As McMaster Students Union elections ramp up and candidates introduce their platforms, we can start to get an idea of how the candidates plan on dealing with issues of accessibility on campus. Mental and physical accessibility is an ongoing concern that McMaster students and that each candidate running for MSU president addresses differently.
This concern has been generally assessed in terms of infrastructural concerns and physical accessibility on campus as well as mental health and developing resources that will help students cope with their mental health concerns. However, most of the candidates do not give specific mention to show that how they improve the inclusion of students with disability and special needs on campus.
In terms of infrastructure and improving the campus itself for students, Kyle Pinheiro alerts to the issue of malfunctioning outlets on campus. These would then alleviate mental stress and anxiety for students, as well as ways we can maximize space on campus for studying such as tutorial rooms and hallway space in buildings like MDCL. In addition, Pinheiro plans to decrease traffic areas in MUSC by implementing more microwave stations. In terms of resources, Pinheiro has been consulting with the MacPherson Institute to develop an app for Avenue to Learn to supplement to the current web version.
Ikram Farah’s platform addresses accessibility for McMaster students with a focus on improving Student Accessibility Services, decreasing exam stress,and improving physical safety on campus. As an interim solution, Farah wants to “incentivize note-takers by giving them MSU Courtesy Cards which offer discounts at MSU businesses”, with an end goal to “fully incentivize note-taking through wages or honorariums similar to other institutions, this partnership with the MSU will begin to encourage more students to volunteer.” Farah also hopes to invest more money into pathways, roads, stairways, and parking lots that can increase physical accessibility and safety on campus. In terms of mental accessibility, Farah plans on advocating for a longer break before exams to allow students to better prepare for exams and hopes to revise the examination policy to allow students with two back to back exams as oppose to the current “three consecutive exams over two days” to reschedule.
Mental and physical accessibility is an ongoing concern that McMaster students and that each candidate running for MSU president addresses differently.
Kirstin Webb has a similar focus to Farah with the hope to incentivize notetaking by using participation marks as an incentive. Webb also hopes to adapt a way to provide access to notes through McMaster Student Absent Form submissions and plans claims says that she will “host and promote educational events about accessibility on campus, specifically in regards to the Equity and Inclusion Office’s FLEXforward program” and hopes “support and host accessibility campaigns that raise awareness around reporting dysfunctional accessibility measures on campus”.
In contrast, in Connor Wong’s platform he states that “If elected, I promise to block off all of the stairs on campus during the winter months to ensure that the currently unblocked stairs don’t feel left out”. In addition, Wong plans on “pruning” the present MSU event for de-stressing before exams “Light Up the Night” and using the funds for “more worthy purposes” such as the possibility of installing a commercial elevator instead.
Rabeena Obaidullah looks at accessibility from a more entrepreneurial platform by addressing issues of accessibility with technological solutions. With the resource, “The Pulse Capacity Counter”, a resource that will allow students to track Pulse traffic, students will be able to access gym equipment more conveniently by being able to track gym capacity. Obaidullah has a similar idea to address the issue of limited study space on campus with the “Library Live Capacity Counter” resource by installing 3D overhead traffic counters at primary entrances and exits, students will be able to find study spaces more easily. In addition, this development will allow the university to make monetary decisions about building expansions. Obaidullah assures that resources “such as online equipment tours and free introductory group workshops” will be offered to Pulse newcomers as well to ensure safety and accessibility.
Lindsay D’Souza focuses on improving the current Student Wellness Centre services by overlooking the Peter George building project and planning on making the building the centralized location for Student Wellness resources.
Muhammed Aydin’s platform assures that the infrastructural issue of building bigger bus shelters on campus and building two more bike repair stations on campus. He also hopes to create a campaign that would inform students about the resources available for students to request repairs for electrical outlets on campus through Facility Services. Aydin also hopes to improve WiFi on campus to improve online accessibility as well as creating an MSU app that would act as a resource hub for MSU resources and services to be shared on. Aydin also hopes to address both mental and financial accessibility by implementing a “Pay it Forward” system where students can pay for a ‘button’ that would allow students to purchase a product that can be later be used by an anonymous student to improve financial and issues of mental health.
Though many of the candidates running address physical accessibility concerns that apply to all students on campus, diverse accessibility concerns could be better represented.
Kirstin Webb is a Level IV Social Work student and currently a Student Representative Assembly member for the faculty of Social Sciences. Her platform focuses on improving life on campus and within the community.
As an SRA member, Webb has contributed to MSU policy papers, been a delegate to the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and currently sits on the McMaster Students Union’s Municipal Affairs committee. Webb has also worked with the Social and Planning Research Council of Hamilton.
Webb’s platform is centred around three pillars that include on-campus issues, community development and a collective relationship between the MSU and the student body.
Her first pillar surrounds pertinent issues on campus, addressing accessibility, representation and educational opportunities for students. This pillar includes platform points such as retracting the new Smoking Ban policy and creating designated smoking areas on campus, increasing incentives for student note takers while providing access to notes through McMaster Student Absence Form submissions in addition to providing free menstrual products in all single-user washrooms per building on campus.
Within this pillar, Webb also supports current plans for Indigenous sovereign confederacy on campus while working collaboratively to promote authentic representation within the MSU and undergraduate student population. She further aims to continue to advocate for students for an increase in the number of experiential education opportunities for all students.
The second pillar aims to build relationships between McMaster and the city of Hamilton. This pillar is particularly focused on student safety off campus. The points within this pillar include exploring the addition of security poles within the community, increasing the role of civic engagement around Hamilton City Councillor elections, integrating SoBi to McMaster’s U-Pass in order to promote the exploration of Hamilton in a sustainable way and finally adding a fourth pillar to Welcome Week’s strategic priorities so that first year students can explore their new home.
Webb’s final pillar sees a collective effort between the MSU and the undergraduate student body. This pillar sees an increased provision of bystander intervention training for MSU members in addition to creating a response protocol. She also aims to politicize the role of the MSU president which would entail the president calling for action on student issues while being involved within political processes of the university and increasing student representation and engagement outside of the MSU by creating opportunities and space for students.
Further, Webb’s platform sees the opportunity for undergraduate students to create a campaign point that will be introduced within her year plan if elected. Until Jan. 24, students can submit ideas, either online or at Webb’s campaign table, surrounding what they would like to see within the following year.
If you'd like to learn more about Webb's platform, visit her website: www.kirstinwebb.com
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By: Vanessa Polojac
Rabeena Obaidullah is a level IV Life Sciences student. Her platform attempts to address a wide range of student issues.
Obaidullah is currently a Student Representative Assembly (Science) member. She is a sitting member on the Municipal Affairs committee. Obaidullah also has experience volunteering with various McMaster Students Union services and leadership programs.
Divided into five pillars, Obaidullah’s platform spans a wide array of topics, ranging from improving McMaster Hospitality operations to creating new and improved transit options for commuting students.
Obaidullah’s first pillar focuses on improving and assisting with time-management for McMaster students. Obaidullah hopes to implement a tracking system that would inform students of the number of people currently in a given study space such as the libraries. Obaidullah also plans to create new transportation routes to cut the time it takes to commute to the university with a new Go bus route and introduce new transportation methods to Hamilton such as UberPOOL.
Obaidullah’s second pillar lays out her plan to better academics. Obaidullah plans to improve spring and summer classes by expanding the survey system the Faculty of Health Sciences already employs to all faculties. In this way, students can request the courses they would like to take during the summer months and the course offerings can be adjusted accordingly. She also plans on advocating for an interdisciplinary minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and introducing courses concerning health and wellness to all faculties.
Obaidullah’s third pillar focuses on improving and cutting the cost of McMaster’s Hospitality Services. Her platform ensures that they can offer 10 per cent food rebates and will reduce student spending by up to 13 per cent in regards to food. With the expectation of the new Student Activity Building to have a grocery store, Obaidullah plans on creating an online platform for students to weekly order and conveniently pick up their groceries.
The focus of Obaidullah’s fourth pillar is diversity. Through creating a multi-faith centre, Obaidullah plans to use this space as a resource so that students have accessibility to practice their religion. Obaidullah also plans on creating an MSU Clubs volunteer portal and create a resource hub for international students to ease the transition when entering McMaster.
Finally, Obaidullah’s last pillar promotes student involvement with the McMaster community. Obaidullah plans on working alongside Redeemer College and Mohawk College to ensure students vote during the upcoming municipal election. She also hopes to improve the health of McMaster students by anonymously tracking health trends from the Student Wellness Centre and providing support in response to outbreaks. Obaidullah would also like to create a McMaster app that gives students access to include academics, finances, navigation and other services.
If you'd like to learn more about Obaidullah's platform, visit her Facebook page and website: www.rabeena2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/rabeena2018/
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Connor Wong is a Level VI Engineering and Physics student. Wong’s platform surrounds transparency, logistics, sustainability and inclusion within our campus communities.
While Wong does not have any official experience within the McMaster Students Union, he has experience coordinating between groups and communicating with professional contacts from his time doing co-op placements. Wong has also worked and played in a jazz band for several years now.
His first point aims to create transparency within the MSU’s advocacy work in order to reassure the student body of the MSU’s usefulness as an organization. Within his platform, Wong notes that the general media focus on campus events and awards rather than the advocacy work undertaken by the MSU, and contributing overall to the general impression of inactivity on the organization. Wong also aims to make financial decisions made by the MSU to be fully transparent and publicized by creating a nice, big, potentially shiny poster and hanging said poster up in a central location on campus.
Wong’s platform also intends to reflect upon the “tragically moist” and costly Light Up the Night. Although he feels as though the event should be completely eliminated, it does require a second look, particularly within its funding.
Further, Wong takes a sustainable approach within his platform by addressing the potential replacement of all walkways on campus with canals in light of recent weather trends. Wong cites that this action will double as a restoration and preservation of the local environment.
Finally, Wong promises to block off all of the stairs on campus during inclement weather in order to ensure inclusivity between the currently unblocked stairs on campus.
For further information on Wong's platform, visit his Facebook page and his website: www.wong2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/wongwongwongwongwongwongwongwong/
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Muhammed Aydin is a level VI Life Sciences co-op student. His platform focuses on food, housing, technology and infrastructure.
Aydin is currently the facility head for the McMaster Muslim Student Association and has some previous experience with the McMaster Students Union through his time as an executive member of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team. He has also worked as a peer career mentor.
His first pillar focuses on making food cheaper on campus. Aydin would like to implement a $5.00 meal option at Union Market, which would include a main, a snack and a drink. He would also like to create a Pay-It-Forward button, which would allow someone to pay for a product to be used by a stranger at a later time.
Aydin’s second pillar lays out his plans to improve student housing. He hopes to create a landlord approval system where students may outline their past experiences with landlords and inform students of their rights as tenants. This approval system would also work as a verification system for landlords. Aydin also hopes to create a website for verified landlords to post their listings, preferably tied to the current listings website that the Off-Campus Resource Centre offers.
Aydin’s third pillar concerns technology. Aydin hopes to improve WiFi on campus so that one could access WiFi anywhere on campus. He also plans on creating an MSU app meant to act as a resource hub for all MSU resources and services.
Aydin’s last pillar addresses infrastructure on campus. Aydin plans on building bigger bus shelters throughout campus so that every bus stop has one. He also wants to mend the bike repair station and add two more stations on campus. His also hopes to create a campaign informing students of their ability to call Facility Services to request repairs, particularly for electrical outlets on campus.
If you'd like to learn more about Aydin's platform, visit his Facebook page and website: www.maydin2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/maydin2018/
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Ikram Farah is a level IV Honours Political Science and Labour Studies student. Her platform focuses on advocacy and improving student life.
Within the university, Farah has worked at the circulation desk in Mills Library, as a Community Advisor and as a student partner for the MacPherson Institute.
In the McMaster Students Union, Farah has served as an Ontario University Student Association delegate and represented the Social Sciences faculty as a caucus leader on the Student Representative Assembly during the 2016-2017 year.
Under her “Transit — Your Destination” pillar, Farah hopes to work with various groups to improve transit for both international and commuter students. Farah plans on partnering with Airways Transit Limited to create a service that transports international students to and from airports. She also plans on working with Metrolinx to extend GO bus hours to better match student schedules.
Farah’s “Revamping Your Campus” pillar focuses on the need for more outlets on campus, improved lighting in low-traffic areas and student-populated areas off-campus and reduced physical barriers.
The “Re-EXAMining Exams” pillar seeks to improve students’ academic experiences by advocating for an extended study break before exams and the opportunity for students to reschedule exams when two consecutive ones are on the same day.
Through her “A Student’s Success” pillar, Farah also seeks to develop what she calls a “Brighter World Transcript,” meant to highlight students involvements outside of academia. She also hopes to improve the McMaster Student Absence Form by adding a part outlining the student’s estimation of assignment completion and standardize the three day period of the MSAF to be three business days across the board to ensure students have the time they need.
Farah also focuses on improving food options on campus.Two platform points that centre around this are Farah’s plan to implement a “Tax-Free Tuesdays” initiative that would make McMaster Hospitality Services food tax-free on Tuesdays and working with Bridges Café to offer healthier options at other restaurants on campus.
Farah also plans to reduce financial barriers for students by advocating for an earlier bursary date and re-evaluation of the OSAP structure to ensure that accounts for program cost discrepancies.
Farah plans on addressing student support by making improvements to the Note-Taker initiative currently offered by Student Accessibility Services. She hopes to collaborate with their office to incentivize students by offering them MSU Courtesy Cards as a short-term plan, and then eventually offer honorariums.
Farah also hopes to foster a safer campus for students by advocating for the addition of a second Sexual Violence Response Coordinator to improve the university’s response to sexual violence on campus.
To learn more about Farah's platform, visit her Facebook page and website: www.ikram2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/itsikramfarah
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Lindsay D’Souza is a level IV English and Cultural Studies student. Her platform, split into eight pillars, discusses improving community on campus, student wellness, advocacy and safety.
D’Souza was previously an Student Representatives Assembly (Humanities) member from 2015 to 2017. During her time on the SRA, she sat on the Executive Board and the University Affairs committee. In addition to her work with the SRA, D’Souza has also been involved with the Ontario University Student Alliance as both a delegate to their general assembly and a summer research intern. She has also been involved with various leadership groups on campus.
D’Souza’s first pillar focuses on academic success. She plans on re-examining the deferred exams system; creating an ad-hoc committee to review three-year degrees, reviewing academic routes interdisciplinary students can take and pushing the last day of cancelling classes without a failure by default.
The second pillar focuses on improving community. D’Souza hones in on improving Homecoming, by advocating for a redesign of the Homecoming Expo and limiting midterms during Homecoming.
The third pillar addresses employment after graduation. D’Souza hopes to continue working with the university to make sure that the university follows through on the McMaster Employment Engagement Strategy.
D’Souza’s fourth pillar lays out her plan to support MSU clubs. She plans on creating an online clubs reimbursement form, upgrading MSU Clubspace lockers to better suit their needs, creating a summer networking retreat for clubs similar to the ones offered to MSU part-time managers and SRA members and creating workshop opportunities.
The fifth pillar covers improving technology on campus. D’Souza wishes to create a resource hub where students can readily access technology-related information such as that taught during TechLit week this year. D’Souza also hopes to introduce low-cost personal IT services to help students take care of their personal devices.
Through her sixth pillar, D’Souza also plans on improving transit by being a part of the creation of the MSU policy paper on public transit, set to occur in March of this year. D’Souza also plans to collect data from the U-Pass Presto card to see how students use the HSR.
D’Souza’s penultimate pillar focuses on student safety. She hopes to follow through on the results of the Ward 1 participatory budgeting project, which showed that students wish for more street lighting in the neighbourhoods around McMaster. She also hopes to revamp the current McMaster security app, MUSST.
D’Souza’s last pillar focuses on student wellness. She hopes to better promote the Student Assistance Program, a counselling service offered to all MSU members; she hopes to introduce care managers into student residences, ensure the Student Wellness Centre expansion includes student voices, restructure both the SWC website and the MSU Health Plan, given the expansion of OHIP to include the cost of many prescription drugs for people under 25.
To learn more about Lindsay D'Souza's campaign, visit her Facebook page and website: www.lindsaydsouza2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/DSOUZA2018
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Kyle Pinheiro is a third-year Political Science student. Pinheiro’s platform consists of a five pillar model called “FASTR,” which stands for “Food, Accessibility, Safety, Transportation and Responsibility.”
Although he has not held any major roles in the McMaster Students Union, Pinheiro has worked as an International Students Mentor for McMaster Social Services and as event staff for McMaster Free the Children. Pinheiro has also been involved with McMaster Model United Nations as a delegate and is a member of the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Youth Council, a council created by the Liberal government to listen to youth voices.
In the food portion of his platform, Pinheiro highlights the need for more space in the McMaster Bread Bin Food Collective Centre, an on-campus food bank that is currently operating out of the Refectory basement. He also proposes the creation of a frozen food delivery service for Hamilton’s homeless shelters, which would ensure that leftover food from the FCC does not go to waste.
In his accessibility pillar, Pinheiro addresses his plan to develop an interface for students to report malfunctioning electrical outlets on campus.
He also seeks to develop an app for Avenue to Learn. The app will allow students to more easily view grades and use Avenue to Learn on their phones. Pinheiro also hopes to add integrative features from Mosaic, McMaster’s main online administrative website. One of Pinheiro’s minor points includes the addition of microwave locations to the McMaster University Student Centre.
Pinheiro’s plan to improve safety entails providing McMaster Students Union staff with robust suicide crisis prevention training and sexual assault violence prevention training. He also wants to improve student safety by including more red-security poles on campus, particularly at bus stops and poles beside entrances to major buildings.
Pinheiro seeks to address students’ problems with the Hamilton Street Railway primarily by implementing a test project for an expanded and heated bus shelter program at the university.
Pinheiro also plans on working with the HSR to expand the 51-University line to run during evening hours
Under the last pillar of his platform, responsibility, Pinheiro notes the importance of working to implement projects that were introduced by former MSU presidents.
If you'd like to learn more about Pinheiro's platform, visit his Facebook page and website: www.kylepinheiro2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/kylepinheiro2018/
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How are the candidates representing their message to students? Here's a look at what each candidate has on McMaster's walls:
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Israa Ali
The Silhouette
And it's over.
The MSU Presidential elections. The incredible race which led to a historic voter-turnout of nearly 41 per cent at McMaster.
Seeing so many unite and others abstain has been quite the experience for me. Never in my life, did I think I would realize so many epiphanies all at once.
Nonetheless, I’d like to take the time to address one of the offensive comments that had come up during the elections to ensure more minds are enlightened: “How can you call for equity when you are wearing a hijab? Hijab is a symbol of womyn’s oppression.”
If anything, the hijab I wear is a call for equity. To me, it’s a real life manifestation for the definition of women’s liberation, rather than oppression. Your statement, despite the immense ignorance it encapsulates, had strengthened my attachment to the value system I hold. I have been a passionate advocate against oppression and a proactive visionary towards building an inclusive community ever since I chose to wear the hijab. Note the “I chose” in the aforementioned? Exactly.Though, you’re probably not the only one who doesn’t “get it.” Let me shed more light here.
The hijab has been used by the media as a symbol for oppression to reduce an entire population and strip away its identity to ensure its voice is eliminated. To ensure all those who practice the hijab are rather degraded and their opinions undermined…And I know exactly how that feels like.
So yes, the hijab is a symbol of women’s oppression brought forward by a dark cloud of stereotypes and misconceptions. I am oppressed and I am undermined, but this begs the question…by whom?
If you refer to the values I hold dear, then I would beg to differ. I carry forward a call for integrity, a model of self-respect and these same values have been the source of my empowerment. So no, I am not oppressed by the value system I hold.
It’s the society I am living in, the one that’s swayed by the media. The media that advocates for profanity, hate, lust and women objectification. That, I can say with absolute confidence, is the source of women oppression in general.
The hijab is a model of self-worth and an entire advocacy system for women empowerment. It’s a pursuit for focusing on the intellect and strengthening of the identity. Despite the propaganda. Despite the hate and despite the political agendas thrown here and there, the hijab to me is a beautiful way of life. A life I will forever cherish and love.
So yes, I dare call for equity. And no, I am not oppressed.
After all, I did run to be the next president of the McMaster Students Union.
