▼ WHAT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS POSITION?

In the past, I’ve served on student government executives. I’m currently involved with multiple societies. I am also actively involved in campus athletics through intramurals and also as a spectator, which are a big part of student life at Dalhousie.

▼ WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR YOUR DESIRED POSITION?

I believe I would be a good candidate for this position because I care about student life and student success.

During my first year at Dalhousie, I didn’t know about on-campus societies. I understand how difficult it can be to get involved and meet people. Since then, I have met many wonderful friends through societies.

▼ LIST THE TOP 3 THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN OFFICE?

1. Improve relationships between the DSU and societies.

2. Increase accountability within DSU, ensuring student fees are spent effectively.

3. Foster more communication between the DSU and members.

▼ DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS ONE STUDENT ISSUE THAT MATTERS TO YOU.

Dalhousie is a large school and it can be very difficult to find a community. For me, it is important that all students feel welcome and included.

I feel that the purpose of the DSU is to connect its members to the community. As VPI, I would ensure that societies receive full support from the DSU.

▼ WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY?

I am passionate about increasing student involvement at Dalhousie. Currently, there is little incentive for students to become involved in our community. I will work hard to change this.

▼ LIST A FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I am in the top 1% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify.

▼ WHAT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS POSITION?

I believe my most important and unique experiences lie in the work I currently do for societies behind the scenes.

If you are or have ever been a society executive seeking ratification or funding, chances are you've received correspondence from me. As the current Internal Commissioner for the DSU, I am tasked with reviewing ratification applications, drafting bank letters, participating in various student funding committees, and providing overall support to societies.

Apart from my administrative duties, I have first-hand experience with student societies. I've progressed through various roles within the DSU, starting as the President of Howe Hall and later serving on the DSU council as Residence Representative. I've been actively involved as both a general member and a society executive in numerous societies. This year, I established my own society, Dalhousie Women in Politics.

I've been deeply immersed in politics, policy, and the law, initiating real change since my time as a Legislative Page in Toronto. Since then, I've engaged in various experiences, including participation in Model Parliament and Forum for Young Canadians. These opportunities allowed me to collaborate directly with MLAs and MPs, gaining invaluable insight. My volunteer work at a local law firm, Mckiggan Hebert LLP, has provided me with experience refining policy and reviewing extensive documents, similar to the tasks undertaken at DSU.

If given the opportunity, I am prepared to leverage my years of experience with DSU societies and policy to bring about positive change. I have a wealth of unique ideas ready to be implemented, aimed at addressing areas that need improvement and enhancing student life.

▼ WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR YOUR DESIRED POSITION?

After working closely with our current VPI, full-time employees like the Societies and Programs Coordinator, and society executives over the past several months, I have come to the conclusion that the DSU should be providing more resources to societies and students. Especially since these resources are paid for by all of us students.

Societies are like second nature to me. Having been a general member, executive, founding member, and now helping them on a daily basis, I am familiar with every step involved in creating a prosperous society. I have a thorough understanding of the resources that societies currently require because I have conducted various society surveys on topics such as election processes and event funding.

Besides societies, I am aware of the present needs of our student body at Dalhousie. I currently am in charge of gathering and analyzing data for the psycho-educational evaluation bursary and the Student Accessibility Report Fund in an effort to increase funds for these grants.

Since I see both students and society's needs first-hand, I believe more must be done to address these problems within the DSU. In addition to creating an enhanced society support program with better executive training, expedited ratification procedures, and improved budget and event planning tools, my goal is to increase the funding allocated to both student and society grants. In addition, I will improve resources for societies that conduct events in order to make our campus more accessible.

If elected, I will make myself available to hear your concerns at all times and work through society and student issues one by one, as I do now.

▼ LIST THE TOP 3 THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN OFFICE?

I believe that if you are paying your student fees, you should see more funding allocated to making your university experience better and more accessible. The DSU operates on an approximately 2.8 million dollar budget and last year, only $54,000 of that went into student and society grants.

My 3 priorities, among other commitments, are as follows:

1. Re-allocate part of the DSU budget to double the maximum amount of assistance available for Student well-being grants that assist with the high costs of living such as rent, groceries, and accessing Psycho-educational assessments, such as the Student Accessibility Fund.

2. Re-allocate part of the DSU budget to allow for the creation of an enhanced society support program. This will include restructuring society grants and member grants to give students and societies an equal opportunity for more funding. Part of this program will be to establish one central online platform for new society resources such as improved transition training for executives, budget management tools, and connections to external funding opportunities. This platform will speed up the ratification process for societies.

3. Make spaces more accessible for ALL students on ALL Dalhousie campuses. I will work to provide resources for societies and students to use to host more accessible events, such as wheelchair ramps.

▼ DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS ONE STUDENT ISSUE THAT MATTERS TO YOU.

The role of VPI goes beyond just coordinating societies. One crucial aspect of this role is sitting on committees like the Student Accessibility Fund Committee, where I've seen firsthand the challenges faced by students, especially those with disabilities.

As someone who has struggled to make ends meet as a student, I understand the immense financial pressures many of us face. From skyrocketing rent prices to the high cost of groceries, every dollar counts. For students with cognitive or physical disabilities, these challenges are even more daunting.

This is why I believe that more money in the DSU budget needs to be allocated to student well-being grants, such as the Student Accessibility Fund grant and the Psycho-educational bursary. In today's economy, $1000 doesn't stretch as far as it used to. Every student, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to focus on their education without the constant worry of how they'll afford rent, groceries, or the technology they need to succeed.

We all contribute to student fees for a reason – to support each other and ensure everyone has the resources they need to thrive. It's time for our fees to work harder for us and provide the support we deserve.

▼ WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY?

I am passionate about societies because I believe they shape our university journey and define our experiences.

This is why I am determined to provide them with the support they need to thrive. Students should be allowed to attend conferences, competitions, and events without having to worry about the financial burden that comes with these experiences. Too often in my current role, I hear from society executives having to turn down eager students because of financial constraints, or not being able to host a certain event due to lack of funding. I have personally missed out on many opportunities due to the price tag attached with them.

Every student deserves to be involved in campus life to the fullest and make lifelong friends and memories through societies. Societies themselves should be free to pursue their goals and passions without worrying about owing money to the DSU or constant fundraising.

▼ LIST A FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.

Since the start of the year, I've been blessed with the chance to foster six absolutely adorable kittens! Feel free to reach out to me at @Bianca4VPI or @lilbonkawonka for some heart-melting pictures :)

▼ WHAT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS POSITION?

I have cultivated valuable experience and qualifications for my desired role through active volunteering in various clubs and organizations.

This engagement has allowed me to serve as a pivotal intermediary between people, organization members, and participants. Specifically, my involvement in university MUNs (Model United Nations) and school elections has honed my skills in diplomacy, communication, and leadership.

▼ WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR YOUR DESIRED POSITION?

As a Dalhousie student, I have developed a deep understanding of the importance of serving as an intermediary body and advocating on behalf of my fellow students. This insight, combined with my active engagement in student affairs and my commitment to representing student voices, positions me as a strong candidate for this role.

▼ LIST THE TOP 3 THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN OFFICE?

1. "Encourage student engagement by motivating them to join or form new societies, enhancing the vibrancy of our campus community."

2. "Improve resource accessibility for existing societies, providing them with the support needed to grow and succeed."

3. "Raise awareness among societies about the available facilities and support, ensuring they can fully utilize university resources."

▼ DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS ONE STUDENT ISSUE THAT MATTERS TO YOU.

The issue of information and resource availability is pivotal, particularly in my role as a liaison between the Union and student societies.

This role involves coordinating society activities, managing Union communications, and chairing key committees. By focusing on improving resource accessibility and communication, we aim to better support student societies and ensure students are aware of and can access the support they need.

▼ WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY?

I am passionate about continuously learning and working on new things. This enthusiasm is driven by my curiosity and the joy I find in discovering and understanding the unknown.

▼ LIST A FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF.