‘I Want You To Represent Yourselves’

Letters — Published March 29, 2011

I was motivated to run in this year’s CSU election as VP Loyola and Services for several reasons. The major one however, is the distinct lack of attention Loyola receives by the CSU. As a Loyola student in my fourth year, I’ve witnessed this year after year. I decided to get involved because things NEED to change next year.
During campaigning these past two weeks I’ve learned even more about the Loyola community. My favorite part of campaigning has been one-on-ones with students at Loyola. I’ve met so many students from different departments over the past few weeks and spoken to them about concerns they have for the Loyola campus, as well as the university as a whole.

It wasn’t surprising for me to hear that many students felt ignored or forgotten by their union, or that many students weren’t aware of some of the larger projects the CSU has taken on this past year, or even that barely anyone could name the current VPs of Loyola from either ASFA or the CSU. Even more, it was saddening to learn that many students at Loyola don’t get involved in student groups because they don’t see the point. Several students actually asked me why I even bother.

To that, I’d like to say that it IS worth getting involved. I have been involved in the COMS Guild for three years now. During this time Concordia has become a second home to me, and the COMS Guild, my family. I’ve had so many amazing experiences through my involvement at Concordia, and have witnessed the amazing work my peers contribute to student life, and their dedication. I do this because I want every student at Loyola to feel as though they had a chance to be involved in something, and didn’t miss out just because they weren’t downtown.
There is a beautiful community forming at Loyola—a community that I want to be a bigger part of. I want to help facilitate new student initiatives, and actively support the amazing ones already in progress. I want to help show students that there is value in getting involved in the Loyola community, and that there is a place within the CSU for them to do this.

— Melissa Fuller,
VP Loyola & Services candidate,

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 28, published March 29, 2011.