party) sent in a note apologizing for his absence.
Before sitting down, Hadekaer removed his formal suit, put on a velvet gold tracksuit, and began cracking glowsticks, which he then threw to members of the crowd during his opening statement.
Masmoudi begun by asking his opponents what their first priority would be if elected. Weng said he would focus on uniting the board priorities and ensuring the group was ready to work as a team. For Hadekaer, the emphasis was on Taco Tuesdays. “We will bring tacos to everybody!” he exclaimed.
Fatoba said he wants to lead by example and try to keep the board focused on working together. “Less politics means more possibilities to do what we are elected to do,” he stated.
Masmoudi later stated that the board needs to reevaluate its mission: “One of my main priorities would be to set a goal for the society.”
Candidates parleyed for almost an hour on how to improve the society before the IEC wrapped up the debates at 2 p.m.
The candidates will continue to debate next week at Harbour Centre and Burnaby before the campaign period closes on March 24.
