DSU GENERAL ELECTION 2024/25

Students Representing Students

The DSU holds a general election in the winter semester each year.
During the general election, all students are eligible to run for office and to vote for their representatives!

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

EXECUTIVE

President

Mariam Knakriah | 4325 Points
(Elected)

John Grant |
4152 Points

Sharath Krishnaraj | 3907 Points

VP Academic & External

Nick d'Entremont | 1142 Votes
(Elected)

No Confidence | 290 Votes

VP Internal

Bianca Morelli | 4393 Points
(Elected)

Sarah Johnson | 3945 Points

Jai Sachdeva |
3116 Points

VP Student Life

Ana Patton |
1201 Votes
(Elected)

Puru Arora |
580 Votes

 

FACULTY & COMMUNITY REPs

Faculty of Arts & Social Science Rep

Olivia Ripley | 207 Votes (Elected)

No Confidence | 23 Votes

Faculty of Agriculture Rep

Mozammel Bin Motalab | 65 Votes
(Elected)

No Confidence | 24 Votes

Faculty of Graduate Studies Rep

Rowan Menezes | 9 votes (Elected)

No Confidence | 1 Vote

International Student Rep

Vinayak Maheshwari | 326 Votes
(Elected)

Anand Lo | 239 Votes

Board of Governors Rep 2

Eshan Arora | 1335 Votes (Elected)

No Confidence | 350 Votes

 
 

society referenda/levy

PASSED

Dalhousie Medical Students' Society (DMSS)

Do you support increasing the Dalhousie Medical Student Society (DMSS) fee from $59.00 to $67.00 annually for full time students? This question applies only to the Halifax and NB campuses.

PASSED

Dalhousie Agricultural Students' Association (DASA)

Do you support increasing the Dalhousie Agricultural Student Association (DASA) student fee levy from $77.47 to $80.00 for full time students and from $38.20 to $40.00 for part-time students and do you also support an annual increase of the DASA student fee levy of no more than 3.5% per year for the next three years, provided the increase is used to maintain current services and is approved annually by both the Society Review Committee (SRC) and the Board of Directors? This question applies only to the Truro campuses and includes the fall, winter and summer semesters.


Debates | March 6-8

Day 1 | March 6th

  • Board Of Governors Rep #2,
    President Faculty of
    Agriculture Rep.

DEBATE RECORDING BELOW!

Day 2 | March 7th

  • Vice President Internal, Vice President
    Student Life, Faculty of Graduate Studies Rep.

DEBATE RECORDING BELOW!

Day 3 | March 8th

  • Vice President Academic & External, International Students Rep, Faculty Arts & Social Sciences Rep

DEBATE RECORDING BELOW!


EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES

Candidate Information & questionnaires available as of March 1st

John Grant
President

Mariam Knakriah
President

Sharath Krishnaraj
President

Sarah Johnson
VP Internal

Bianca Morelli
VP Internal

Jai Sachdeva
VP Internal

Nick d'Entremont
VP Academic & External

Puru Arora
VP Student Life

Ana Patton
VP Student Life

 

community & faculty rep candidates

Candidate Information & questionnaires available as of March 1st

Anand Lo
International Student Rep

Vinayak Maheshwari
International Student Rep

Eshan Arora
Board of Governors Rep 2

Mozammel Bin Motalab
Faculty of Agriculture Rep

Olivia Ripley
Faculty of Arts &
Social Science Rep

Rowan Menezes
Faculty of Graduate Studies Rep

 

society referenda/levy

Dalhousie Medical Students' Society (DMSS)

Do you support increasing the Dalhousie Medical Student Society (DMSS) fee from $59.00 to $67.00 annually for full time students? This question applies only to the Halifax and NB campuses.

Dalhousie Agricultural Students' Association (DASA)

Do you support increasing the Dalhousie Agricultural Student Association (DASA) student fee levy from $77.47 to $80.00 for full time students and from $38.20 to $40.00 for part-time students and do you also support an annual increase of the DASA student fee levy of no more than 3.5% per year for the next three years, provided the increase is used to maintain current services and is approved annually by both the Society Review Committee (SRC) and the Board of Directors? This question applies only to the Truro campuses and includes the fall, winter and summer semesters.


DSU Winter Election 101

Thinking about running? Check out the basics you need to know about running in the election.

▼ Which positions are available in the election?

The positions available in the Winter 2024 general election are listed below. Positions will be held for a 1 year term starting May 1, 2023 and ending April 30, 2025 unless otherwise specified.

Please review DSU Bylaws 4-6 for more information about the roles and responsibilities of each position.

Executive Officer Positions

  • President: The President is the chief spokesperson for the student union. They sit on the Dalhousie Board of Governors and Senate. The President also oversees all day-to-day operations of the Union and regularly represents students to government officials and senior administrators at the university.

  • Vice President, Internal: The VPI is the main liaison between the Union and all student union societies. They assist societies in coordinating their activities and oversee Union communications–including official correspondence and the student union website. They also chair several committees, including the Student Accessibility Fund and Society Review Committee.

  • Vice President, Academic and External: The VPAE is responsible for the student union’s advocacy and campaigns on academic and student issues, including tuition fees, student debt, academic integrity, and equity issues. They sit on the Dalhousie Senate and represent students on various university committees and through municipal, provincial, and federal lobby efforts. The VPAE is also a member of DSU Council and chairs the External Committee, as well as the union’s Senate Caucus.

  • Vice President, Student Life: The VPSL facilitates student union activities that aim to improve student life on campus including Orientation Week, the Impact Awards, and various other activities. They are also responsible for promoting recreational and varsity athletics on campus, chairing a number of event and programming related committees, and overseeing the activities of the DSU's Shinerama campaign.

Community Representative Positions

  • Black Students Community Rep: The Black Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of Black students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

  • Disabled Students Community Rep: The Disabled Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of disabled students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

  • LGBTQ Students Community Rep: The LGBTQ Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of LGBTQ students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

  • Residence Students Community Rep: The Residence Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of students living in residence at Dalhousie. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee. NOTE: The Residence Rep must be living in residence at Dalhousie during the 2023/24 year.

  • Women Students Community Rep: The Women Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of women students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

  • Board of Governor Rep 2: The Board of Governor Representative 2 is a member of DSU Council that sits on the Dalhousie Board of Governors as a student representative for a 1- year term. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

  • Indigenous Students: The Indigenous Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of Indigenous students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.
  • International Students: The International Students Community Representative is a member of DSU Council and brings forward the ideas, concerns, and viewpoints of International students. They may collaborate with other councillors, societies, or DSU Offices to plan events, work on campaigns or policies, or initiate new projects. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee.

Faculty Representative Positions: The Faculty Representatives are members of DSU Council that represent students studying within their Faculty. They will attend Council meetings and join at least one DSU Committee

  • Faculty of Agriculture
  • Faculty of Architecture and Planning
  • Faculty of Arts and Social Science
  • Faculty of Computer Science
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Faculty of Health Professions
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Management
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Science

▼ Am I eligible to run for an executive officer position?

All students are eligible to run for an executive position, as long as they are a Dalhousie student for the duration of their term! For more information, see Bylaw 4.2.

▼ What is the time commitment for an Executive Officer position?

Executive Officers are expected to devote the time and attention to the role as may be required to carry out their responsibilities and meet the objectives of the Union, as outlined in DSU bylaws and policies. They are expected to set and maintain regular office hours to be accessible to Members and Union staff. These are full-time, paid positions. See Bylaw 5, the Executive Policy, and section 14 of the Financial Policy for more information.

▼ Am I eligible to run for a Community Representative position?

Council includes a representative for many key communities of Dalhousie students. Eligibility is based on self-identification with a specific community. Where membership in a community is through self-identification, the DSU honors a candidate's self-dentification and does not request proof of their identity.

Section 3 of the Elections and Referenda Policy states that:

  • The Black Students Representative must self-identify as a Black student and be elected only by self-identifying Black Students.
  • The Disabled Students Representative must self-identify as a disabled student and be elected only by self-identifying disabled students.
  • The LGBTQ Students Representative must self-identify as an LGBTQ student and be elected only by self-identifying LGBTQ Students.
  • The Residence Representative must live in a Dalhousie residence during their term and be elected only by students in residence.
  • The Women Students Representative must self-identify as a woman and be elected only by self-identifying women students.
  • The Indigenous Students Representative must self-identify as Indigenous and be elected only by self-identifying Indigenous students.
  • The International Students Representative must be an International Student and be elected only by International Students.
    You must also meet the eligibility criteria outlined in Bylaw 4.2.

▼ How do I run in the general election?

To nominate yourself for a position, you must complete all the following steps:

  1. Ensure that you are eligible for the position you would like to run for. Eligibility requirements can be found in sections 1-3 of the Elections & Referenda Policy and Bylaw 4.2.
  2. Using a Microsoft Form which requires students to sign in with their Dalhousie email address, gather the names, B00s, and Dal email addresses of at least 25 other Dalhousie students who support your candidacy. Watch the video under the drop-down menu for instructions on creating your form. Upload the results to the Nomination Form in the form of an Excel spreadsheet. If you'd prefer to collect signatures physically (or a mix of both), email dsucro@dal.ca for a template.
  3. Gather the names, B00s, and Dal email addresses of the other students who will be your campaign workers during the election using this template. Campaign workers are optional. Unsure what a campaign worker is? Check out the next drop-down to find more information.
  4. Record all the social media pages and handles you will be using to campaign using this template.
  5. If you are running for Vice President (Finance and Operations), you must also complete the VPFO Technical Questionnaire.
  6. Be sure to read Bylaw 9 and the Elections and Referenda Policy! Come prepared to the All Candidates Meeting with any questions you might have, or reach out in advance to the CRO at dsucro@dal.ca.
  7. When nominations are open (between Jan. 29th and Feb. 9th), submit your completed spreadsheets (2-3 in total) and the rest of your nomination information through the online Nomination Form. The link to the Nominations Form will be posted when nominations open. In addition to uploading your completed spreadsheets, you will be asked for your: name, pronouns, B00, Dal email address, program/major/year of study, and confirmation that you have read Bylaw 9 and the Elections and Referenda Policy.

After you submit your nomination, you will also be required to attend the All Candidates Meeting and Anti-Oppression Training, submit a Candidate Questionnaire and, of course, campaign!

The All-Candidates Meeting will be held from 6-8pm on February 16th and the Candidate Questionnaire is due at 12 noon on February 28th. Campaigning begins March 1st.

▼ What are the important election dates and deadlines?

See the full Elections Period Schedule here. Find an overview of key dates below.

TASK TASK DATE
Final date for referenda to be approved by Council Jan 17
Elections period begins; nominations & campaign registrations open Jan 29
Nominations and campaign registrations close; deadline to submit forms and VPFO questionnaires Feb 9 @ 5 PM
All Candidates Meeting and Anti-Oppression Training Feb 12 @ 5PM
Deadline for campaigns to submit candidate questionnaires, posters, and handbills March 1 @ 12 PM (noon)
Campaign period begins Mar 4 @ 8 AM
Debates held. Mar 6-8
Campaign period ends; deadline for candidate to withdraw Mar 13 @ 8 PM
Voting period Mar 14-15
Unofficial results announced Mar 16
Deadline to appeal results of referendum or election; results become official if no appeals are received Mar 19
All declarations made by candidates and nominees (community reps) and record of vote destroyed Apr 25

▼ What is a campaign worker?

A campaign worker is an individual who has agreed to assist a candidate with campaigning in any capacity. If you are worried about running a campaign all on your own, you do not have to! All you need to do is ask someone if they would be willing to help with your campaign and then submit a list of campaign workers alongside your nomination form. You could have one, a few, or a whole team of campaign workers!

A campaign worker does not have to be a Dalhousie student, meaning you could ask a student from another institution or someone who is not a student. However, Dalhousie faculty, teaching assistants, and all other University staff must not serve as campaign workers. If a campaign worker is employed by the DSU in any capacity they must contact the CRO and inform them of their work. Furthermore, they must not campaign while they are working. Have questions about who can or cannot be a campaign worker? Email dsucro@dal.ca.

Campaign workers must abide by the Elections and Referenda Policy and attend the All-Candidates Meeting.

Questions? Contact the Chief Returning Officer, Abhiroop Yerramilli, with any questions about the elections process at dsucro@dal.ca.



Resources for Campaigns & Candidates

Candidates should refer to the DSU Bylaws and Elections Policy for basic campaigning rules. The campaign rules are in addition to those found in DSU governing documents and are at the discretion of the Elections Committee.

Election Forms

Please fill out all required forms by the deadline date for Nominations, February 9th, at 5 pm ADT. Candidate Questionnaire are due March 1st at 12 noon ADT. *Forms will go live on Jan 29th

Elections & Referenda Policy

Refer to the DSU Bylaws and Elections Policy for basic campaigning rules. The Policy outlines the procedures and authority for DSU Elections. Be sure to read and understand it.

Campaign Rules

Make sure to read through! Candidates caught breaking any of the following rules may be fined at the discretion of the CRO and Elections Committee

DSU Bylaw 9

Refer to the DSU Bylaws and Elections Policy for basic campaigning rules. Bylaw 9 governs elections and referenda. Be sure to read and understand it