April 30 marks the end of the Fanshawe Student Union’s (FSU) calendar year, and starting May 1, a new president will take office, along with new directors, coordinators, and a new board.

Current president Stephin Sathya described his time in office as challenging, successful, and insightful.

“I learned how challenging it is to bring about organizational change,” Sathya said, “and how difficult it is to pick and choose your battles while making important decisions.”

Sathya said he was most proud of his efforts to reintroduce the FSU to the federal advocacy landscape, becoming an observer in the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).

“Through that opportunity, I was able to advocate for students on Parliament Hill, and a success story is that we lobbied for the removal of the international student working hours cap, and the government extended the regulation with consideration for a permanent resolution that would benefit students,” Sathya said. “It was a huge milestone that benefited more than a million international students in Canada.”

Under Sathya’s presidency, the FSU hosted a number of events, including the grand opening of the newly-renovated Forwell Hall in Innovation Village. Sathya also spearheaded the campaign efforts for the food security fee referendum, and was a frequent guest on Interrobang’s podcast.

When his time as president wraps up, Sathya plans to move into the federal advocacy space in a public relations role, and said he will be taking much of what he learned as president with him into his next endeavours.

“Although I was limited by time in what I could achieve, I hope to use the knowledge and experience I gained to empower and influence others to bring change and eventual success to their associations and organizations,” Sathya said.

For incoming president, Siddharth Singh, Sathya offered four key pieces of advice:

• Educate yourself extensively about the role.
• Be fearless in continuing the advocacy.
• Ensure the success of your team and the organization.
• Stay loyal to the students and uphold the good values of the FSU.

Finally, Sathya thanked all the students who supported him throughout his time as president, stating he hopes his legacy will continue into the future.

“I am grateful to the students who stood by my side through thick and thin,” he said. “It was my honour and privilege to serve you. Thank you for making me who I am today. My final prayer is that one day, a student inspired by my legacy will follow in my footsteps to serve the greater cause.”