Ben Whynot
The first question that might pop into your mind before reading this biography is: "uhhh...Ben WHO?" Ben, a Master's student in Political Science, admits that he hasn't been a veteran of GSA trench wars for the past 10 000 years. He's new to the University of Alberta, but not to the challenges and opportunities of serving students. And, you know, that may be just what the GSA needs in 2008-2009.A prepared student leader? Ben's been involved in campus politics for six years. At Acadia University he represented students on all kinds of issues, from campus spirituality to harassment and discrimination policy to disciplinary hearings. He's been a Club President, a Councilor-at-Large, a Student Council Speaker, a Chief Electoral Officer, and has served on eleven University and nine SU committees.Someone who knows the issues here at the U of A? Ben's been on the GSA Constitution and By-Laws Committee and the Communications Advisory Committee, pinch-hits as the Alternate Councilor for Political Science, and is one of our representatives on the Alberta Graduate Council.If you believe that we need leadership that provides the inside knowledge necessary for the GSA to keep moving on up, but that also offers us a fresh start from the entanglements of the past, a chance to move on as an organization, then really the question shouldn't be "WHY should I cast my vote for Ben," but.Whynot?
Amr ElNimr
Hello, I am Amr El Nimr, I am a doing my PhD in Construction Engineering and Management. I got my BSc in Construction Engineering from the American University in Cairo in 2003. In 2005, I got my MSc in Engineering Management from Brunel University in London-UK. I have been a graduate student at the UofA since September 2006. Through my graduate student life here, I have noticed that graduate students sufferings in terms of: 1) Coping with their studies and research unbearable loads. 2) Coping with the tremendously increasing living expense in Edmonton 3) Maintaining a relationship with their supervisor which is based on respect and collaboration. I won’t talk about what I did before or what I have achieved because believe me this is not relevant. What really matters is what I will do. I promise if you elect me to: 1) Establish a new understanding of the graduate-student & supervisor relation based on respect and collaboration rather than the existing “master-slave” existing relation that ends up in suffering and unfairness of the majority of the graduate students. 2) I will personally attend to every single academic concern and complain of every graduate student of this university even if I work 24-7. 3) I will literally fight for wages increase for graduate students working as research and teaching assistant. 4) Support affordable housing fees by any means, and I promise that you will see actions not only brochures and flyers here and there. Let’s make the GSA as strong and sound as the SU. Vote for me, it is like voting yourself into the GSA executive Committee.
Crystal Levesque
Hi my name is Crystal Levesque and I am running for the Executive position of VP Academic. I am from Saskatchewan where I completed a Master’s degree in animal nutrition. After raising our 3 children I returned to University to complete a PhD, also in animal nutrition. I have more than 10 years experience in an executive position for a number of non-profit organizations as secretary and program coordinator. I am running because I want to take an active role in maintaining a high standard of academia both from the students and from the University. Mission Statement: There are many issues important to the academic success of each student at the University of Alberta such as: • applicable course programming that meets the needs of the students. • academic exposure both internal and external to the University . • valuable teaching opportunities. As your Vice President Academic I commit to focusing on: • examining standard requirements for Master’s and Doctorate programs across University departments while maintaining flexibility to create field of research specific programs in order for timely program completion. • working closely with other organizations on campus to ensure a valuable learning experience and programs with exceptional responsibilities and opportunities. • being the connection, the link, between the goals of the graduate student, the opportunities of the world and the learning environment of the University. Why me? I have been a part of University life as a young adult and as a mature adult. It is important to me that graduate programs provide academic opportunities to meet the range of goals of graduate students from the young to the ‘older’ to the international student. I value commitment and I work hard at every project I’m involved in. I strive to make improvements where necessary and to celebrate success. A graduate program should provide enough opportunities so that each student can tailor their program to meet their goals both during the program and upon completion without sacrificing quality or time.
Hossein Zeinali
My name is Hossein Zeinali, and I'm a third year graduate student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. I'd like to improve the international environment at the University of Alberta, and the richness of people coming from different experiences and backgrounds, and so I'd like to organize get-together events more as a social events, and add some more events to help graduate students socialize with each other. As graduate students we spend a huge amount of time at the university, and I think we should enjoy our time here as much as possible. I've always been interested in participating in the community of the place where I live. I think that also the Career Nights are extremely interesting events, and I think GSA should organize this type of events and grown! If I have been selected, I would like to hear all the problems, the ideas, the things that graduate students would like to do, and we can work together to make them happen. I know that the experiences I have gained as a graduate student at the University of Alberta and as a GSA councillor-at-large during year 2006-2007 are valuable assets for the position of Vice-President Operation and Services. My goal for the next year is to maintain open communication between graduate students and university administration to ensure that all graduate student problems and issues are addressed. The GSA is an interdisciplinary organization whose main function is three-fold: advocacy, substantive vita building and a social network for all Graduate Students. I like building infrastructure that lasts, whether social or technical (or both!). I have found myself very interested in community-building and in identifying loci where small effort enables significant change. In the organization, with the support of the executive, we can work on mentorship and social networking I look forward to working with my fellow GSA executives, GSA representatives, departmental councillors and members at large in the upcoming year and would welcome any input, feedback, or suggestions you may have. I am confident that my education, experience and abilities will serve me well in the GSA Vice-President Operation and Services. My primary aim is to enhance the GSA community. We're all in this together.
Dan Manolescu
Hello all! I'm Dan Manolescu and I want to be your next Vice President Labor Relations! Thank you for taking your time to read about me! Currently, I am working towards a Master of Arts degree in Humanities Computing with Internet Fraud as my main research interest. Spending two and a half years as a graduate student here, I have become familiar with grad student life at the U of A, and learning about students' problems, issues, and needs. I want to be your next VP Labor Relations because I will work hard for you. It is essential that as students we have a creative, honest, and professional uniform voice through the GSA's administration. Recently, I joined the GSA Operation & Services Advisor Committee which will provide me with specific knowledge and a better understanding of the issues we are facing as an organization. My background is: -law degree; -university student union experience; -member in the appeal committee for Children services, Edmonton. My goals are: 1) To propose the adjustment for the TA and RA accordingly to the Tuition increase for 2008-2009; 2)To ensure that the University should develop strategies to balance graduate student funding between well-funded and lesser-funded departments and faculties to promote the overall quality of graduate studies at this institution; 3) To investigate the TA hours of work; 4)To keep you up-to-date with labor market issues and legislation; 5)To create a message board about all the job offers delivered by different student's lists; 6) To change the restriction for the international students so that they will be able to work off campus not just part time, but full time; 7)To start relations with the Professional Associations in Alberta, because some professionals like teachers and medical ones, require membership and certification in order to work in those fields. I will bring to the next Labor Relations Vice President position an honest, dedicated, listener who is truly there for all students. There is always room for us to grow as an organization and therefore I will work hard help satisfy the needs of students. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at: dan.manolescu@ualberta.ca
Reza Azimi
Currently I’m in my second year of a PhD program in Construction Engineering and Management and I am running for GSA VP Communication. I’ve held the position of Vice President OPERATIONS AND SERVICES in the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) at the University of Alberta since August 2007. Being involved in different GSA committees like Grant selection committee, HEALTH AND DENTAL PLAN ADVISORY BOARD, BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HIRING & NOMINATING COMMITTEE and OPERATIONS AND SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, has provided me with substantial knowledge about the major concerns of grad students at the University of Alberta. Based on this, I have a number of goals which would direct me towards for communication in the GSA for this next term: 1. The pressure of differential tuition fees continues to be a major concern for the large number of international students at U of A who are struggling to pay the costs of studying at U of A. This issue should be a point of advocacy for the GSA. 2. The divergence between the rising cost of living in Alberta and the constant salary level of gradate students is a dominant concern for GSA members that must be raised in the association. 3. I strongly support the idea of providing special services for grad students. “Affordable Housing” was an effort well done, but the list of needs continues to grow!!! 4. An increasing number of grad students are in need of the GSA Emergency Bursary every year. One of my priorities is to negotiate for increasing the fund for emergency bursary. 5. Many grad students attend different conferences or research trips. They are eligible to receive “Professional Development Grant”, to have a part of the related expenses be covered. I believe that negotiating with the University to increase this fund will provide a richer environment for our graduate students, creating opportunities for intellectual growth. 6. To balance out the pressure of work and study, I am in favor of providing the grad students with a social space where they can rest for awhile, mingle with each other, and have fun!!! 7. Many students disregard the current GSA newsletter because they find it tedious and difficult to read. It should be a communications priority to update the format and style of the newsletter to attract more readers and create a more informed body of members. Vote for some one who knows your needs and who continues to work for you to make a strong and influential force at the University of Alberta. Make the GSA your own!!!
Anwarul Hasan
Hello, I am Anwar Hasan (MD Anwarul Hasan), your candidate for the Vice President Communication for 2008-2009 GSA election. I am an active, dynamic, sincere and hard working person with strong communication skills, and a strong community involvement. Engineering research is my profession, and the advocacy and activism are my passions. I enjoy travelling and understanding different cultures of the world as well. All these elements have given me a very broad outlook, with various degrees of knowledge and experience in a range of topics, which I believe have made me an ideal candidate for the vice president communication of GSA. I am doing my PhD in Mechanical engineering, and my PhD research is a multi-disciplinary research spread over Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Department of Medicine. I am a winner of so many awards at U of A including FS Chia award, Alberta Ingenuity Award, and the Nanotechnology scholarship of Alberta Ingenuity Fund. As your Vice President Communication, I will work as a liaison between the GSA and the community external to the University. I will forge and maintain strong relationships with external agencies, including media, public and private organizations and student groups including Alberta Graduate Council. I will continue and accomplish the unfinished jobs initiated by the outgoing GSA Execs, and bring new ideas to make a better GSA. My goals will be to work in four specific areas (1) opposing the International Differential Fee (IDF), which is no longer regulated by the provincial government and therefore is not required; (2) advocating for new grad student residences that will accommodate both grads with families and those without; (3) a complete renovation of out-dated GSA website to make it more atractive, informative and dynamic resource for grad students; and (4) creating a grad student social space- in the new GSA office in Killam Center, to make the GSA a HUB for grad students in the campus.