From March 21-24th, 2011, students took to the polls to exercise their democratic right to vote in the UWSA General Election. Voter turnout was 10.5% this year, with 1,038 ballots cast. In 2009, voter turnout was 13.5% and in 2010, voter turnout was 9%. Despite these relatively low numbers, Sara McGregor, UWSA Chief Elections Commissioner, believes that students were more aware of the UWSA election than ever before, attributed to the fact that the UWSA has been more visible in the last couple of years, with exciting and dynamic initiatives and student services.
“The 2010-2011 elections commission found it very encouraging to see that the bulk of the voters were in their first year of university,” said Sara McGregor, UWSA Chief Elections Commissioner. “This leaves us hopeful that these students will continue to get involved with the UWSA and will encourage others to vote as well.”
The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association democratically unites the students of the University of Winnipeg in order to advance student interests. Our efforts include promoting the exchange of ideas and information among students, and within the greater University community. In aid of this, we support and encourage the development of student groups and societies on campus. As well as promoting communication within the University, the UWSA advocates on behalf of students to administrative bodies.
“Students have elected representatives that have a genuine interest in improving and expanding on the great services and campaigns the UWSA works on,” said Jason Syvixay, President of the UWSA. “It is important that students hold their UWSA Board of Directors accountable for appropriately and effectively representing their constituencies on campus.”
The following students were elected on the 2011-2012 UWSA Board of Directors.
Lauren Bosc, President
Tyler Blashko, Vice-President Advocate
Lana Hastings, Vice-President Student Services
Katie Haig-Anderson, Vice-President Internal
Fabian Suarez-Amaya, Education Director
William Ring, Science Director
Dylan Jones-Drewniak, Arts Director
Gregory Furmaniuk, CFS Liaison Director
Chelsea Caldwell, Status of Women Director
Andre Forest, Environmental Ethics Director
Ro Mills, LGBT* Students’ Director
Rebecca Bock-Freeman & Sam Hanson, Director of Student Living
Felix Martinez & Xiaoyu Wang, Graduate Students’ Director
For more information:
Lauren Bosc, President
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association
pres@theuwsa.ca
204.786.9778