My Platform

• Mustang Arts Collective
  Financial and professional support for the establishment of a community of artists, musicians and writers dedicated to telling the stories of Western students through artistic expression.

  Mustang Records
  Congratulations to the Faculty of Music for setting up the first campus record label in Canada. The USC will update the existing CHRW recording studio to allow students the opportunity to record their own music and will pursue a partnership with the faculty to provide more recording space for students inside and outside the faculty of music.

  Student Writer in Residence
  A partnership between the Writer-in-Residence at Western (an acclaimed professional writer chosen annually to write and contribute to the culture of creativity on campus) and the USC to provide aspiring student writers with the resources needed to pursue their creative dreams.

• Western Radio
  Launch Western Radio 3 with CHRW (Western’s radio station) to stream student-run online programming featuring anything Western related: playing the music you want to hear, discussing issues that matter to students, featuring student performers and politicians, and telling the real stories of Western.

  Western Film Showcase
  A partnership between the Western Undergraduate Film Society and local theatre/film companies to display the best student produced films in the Western and London community.

  Post Secret Western
  Based on the popular Post Secret concept, the USC will launch a campaign to collect and publish the stories of Western students. Post Secret Western will give people permission to speak their minds and to start conversations about the things that impact them most. An initiative is currently being put forwards by the Department of Arts and Humanities for this event to take place.

Purple Opportunities Program (POP)  
Partner with Pillar Nonprofit Network to identify the needs of local non-profits and provide students with volunteer opportunities within local non profit organizations that allows students to utilize the skills that they have obtained during their undergraduate careers.

Social Inc.
A partnership between Pillar Nonprofit Network and BizInc to provide free consulting services to students who hope to start a charity, non-profit organization or social enterprise.

“Western Speaks” Debate Series
Western students have strong opinions on the big issues of today. The USC will help to connect like-minded students and professors to create debate teams willing to engage in an informed dialogue on the issues that they are passionate about.

• Reality Cheques
  Undergraduate students have the knowledge and the passion to do powerful academic research. The USC will award grants to students who wish to pursue undergraduate research and attend academic conferences to help students turn research dreams into realities.

  Interest Credit
  Students should have the opportunity to take 1.0 credit in an area outside of their field of study without having to worry about the pressure of obtaining a high grade. By encouraging the university to let students make 1.0 credit of their degree a pass/fail credit will help students to explore and discover new passions

  Increased Lab Opportunities
  Undergraduate students do not have enough access to research opportunities. I will make this a priority during my term as USC President and will work with the university to increase the number of research opportunities available for undergraduates.

• Per-Credit Tuition Billing
  Western currently employs flat-fee tuition, where students are charged a certain flat rate regardless of the number of courses they are enrolled in. Students should not be paying for education they do not receive -- per-credit billing will allow students to pay their tuition based on the number of courses they take. The Per-credit billing system is currently employed at Laurier, McMaster, Nipissing, Queen’s, Ryerson, Waterloo, and York.

  Exam Relief
  Have you ever been frustrated by an unfair exam schedule or had to put plans on hold because the schedule was released too late? I will advocate for extended exam accommodation so that students do not have to write more than 3 exams in 24 hours and to release the schedule earlier so that students can maximize their chance for success and organize their lives.

• Appropriate Your USC
  Professional programs currently fall under the USC umbrella and therefore receive the same services and support as all undergraduate students. Professional student’s needs and wants are distinct from their undergraduate counterparts and that needs to be properly realized. As USC President, I will ensure the professional community has their priorities catered to.

• Mustang News Hub
  The Mustang News Hub will bring the world inside the Western bubble by providing students with access to the most relevant Local, National and International news sources. The Hub will include multiple TVs, tuned to the strongest news channels, free newspapers and free coffee for early risers between 6am-8am.

  Sushi Wednesdays at the Wave
  The Wave will host “Sushi Wednesdays” to provide a wider selection of food on campus.

  Home Cooked Menu at the Wave
  Students will be given the opportunity to submit their favourite recipes from home to the Wave. Once a month, a special home cooked menu will be offered featuring these personalized recipes and the name of the creator.

  Mustang Central
  There is a strong need to fully utilize InfoSource and improve its efficiencies. It will be renovated and re-branded as Mustang Central and will be a go-to place for all information related to the USC.

• Pave Path Behind Music
  There is no paved path leading from Talbot College to the Health Sciences Building. A concrete path is needed to ensure safety and convenience of students.

  “Cut the Red Tape” - on Clubs Initiative
  Club executives are frustrated when working with the USC. This three-phase plan will cut the red tape and support clubs to deliver the best programming to members. Phase 1: consultations with club presidents and executives; Phase 2: take the feedback and create solutions; Phase 3 - comprehensive recommendations to Student Life.

• USC 311
  Modelled after the Toronto 311, the website will be a one stop shop for all things students need at Western. Students are linked to pay tuition, find rental properties, register for programs, submit complaints, request assistance, book rooms, and much more to easily access the university, the USC, and all its services.

  First Year Varsity Pre-Orientation Week Dinner
  First year varsity students do not always have an opportunity to participate fully in Orientation Week due to training schedules. The USC will work with Intercollegiate Athletics to bring all first year varsity players together before Orientation Week.

  Everyday I’m Shuttlin’
  To better serve students, the USC will provide students with free shuttle service to and from the main transportation hubs (VIA Rail, the London Airport, and Greyhound Station) during peak travel times.

  Welcome Teams
  Sometimes coming to Western for the first time can be overwhelming and we have all been there. We will have a welcome booth at the airport, bus station and VIA Rail station on the days leading up to the first day of Orientation Week and first day of school to give students and parents a helping hand when they need it.

• Homeward Bound
  I want the USC to provide a central listing of housing for students. Students will submit details about their student houses to create an easy to access database for available, affordable and convenient student housing. This data will be used to compile a detailed map of student housing in the London area. Google street view will visually display the listed houses.

  Musical Chairs
  Have you ever shown up at a library during exam time and not been able to find a seat? Want to keep a tab on available seats in the library? The introduction of an ‘occupancy ratio’ will inform students of available seating in the library, all online, all live. This will help students gauge seat availability in the libraries.

  Tough on Traffic
  With the introduction of a new residence on Sarnia Road, roughly 1000 students will be at risk when traveling to campus. The University needs to respond to the increase in foot traffic at that juncture by ensuring the safety of its students. The implementation of pedestrian crossings or traffic lights will help protect students. As USC President, I will make it a priority to work with the University and the City of London to ensure the safety of our student community.

• Walk for Values
  Students will represent the values of Western by taking value pledges to walk through campus and on Richmond Row. This will allow students to band together as a community and become a positive force on campus and in London.

  Support for Mental Health
  The USC can best support students by creating space and a network to share experiences. We will hold campus wide events and peer training to recharge students and ensure that help can be extended beyond the UCC.

  Commit to “One Love”
  This year’s “One Love Rally” made all of us believe that Western students have the ability to care about each other. I will ensure that the “One Love Rally” continues to be a prominent part of  Orientation Week.

• Examining Our Relationships: Indigenous Services
  Indigenous Services is currently providing valuable services to Indigenous students on campus. The USC will work to strengthen our relationship and commit to creating access and support for all students.

  “All Out”
  Students have the right to know the key financial information about the USC. I will release the salaries of the USC Executive and post the USC’s budget online.

  Merit Based Pay
  I will give students the right to decide whether I receive my full salary. I will make 10% of my salary contingent upon the ruling of a panel of students.