UPEISU Unveils its First Council Meeting: Reinforcement of New Beginnings

By: Clint Maramag

 

Executives and senates of UPEISU gathered for the first time in months to sync up on their planned agendas, along with the presentation of summer reports which the UPEISU had so far accomplished – 19th September 2021.

The event started with the swearing-in of the new councillors from various representative fields. The councillors swore with honor as they reflected on the enormous responsibilities, they would bear for the benefit of everyone. The following are this year’s UPEISU Executive Team and Council Representatives:

Executive Team:

Samantha Maclean – UPEISU President

Anagha Muralidharan – UPEISU VP Academic & External

Sierrah Laybolt – UPEISU VP Student Life

Leena Daboo – UPEISU VP Finance

Senates/Representatives:

Akshay Bhaskar – Board of Governors Representative

Adam MacKenzie – Senate Representative

Maggie LeClair – Senate Representative

Jennifer Stewart – Senate Representative

Ethics Surani – International Student Representative

Ananya Kaur – Science Representative

Brianna O’Connor – Arts Representative

The event was followed by the summer reports of the UPEISU executives, which unveiled their executed responsibilities throughout the summer until this present day.

The highlights of Maclean’s report featured the snow shoe co-op and policies regarding sexual violence.  Additionally, she also worked alongside UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz focusing on the Vaccine and Mask Mandates for everyone’s safety. Lastly, she attend several conferences/meetings that became a part of this school year’s foundation. To view the description thoroughly, click here.

Muralidharan’s report included her involvement to introductory meetings with Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Politicians in discussing policy priorities, Senate meetings that passed the permanent extension of the Winter Break (which was previously initiated by the previous year UPEISU executives), and crucial policy recommendations for the general public. She also emphasized specific academic appeals that catered to all UPEI students. Additionally, she had established specific requests to combat the difficulties students continue to face. These issues included housing problems, international student fee issues, and the like. Muralidharan also advocated the elections by keeping involved with government relations and other policy priorities to thump the specific problems that different communities continue to face. To read the specifics of this report, click here.

Student relations were the key proponent of Laybolt’s responsibility. Thus, her summer report focused on the societies, bylaws of UPEI, video game co-op for students, conferences, and events that advocated reinforcement towards the university experience. The initiation of the Drag Night and Welcome BBQ for students within university grounds were also a part of Laybolt’s successful plan. For more information about the student life report, click here.

Daboo’s report exhibited her involvement on the Bike-Coop, Campus Trust, World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and the fundings of the UPEISU. She also supervised the operation of SUpplies (the Student Union’s Food Bank) and worked on a Food Security Pamplet. Additionally, she also managed the transition of the new members for The Cadre – the student union’s official publication. More details could be sought here.

The council representatives were also given temporary committee assignments to ensure efficient service and dedication for the student union among the executive teams. Listed below were their assigned responsibilities:

 

Brianna O’Connor, Ananya Kaur, and Adam MacKenzie – Governance Committee

Ethics Surani, Jennifer Stewart, and Maggie LeClair – Funding Committee

Ananya Kaur, Adam MacKenzie, Jennifer Stewart, and Ethics Surani – Budget Committee

Maggie LeClair, Akshay Bhaskar, and Brianna O’Connor – New Initiatives Future Directions

Ananya Kaur – Faculty Representative

The last part of the council meeting featured the ratification of new societies that would soon be a part of the UPEISU clubs/organizations. The list was as follows:

 

1. Students for Social Justice – will focus on complex social issues and how to grapple with them; focus on learning how to create a more just social system.

 

1. The Gaming Club – looks forward to uniting the gamers within university grounds; encourages members to participate in tournaments; discusses passion for gaming.

 

3. UPEI Climate Change Club– aims to organize active advocacy for climate change

 

Re-ratification also occurred for the old societies that had always been a part of the UPEISU clubs/organizations. Additionally, Mateo Blacquiere, Deputy Chair of UPEISU, also brought up Campus Life Lounge and that it would now be open to accommodate students.

New promises and responsibilities were embraced by the executives and senates of this school year. Although the global challenges had occurred, the union stood tall and throbbed it for the sake of the UPEI community – a perfect reflection of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.