Though Kyle Pinheiro can only achieve the platform points in his “Food” pillar by working with McMaster Students Union and university stakeholders, Pinheiro has yet to consult them.
Pinheiro’s first platform point in this pillar is aimed at relocating Mac Bread Bin’s Food Collective Centre to a larger space. Currently, the FCC, the university’s on-campus food bank, operates out of the basement of the Refectory, which is near Bridges Cafe.
According to Taylor Mertens, the Director of Mac Bread Bin, the MSU Board of Directors have been pushing for a space expansion for the FCC. As such, the FCC has been able to secure a custom space on the third floor of the Student Activity Building, which is projected to be completed in 2020.
Although Mertens would support an effort to reduce the amount of time it takes for the FCC to be relocated to a larger facility, this is not an effort that Pinheiro will undertake should he be elected, at least not according to his platform, which contains no mention of the SAB deal.
Rather, Pinheiro expresses interest in relocating the FCC in the first place, not reducing the amount of time it will take to bring the existing deal to fruition. It should also be noted that Pinheiro never cites a location to which the FCC should move.
The second platform point in Pinheiro’s “Food” pillar involves developing a frozen food delivery service aimed at providing more food to Hamilton’s homeless shelters.
In his platform, Pinheiro specifies that this initiative would not detract from the current system, which allows McMaster students to take unused food at the end of each day. Instead, it would ensure that leftover food that would otherwise be thrown out would be donated to shelters on behalf of the MSU.
Pinheiro did not consult Mac Bread Bin on this platform point either.
Although Mertens says that this may be feasible, accomplishing this platform point would require working with Chris Roberts, the Director of McMaster Hospitality Services, who would decide which food items get donated to the community and which are provided to McMaster students.
When asked, Roberts said he was not consulted by Pinheiro. He expressed concern over the fact that Pinheiro included this initiative in his platform. According to Roberts, Pinheiro’s platform point addresses a complex issue Hospitality Services is looking into, both internally and in collaboration with Mac Bread Bin.
It should be noted that Pinheiro also failed to do sufficient research when it comes to his promise to develop an Avenue To Learn app.
Brightspace Pulse, an app connected to Avenue To Learn that allows students to track their courses, assignments, readings and grades, already exists. In his platform, Pinheiro does not address Brightspace Pulse and its capabilities.
Pinheiro considers his platform to be aimed at improving students’ lives “FASTR,” not slower. Without consultation with key MSU and university stakeholders, however, Pinheiro may need to amend his slogan.
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Kyle Pinheiro is a third-year Political Science student. Pinheiro’s platform consists of a five pillar model called “FASTR,” which stands for “Food, Accessibility, Safety, Transportation and Responsibility.”
Although he has not held any major roles in the McMaster Students Union, Pinheiro has worked as an International Students Mentor for McMaster Social Services and as event staff for McMaster Free the Children. Pinheiro has also been involved with McMaster Model United Nations as a delegate and is a member of the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas Youth Council, a council created by the Liberal government to listen to youth voices.
In the food portion of his platform, Pinheiro highlights the need for more space in the McMaster Bread Bin Food Collective Centre, an on-campus food bank that is currently operating out of the Refectory basement. He also proposes the creation of a frozen food delivery service for Hamilton’s homeless shelters, which would ensure that leftover food from the FCC does not go to waste.
In his accessibility pillar, Pinheiro addresses his plan to develop an interface for students to report malfunctioning electrical outlets on campus.
He also seeks to develop an app for Avenue to Learn. The app will allow students to more easily view grades and use Avenue to Learn on their phones. Pinheiro also hopes to add integrative features from Mosaic, McMaster’s main online administrative website. One of Pinheiro’s minor points includes the addition of microwave locations to the McMaster University Student Centre.
Pinheiro’s plan to improve safety entails providing McMaster Students Union staff with robust suicide crisis prevention training and sexual assault violence prevention training. He also wants to improve student safety by including more red-security poles on campus, particularly at bus stops and poles beside entrances to major buildings.
Pinheiro seeks to address students’ problems with the Hamilton Street Railway primarily by implementing a test project for an expanded and heated bus shelter program at the university.
Pinheiro also plans on working with the HSR to expand the 51-University line to run during evening hours
Under the last pillar of his platform, responsibility, Pinheiro notes the importance of working to implement projects that were introduced by former MSU presidents.
If you'd like to learn more about Pinheiro's platform, visit his Facebook page and website: www.kylepinheiro2018.com
https://www.facebook.com/kylepinheiro2018/
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