Almost halfway through its current mandate, the Dalhousie Student Union executive is busy leaving its mark on the university. Between consultations about the proposed SUB renovations, organizing student events, advocating for resources at the library, and rolling out the Mental Health Peer Support Initiative, we thought it was about time to get to know the five members of the executive team.
Ramz Aziz, VP Internal
Age: 23
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Communications restructuring; streamlining processes and establishing feedback systems.
- Improving service delivery and provision.
- Providing opportunities for students to find support, to grow and to contribute on campus.
Dal’s best-kept secret?
There are tons. The University Club pool tables may be one. The Aquatron in the LSC is another.
Favourite band/musician?
Tupac Shakur
Favourite class at Dal?
NESC 3043 Neurobiology of Learning
Favourite TV show?
Arrested Development
Favourite website?
Wikipedia, all the way.
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, Stephen Colbert, Noam Chomsky, and Malcolm X.
Your dream job?
Running a non-profit social enterprise that provides tertiary health services and generates revenue to help the local community.
Aaron Beale, VP Academic and External
Age: 25
Major: Sociology and International Development Studies
Hometown: Halifax
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Lobby and run campaigns to pressure the government to fund universities; lower and regulate tuition for all; eliminate the provincial portion of student loans; give international students MSI on arrival; implement rent control and make universities accountable.
- Lobby the university for a fall reading week; for more seats on senate; for funding to important student programs and services; and to have new fees approved by students.
- Work on issues of equity and accessibility and build the student union’s capacity to work on these issues through the creation new departments, so that we can all call out oppression and work to create safer spaces on campus.
Dal’s best-kept secret?
The most passionate, committed and active students there are.
What do you never leave home without?
Yerba Mate tea
Favourite band/musician?
Talib Kweli
Favourite class at Dal?
The History of Anthropological Theory
Favourite movie?
The Matrix
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Slavoj Žižek, bell hooks, Dalai Lama, and my sister.
Your dream job?
Not working and spending my time community organizing and traveling.
Josh Cooke, VP Finance and Operations
Age: 21
Major: Management Major in Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Halifax
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Society fee allocations being earlier in the semester.
- Organizing and launching the renovations of the SUB.
- Streamlining financial procedures.
What do you never leave home without?
A notebook and a pen.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
The Philippines
Favourite band/musician?
Armin van Buuren
Favourite class at Dal?
Management in the Public Sector
Favourite movie?
Either Fight Club or Lords of Dogtown.
Favourite website?
Your dream job?
CFO of a major corporation.
Sagar Jha, President
Age: 23
Major: Marine Biology
Hometown: Halifax
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- The Equity and Accessibility Office.
- Weekly farmers markets in the SUB.
- The SUB renovations.
Dal’s best-kept secret?
The Oceanography lounge in the LSC.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
This year I went to Iceland for the Airwaves Music Festival and to go exploring. It was so nice to relax in a hot spring, listen to new music, and learn a lot.
Favourite band/musician?
Tiger Patrol (a new band at Dal, featuring the creamiest of our crop).
Favourite class at Dal?
The Dynamics of Biological Oceanography
Favourite movie?
Anything wit ma boi Denzel.
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Ma boi Denzel, Ueli Steck (amazing Swiss Ice climber), Megan Leslie, and to keep things interesting, Miley Cyrus. BONUS: The conversation topic will be: Learning from your past.
Your dream job?
Sustainable aquaculture in Iceland, music journalist, social worker, politician, Kung fu master, and an alligator with wings (seriously what I wanted to be when I grew up, for a large part of my life. Hey, anything is possible!).
Danny Shanahan, VP Student Life
Age: 22
Major: B. Comm – Marketing Management
Hometown: Halifax
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- To provide students with a vibrant and exciting life on campus.
- Bring people from all walks of life in the community together for awesome events!
- Advocate for students on issues that pertain to their lives and interests.
Dal’s best-kept secret?
Real live sheepdogs at the Agricultural Campus in Truro.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
Sagar Jha’s office in the SUB.
Favourite class at Dal?
Two of them: History of Jazz and Legal Aspects of Business.
Favourite TV show?
The Simpsons
Favourite website?
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Katniss Everdeen, Albus Dumbledore, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Degeneres.
Your dream job?
Auror, bellhop, rock star, semi-professional racecar driver, Leonardo DiCaprio, or a cake boss.
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