CSU2013

Upcoming Student Union Elections to Feature Single Slate, Only Two Contested Positions

NewsThe Link — Published March 12, 2013 | Updated March 12, 2013 at 1:04pm

Late on Monday night, a small handful of Concordia student politicos shuffled about, whacking posters to cork boards around the downtown campus.

While “poster nights” of old gained infamy in years past, as mobs of students supporting competing slates swarmed the Hall Building fighting for poster space, the 2013 edition started calmly at around 9:00 p.m. on Monday, ushering in another season of CSU elections.

Students who have been around this university for a few years might notice a relative lack of posters on the walls. There is only one team running this year, and they’ve coined themselves CSYou.

Though the official slate system was abolished last year, candidates are still able to run together as a team. However, each candidate is elected on their own. There are only two independent candidates running head-to-head—for the contested positions of VP Finance and VP Student Life.

Let the games begin.

Melissa Kate Wheeler—President:

Wheeler, one of council’s more outspoken members, will almost certainly be Concordia’s next student union president as she’s running uncontested. She has been a fairly vocal critic of this year’s executive and was heavily involved in the “Love Doesn’t Hurt” campaign against abusive relationships.

James Tyler Vaccaro—VP Clubs and Internal:

Vaccaro entered the student union much more prepared than most first-time councilors following last fall’s byelection. Vaccaro is a political science major, currently in his third year at Concordia. He also served as VP Communications of the Political Science Student Association during this academic year

Gene Morrow—VP Academic and Advocacy:

Two-time senator Morrow is an academic activist with an inscrutable Twitter handle (@Replqwtil). Morrow is one of the most talkative senators, and has championed topics such as online learning reform and independent students’ (or lack there of) representation on Senate. He was also an active member of the student strike movement.

Caroline Bourbonnière—VP External and Mobilization:

The outgoing Arts and Science Federation of Associations president, Bourbonnière is a first-time CSU councillor for arts and science. Bourbonnière double-majors in political science and the School of Community and Public Affairs. She also served as VP Communications of the Political Science Student Association in 2011-12

Katrina Caruso—VP Student Life:

Caruso was only recently appointed as an ex-officio CSU councillor for fine arts students. She also is the Editor-in-Chief of the Concordia Undergraduate Journal of Art History, and is pursuing a joint major in art history and studio arts.

Scott Carr—VP Finance:

Running in one of only two contested positions, Scott Carr is pretty new to the Concordia student political scene. As a John Molson School of Business student, however, he’s carved a name for himself with multiple awards to his name.

Crystal Harrison—VP Loyola:

Harrison is in communications studies and is currently VP Internal & External Affairs for COMS Guild. She lives in Nôtre-Dame-de-Grace, and as an NDGer, she wants to find ways to lure Sir George Williams students to the far-off land of Loyola.

Benjamin Prunty—VP Sustainability:

Prunty is currently the VP External for the Liberal Arts Society, elected recently in the December byelections. He’s hoping to get more students to participate in undergraduate politics, and is also a board member for the Sustainability Action Fund.

Independent Candidates:

Pierre Tardivo Martin—VP Finance

Tardivo-Martin is an international business student and current CSU councillor representing the John Molson School of Business. He’s running as an independent for VP Finance, one of only two contested positions.

Tardivo-Martin wants to make Reggie’s profitable and CSU financial reports accessible; he’s also seeking more direct funding to project grants and wants to promote “ethical investment.”

Anja Rajaonarivelo—VP Student Life:

Rajaonarivelo is a commerce student and current CSU councillor representing the John Molson School of Business. He’s running as an independent for VP Student Life, and is treasurer for the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Uopdate: This article originally stated Katrina Caruso is pursuing a double major in fine arts and art history. In reality, she is pursuing a joint major in art history and studio arts. The Link regrets the error.