Hello and welcome to Midcoast Morning, CHLY’s current affairs show. I’m Lauryn Mackenzie.

Campaigning is currently underway for the fall election of the Vancouver Island University Students’ Union, also known as VIUSU. Next week on October 11, 12, and 13th students from all three campuses will receive an email with a unique code that will allow them to vote in the election.

Two student elections happen during the school year at VIU. This fall students will be voting for student representatives to join the VIUSU board of directors. These positions include two campus representatives, eight faculty representatives, an international student representative, and a graduate student representative.

The students elected will serve a term starting November 1st of this year, that will end October 31st 2024.

The representatives work to make sure students' concerns are heard and addressed by the students’ union. Rising tuition fees, food insecurity, and rent are just some of the biggest challenges students are facing today. The students’ union works with the British Columbia Federation of Students to advocate both the provincial and federal governments, as well as local governments to address these challenges.

Today, from VIUSU, I am speaking with Mathews Tharakan, Organizer of Member Services and Outreach about the importance of student elections. After that, Cole Reinbold, Chair of VIUSU speaks with me about the challenges she is seeing her fellow students go through. Then, I will speak with Jessie Niikoi from the BCFS about what the federation is doing to advocate for post-secondary students.

Find Show Notes and Transcripts here.

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