Meet the Candidates

FSU 2009 Election voting will take place between Monday, March 16th at 9 AM and Thursday, March 19th at 2 PM. Login to your FanshaweOnline account during that time period and click on the FSU Election link to cast your ballot. In the meantime, keep reading learn more about the candidates.

FSU President

AUSTIN, Nick

Hey guys. My name is Nick Austin, and I am - you guessed it - running for FSU President. Some of you might know me already, because I’m currently your FSU VP Finance, which means I already work here.

I’ve been with the FSU for two years now, and I’ve watched and learned. I know what it takes to run a student government. I know what works, and I know what needs to be done to make it work. Working so close with the FSU has given me knowledge well beyond the other candidates about the inner-workings of Fanshawe, which keeps me in the know of what could be improved within the student union and college in order to benefit students sooner than later.

As for my platform - it’s awesome.

You heard me. Who wouldn’t want more awesome things during college? This entire ordeal is all about the students, and what THEY want. What YOU want. Making sure that everyone’s college experience is a smooth, pleasant, ultimately awesome one. Making sure that the student union has your back when the college decides to mess with you. Making sure that whatever you need, the student union can help with it, and in turn improve college life for you, and everyone else. That’s what it should be about.

And what can I do to make sure of that?

A lot, actually. Because I’d be president. Vote Nick Austin.

On a less serious note, check out my campaign videos at www.youtube.com/NickAustinForPrez. Enjoy that.

COOPER, Jabari

FANSHAWE who loves ya?

My name is Jabari Cooper (Coop) and I’m running to be your next FSU President.

I’m a third year student and will be graduating from the HR Management program this spring. I love Fanshawe. My extreme passion for this school has led me to get involved both inside and outside of the classroom. I’ve played on the Men’s Basketball team for two years. In my first year, we won the Provincial Championship and this year I was Co-Captain of the team that just fell short. I spend my nights working Security at the Out Back Shack events where you’ll definitely catch me doing more socializing than bouncing. I like to spread my positive vibe! I strongly believe that you should never be afraid to stand out. Even in failure your actions may inspire someone else as others have inspired me, especially in being a candidate in this year’s election.

My main goal in running for FSU President is to heighten your awareness about the many programs and services that are provided to you directly from your student fees. These services include; Health Care, Career Services, Athletic facilities, Peer Tutors, computer labs, The Sharing Shop and especially student bursaries and awards. Each one of these services are here to assist you, and in doing so, will offer you the chance to enhance your experience at Fanshawe and help you to be successful now and in the future. And hey, even if you’re not going to vote for me, JUST VOTE! You can’t make a difference if you don’t have an opinion. Open your mind - Improve your school...“Don’t ride the bench, sub your ass in and make a statement!”

GRIEVE, Judith

Hey Fanshawe

First off, if you are visual learners PLEASE put down this paper, and go to www.gogrieve.com to find out more about the gogrieve campaign, and my awesome student focused platform!

For those of you, who dare, read on...

My name is Judith Grieve; next year will mark my fourth year at Fanshawe College. I am serious about acting as your leader for the incredibly important decision-making processes next year. I have spent the past three years investing into many student-led initiatives on and off campus.

My main priority as FSU President is for you to see TANGIBLE results over the course of my term, this includes:

• Forging a strong relationship between the FSU, the College administration, and YOU the student
• Partnering with the college to continue its GREEN initiatives
• Helping to fund clubs and teams that are of importance to YOU
• Engaging YOU the student at a level that you can be reached
• Continued support for Varsity and Intramural sports teams

My devotion to many different student experiences include not only student government, but involvement with student life, Fanshawe Athletics and the London community.

I am well-acquainted with the administration and the issues affecting Fanshawe students.

Above all, my experience and dedication to the student body in the past has shown that I am capable and willing to act as an open ear and a voice for change on our campus.

I strongly believe in putting YOU the student first and the FSU second.

I appreciate your vote! :

HICKS, Jessica

Jessica Hicks here, hoping to get your votes for FSU President. For those of you who don’t know me, here’s the basics: I’m from Windsor - the armpit of Ontario. I am currently the Human Services Representative on SAC and Volunteer Coordinator for my program. I’ve built strong relationships with staff and people in the community. I have learned that by being a leader you can truly advocate for those who need it. I don’t want to make promises that I can’t keep, but I do promise to be responsible to the students of Fanshawe College. We’re only around for a year, making it easy to capitalize on short-term gain, but I will exercise restraint to ensure that propositions are good in both the short and long term. I hope to set goals for not only the FSU, but also the school as a whole, and work together to achieve those goals, without backing down. We do not set out to challenge the college but to work with them in the best interests of the students. Paying attention to what is going on within the College and taking steps in the right direction is key to the growth of this organization. You came to Fanshawe to learn, but in the process, you are meeting great new people and experiencing new things. The FSU wants to make sure that you get what you came for and had a blast doing it! So I ask you: come out and vote Jessica Hicks!

VP Athletics

COLESHILL, Sean

Fanshawe. I need your votes. But before you make an X next to my name on the ballot, I think you should know a few things about me and why I am the man for the job. I am currently in my second year at Fanshawe in the Respiratory Therapy program. I have also competed on Fanshawe’s stellar Varsity Cross Country team for the past two seasons and held both part and full time jobs in the Athletics Department for each of my years at Fanshawe. Obviously, Athletics at Fanshawe is one of my passions. I am very goal oriented, hard working individual who cares about the direction of not only the varsity athletics, but the intra and extramural as well.

Not only would I like to see Fanshawe further develop an interest and passion for our own athletes, but I would also like London to show the kind of awareness for Athletics at Fanshawe that they have for Western and the other local sports and highlight the successful and hardworking athletes we have at the college. I am very open to suggestions and my success at this position will depend on your input and ideas throughout the year. If you want it done, I will do my best to make it happen. I am confident I will be able to do an excellent job and I am looking forward to the experience. VOTE SEAN COLESHILL FOR VP ATHLETICS.

VP Entertainment

LAFFIN, Phil

Hello Fellow Fanshawe Students. My name is Philip Laffin and I am running for the position of FSU VP of Entertainment. I am currently a first year Music Industry Arts student here at Fanshawe and I absolutely love it here so far.

I’m originally from Marystown, Newfoundland and I recently relocated to London from Iqaluit, Nunavut. I’ve been involved in theatre and music since my early high school years and attended Acadia University for music technology in Nova Scotia for three years. I took three years off of school and moved up north for a few years before deciding to come to London to attend the M.I.A. program here.

I’m passionate about the Arts especially (but not limited to) music and I would love to be your VP of Entertainment and be your voice on the Student Union when it comes to what events we hold next year. Please make sure you take the time to vote for your Student Council.

Cheers,
Phil Laffin

PAYNE, Andrew

With plenty of experience from resort entertainment and a hand in plenty of musical projects, I feel confident that I can deliver on a year of hot beats and good times. Turn up the volume Fanshawe, it’s time to Rock ’n Roll!

Thank you very much!

VP External and Academic Affairs

BARAHONA, Veronica

My name is Veronica Barahona, but you can call me Vero and I am running for VP of External and Academic Affairs for the 2009-2010 school year!

I’m from London, Ontario, and am part of the RMC alumni (so is Rob McGarry, actually we went to high school together!). I’m 21 and in my second year at Fanshawe for Marketing and I love it! I’ll be in my third year next year and I will be entering the BAM program, yes I know EXCITING STUFF! You can regularly catch me at school with either my large group of Marketing folks or one or two of them, feel free to come up and say “HEYO!” If you aren’t up to anything special on March 17th (HAHA) come check out my speech at noon in Forwell Hall! Let the campaigning begin!!

MCGARRY, Rob

Hi, my name is Rob McGarry and I am running to be your next VP of External and Academic Affairs. I am a lifelong Londoner and I am currently in the post-graduate television news program, and a graduate of the broadcast journalism program. My campaign slogan is “Working for You”; I chose this because I have been working for you since October as your VP of Internal Affairs and want to continue that work as your VP External.

Steps are currently being taken to ensure that the academic appeal process is made easier and less time consuming, and I want to continue to ensure that is implemented as your VP External, a position which oversees academic appeals. The role is also responsible for relations with other colleges, and I believe through my connections I have made with many people through my media background it will certainly help to build and foster relations with colleges across the province. So as you can see I don’t want to make promises that I can’t keep, and the ones I have made are fairly attainable ones. I kept my promises as your VP Internal whether it was adding more clubs here on campus, or expanding our environmental efforts in various ways, it’s always been a promise made, a promise kept.

Lastly, the most important part of my campaign is you. You’re the ones I hear from and want to continue to hear from throughout the campaign and beyond.

If you want more information on my campaign don’t hesitate to ask me when you see me, or contact me through my Facebook group, and remember to vote on Fanshawe Online from March 16 at 9am to March 19th at 2pm, because if you don’t vote you can’t complain.

VOTE ROB MCGARRY FOR VP EXTERNAL, a familiar voice... a trusted choice.

VP Finance

SCALIA, Joe

I’m Joe Scalia and I’m running for VP Finance... AGAIN!

I’ll be graduating TV Broadcasting this year but I’m returning to Fanshawe to take Digital Post Production next September, and I am excited to be able to run for this position again! I have worked with FSU for two years now, as a custodian and also as a videographer this past summer. I’m ready to take on a new role here at FSU as your VP Finance, and I hope you will support me! Please vote me as your VP Finance for next year! It’ll be my last year at Fanshawe and I’m going to make sure it’s the greatest one we’ve had yet! I’m so excited to work with the new government but also the students of Fanshawe.

I want you all to know that as VP Finance, I will carefully scrutinize any attempt to raise costs for students during this difficult economic time. Your money is important, and as a student going on four years of college I understand the need to spend and budget responsibly.

WOLDEMICAEL, Huruy

My name is Huruy Woldemicael; yes you read right it’s H-U-R-U-Y, not Hurry or Harry; it’s not short for anything and if you’re wondering it means “the chosen one” in my native language Tigrinya. I’m currently enrolled in the Business Accounting program and was seeking to gain experience by filling the role of the VP Finance for the 2009/10 school year.

Fanshawe College is a great school and I want to be apart in making it better. I’m not here to improve on Fanshawe’s recycling program or any of the many unnecessary things I’ve heard that don’t really relate to Fanshawe students, but instead I’m going to focus on the issues that really matter to the student body. At the end of the day everything seems to come down to money, and as students we can never seem to get enough of it. With rising tuition the last thing we want to do is spend more money. If elected I would make sure bursaries are being awarded and noticed by my fellow students. As students I know we can be lazy or be discouraged by the criteria of these bursaries, but it will be my duty to make sure everyone is aware and applies for these monies. Like bursaries, more funding for student activities, clubs and students that don’t qualify for OSAP is also of great concern for me.

Many of you reading this might not care for the FSU elections, but remember if elected we will be the individuals representing you (the Fanshawe students) in the 2009/2010 school year. With that said make sure you meet all the candidates and get to know us a bit better (Or Facebook us), and remember to please vote. Last year the voters turn out was 28 per cent; let’s try to exceed that this year.

VP Internal Affairs

MCKAY, Kevin

Hello all, welcome to this edition of “read about the guy you could care less about”. Today’s feature is a 20-year-old guy from Stratford, Ontario, currently in his second year at Fanshawe. But wait, there’s more, he’s also an FSU employee that cleans your trash in both Forwell Hall and Oasis.

Introducing Kevin McKay, your VP Internal elect. Now Kevin, what can you tell our readers?

“Oh, well, it’s just great being here, I really like working for the FSU and I know I can do a great...”

OH I’m sorry, that’s all the time we have today. Read in next time for more ups on Kevin McKay, your VP Internal elect. Peace!