Victory!

This post also could have been titled, "It took me two months to finally post about the uber-secret thing"

Last March, I ran for the position of Science Councillor for the University of Alberta's Student's Union, and won! Yay, streamers and champagne for everyone. There were seven positions, and seven people ran, as well as the dreaded "None of the Above", in a preferential polling system. I was one of two candidates that actually made posters, and it was very odd for the three days or so to see my face plastered places. But it was worth it :)

What is the Student's Union?
From the website,

...a student-centric organization that serves as a strong advocate for students at all levels of government and at the university. We provide access to a range of businesses designed to appeal to student needs, and to services that can help with everything from finding a place to live, to getting back there safely at night.

The Students’ Union is run by students for students, and prides itself on being a proactive organization that is sensitive to the needs of individual students on campus, and responsive to global challenges that affect us all.

So you're a councillor. What does that mean?
It means that I represent students from the Faculty of Science, like myself, when it comes to the governance and facilitation of the Student's Union. It boils down to ensuring the elected Executives (the President and their Vice Presidents of Student Life, Operations and Finance, Academic, and External, so 5 execs total as well as the Board of Governor's Representative) fulfill their duties, and voice any concerns from students. We also may be on committees that meet regularly to discuss our policy, bylaws, administration, etc.

For instance, RATT (the Room At The Top, an SU-run bar) had renovations last summer that were part of the VP Operations and Finance's portfolio, and councillors checked in on the progress and offered assistance. The Twitter hashtag #uasu refers to council, just in case you see it sometime in my feed.

Personal Goals?
I'm still green at this, but I ran under a three-part platform.
1. Ensuring that education is accessible and affordable (the province cut grant and scholarship funding and is instead promoting student loans aka bad!). Also, regulating non-instructional fees, such as the recent $290-per-year that undergrads have to pay this coming year and next year.
2. Trying to foster a Science identity, since we've been without a steady Faculty association for two years, and make up a large proportion of the student body. We have a new association, ISSS (Interdepartmental Science Students' Society), so fingers crossed!
3. Environmentally responsible decisions as a council, a Student's Union, and a university. I hope to use what I learn from my summer term abroad for new and interesting ideas.

Will I achieve these? Is it possible?
I'm still working on that, but right now my focus is on point #2, as I'll soon be contacting student leaders with department associations about attending their first meeting next year. I want to get a sense of what they're hoping to accomplish for students, see if they have any concerns or need a hand with anything, and get involved.

Any other victories?
I'm Urban Deer Project Volunteer Coordinator III, as well the Summer Coordinator for UDP with the U of A Chapter of the Wildlife Society, so yay! Which reminds me, I should start training people...