As the MSU presidential election draws to a close, candidate posters and team tables are taken down, leaving the sitting area on the first floor of MUSC to return to its natural state. Over the last two weeks, five candidates had their names and faces plastered on every wall, and they became the centre of every conversation surrounding elections. But behind every candidate are the core campaign teams, and leading the teams are the campaign managers.
Campaign managers, along with their teams, put in months of work and dedicate weeks of intense commitment to support a friend in their quest to get elected as the next MSU President. The Silhouette interviewed them to get some insight into their reasons for taking on the role, thoughts on leadership positions, and the work that goes into running a campaign.
The campaign manager role involves planning the campaign, shaping the candidate’s message, coordinating the campaign team, and making sure the candidate is where he or she needs to be. The role varies depending on the team, but often involves keeping the team together and the campaign functioning on schedule.
“Although it’s time consuming, I still like it. I’ve never stretched myself this far. But as a campaign manager you have to help others and pick up slack. It’s a good experience. It’s skills that you need in the future,” said Kalia, campaign manager for Ehima Osazuwa.
One of the main qualities that all of the campaign managers discussed was leadership.
“Being a campaign manager gives you a leadership experience, gives you experience learning how to coordinate volunteers. I just thought it would be a really nice way to hone in on organizational and leadership skills,” said Becca, campaign manager for Corey Helie-Masters.
Similarly, Anj from Tristan Paul’s team described the campaign manager experience as one that is all encompassing.
“You gain a really great understanding of the MSU when you’re trying to determine platform points and things like that. In that capacity, it’s nice to see everything tied together as a campaign manager and get to experience the whole range of things,” she said.
Kamini, a first-year campaign manager for John Tambakis, said that the hard work really does pay off.
“At the end of it, it really does feel like this is something that you’ve made and created and put so much time into. When it’s all over you need to put it out on the table and be proud of what you’ve come up with,” she said.
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After speaking with the campaign managers, it is evident that they are all very competent, well-spoken, and knowledgeable of the MSU. So why not run for President?
The managers gave a variety of reasons, citing lack of interest or experience in the MSU as reasons not to run for President.
“The MSU was really never in my face. I passed through university not thinking about it,” said Kalia. “I never imagined myself as an MSU president. I got involved this year when I ran for the finance committee. [Ehima] asked me to do it and we’ve worked together before on school projects so he knows how well I can manage a team.”
Simon, campaign manager for Helie-Master’s campaign, named lack of MSU experience as a reason not to run for a leadership position.
“I had hoped to do it if I had more experience. If I had been an SRA rep last year, I may have well ran this year, but I don’t think I had enough SRA experience and enough MSU service and club experience.”
For some managers, MSU President isn’t a job that fits into their plans.
“In first year, I was sitting in [a friend’s] room in Les Prince Hall and I said, ‘mark my words, one day I will be MSU president.’ And even leading into this summer. Do I think I would make a good candidate? Hell yeah. Do I think I could win? Hell yeah. But I had to think about I wanted to do after undergrad,” said Giuliana of Clarke’s campaign.
Anj, Paul’s campaign manager, also cited this reason.
“My own personal life trajectory probably will never let me do that, in the sense that it is not what I personally want to do with my life, but I definitely see a lot of value and I love seeing the people who’ve done it in the past like Anna D’Angela and Siobhan [Stewart], they are amazing, and I’m so proud to see that.”
Many of the campaign managers were eager to give their advice for future managers.
“Definitely know what you’re getting into. I thought it would be so long and would take forever, but know that it is really fast [paced],” said Simon.
Giuliana talked about encouraging women in leadership as well as running a positive campaign.
“It is possible to run a positive campaign. Our team exemplifies that. We’ve only filed one complaint,” she said. “We didn’t want to run a campaign on nitpicking and targeting – it’s not about the other candidates. If you put forth a platform that is strong and researched, it shouldn’t matter what anyone else is doing. You know that you put forward a very good platform.”
While this year was an all-male race, the teams were much more diverse. Behind the scenes of the election, there’s a split of three male and seven female campaign managers. Over the last few years, the majority of campaign managers have also been women.
Anj addressed the fact that most campaign managers are women and spoke about her choice to not run for President.
“I know this is something that can be spun in the way ‘oh you’re a woman, maybe that’s why you’re not running,’” she said. “At the same time, I personally as a person, as an individual, and not as a woman, just like the idea of being in a role that supports someone else.”
The Silhouette wasn’t the only one to ask her that question though.
“It’s funny because one of the candidates actually ask me about [why I chose to be a campaign manager and not run for President] and implied that by being a manager I wasn’t doing something that was useful with my time,” she said.
Giuliana explained that although we may not have any female candidates this year, we should continue the discussion about women in leadership.
“I think it’s important for the discussions we’ve been having lately about women and groups who aren’t typically represented, showing them that MSU experience doesn’t matter. That we’ve empowered someone who might not be the typical candidate to run for MSU president. It matters that you have a vision for the future and that you care about the students.”
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If you know any of the five candidates on Facebook or other social media platforms, chances are you’ve seen a gratuitous amount of pictures of them this week. Granted, some candidates are more guilty of this than others, but it is an endemic problem that I’ve seen in each of the last four elections I have witnessed. Sometime in this decade (and perhaps before that) campaigns became more about personality than about problem-solving.
Take, for example, the myriad of images in which the candidate is posing with a supporter. Popularized in previous president Campbell’s second campaign, it has become a sort of campaign chic to surround oneself with faces of students, just like you the voter, to get across this idea of approachability and being “one of us.” When David did it, it was during his campaign, not at the start, consisted of students found in MUSC, and he asked them what they want.
On day one of this campaign, candidates were ready out of the gate with a slew of these pictures, without the randomness and requisiton. What purpose does it serve to voters wanting to absorb your message if the majority of your campaign is materials in which you are surrounded by people you selected to support you?
If the imagery wasn’t oppressive enough, many of these campaigns also muddle their message as they try to find some “simple” analogy to wrap it up neatly in one buzzword or phrase. By trying to simplify your message, you are assuming that students are too dumb or apathetic to understand it, and that is not the kind of message you want to start your campaign with. We are not in high school. We are in a place of higher learning, so please have faith that we can understand your platform even if you don’t condense it into one snappy, #hashtaggable quote.
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I am not going to call out any of the candidates specifically, because I do not think I can possibly hurt your campaigns more than you have done already through these tactics.
Don’t pander to the lowest common denomiator. Don’t look down on the student body you are hoping to represent. And don’t try to give us the abstract of your campaign.
We’re smart enough to hear your message the way you see it, even if it is hard to fit beside that enormous picture of your face.
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With Ehima Osazuwa’s key points including interfaith accessibility, gender-neutral washrooms, and women in governance, it’s clear that he is looking to advocate for the rights of those he believes are under represented.
“I think it’s important to remember that McMaster is a very diverse population, and everyone has different needs,” said Osazuwa. “It [would be] my job as MSU president to cater to the needs of the diverse people here.”
Accessibility is a recurring theme that Osazuwa is tackling through a number of viewpoints.
On one level, Osazuwa is looking to lobby Student Accessibility Services to better accommodate students with specialized needs, whether it’s with greater access and maintenance for elevators and lifts, or with mandatory training for teaching assistants in accommodating students with disabilities.
However, TAs that already receive Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act training are likely to be reluctant for more training; in addition, MSU VP (Education) Rodrigo Narro-Perez has had resistance in implementing mental health-specific training for TAs, so it’s arguable whether further training can actually be mandated for the entire university.
Osazuwa is also pushing for interfaith accessibility by creating an open space for various religious practices, as well as ensuring that religious dietary options are always available on campus. Osazuwa wants extended late-night food options on campus like Union Market and My Mini Mac, as well as putting more kitchenware on campus.
Q: Opponent you would vote for?
A: John
Q: Opponent's platform point you would vote for?
A: Tristan Paul – Clubs Opportunities Portal
“I feel like you need to immerse yourself in a club before you can be an executive.”
Q: Most ambitious goal?
A: Talk Tuition and affordable tuition
But Osazuwa believes that the most important issue for students is their tuition. Based on his own experience with the SRA, his plan is to form committees that will look to both educate and learn about how to relieve the burden of tuition.
“Tuition affects everyone; you pay tuition, I pay tuition, every student in the MSU pays tuition,” he said. “With conversations, with discussions, we can plant a seed for future generations that come into McMaster.”
“Any amount of money we can save for students is something I’m always proud to fight for.”
However, Osazuwa’s most important student issue also comes with his most unclear solution. It’s evident that Osazuwa believes in the power of playing a stronger advocacy role, but it’s doubtful as to whether any real impact can be made on McMaster’s tuition. His stance on effecting change with tuition and with women in governance is primarily through committees and mentorship programs, so their tangible success will be difficult to evaluate.
Gender-neutral washrooms are also a part of Osazuwa’s campaign to make McMaster a more accessible and safe space for all people. Rather than overhauling the entire washroom infrastructure on campus, Osazuwa is looking to change signs of single-stall washrooms into gender-neutral washrooms.
“For me, it’s just about breaking the stereotype that somebody must identify as male or female,” said Osazuwa.
One potential incongruity in his plan is the close overlap and association of single-stall washrooms with accessibility washrooms, though. Osazuwa was unsure of the total number of single-stall washrooms on campus, but noted that incorporating the washrooms will require “an education process [...] so everyone can get accustomed to this.”
Osazuwa certainly has a unique take on what it means to be MSU President, and is uniquely positioned as the champion for advocacy. His campaign for universal accessibility is based on both discussion and action, but whether his discussions will be effective are still up for debate.
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From the perspective of past experience, Corey Helie-Masters is certainly qualified for the position of MSU President.
His experience includes being a past SRA member, a continued involvement with the Kinesiology faculty society culminating in his current position as President, as well as coordinating the Kinesiology games conference, which operates at a budget of $200,000 and attracted 1,000 individuals last year.
He’s a safe bet to know a little about what he’s getting into, at the very least.
But his platform also contains what is perhaps the riskiest objective out of all of the candidates: a plan to overhaul the structure of course timetables at McMaster, which he calls “Your 20 Minutes.” The idea is to transform the current schedule of 50-minute blocks to 80-minute blocks; therefore, a class that runs three one-hour lectures a week would convert to two hour-and-a-half lectures a week.
“Something that I think encompasses a lot of student issues is time ... [my] biggest platform point focuses on getting more productive time out of the day,” he said.
Q: Opponent you would vote for?
A: Tristan
Q: Opponent platform point you would criticize?
A: John Tambakis- The Marauder Club
“The premise of it sounds good, I would just love to hear a little bit more detail on it, on the plan.”
Q: Most ambitious goal?
A: Your 20 minutes
Among other benefits, Helie-Masters cites the advantage of expanding the “inefficient” hour break that students are often forced to deal with between classes. The change in scheduling also adds a few minutes of class each week, which means the same amount of teaching hours can be accomplished in a fewer number of days.
“That fixes something I have a big issue with, which is next year, where we don’t have a day break between classes and exams,” said Helie-Masters.
Feasibility is immediately the first concern when considering an entire schedule change, however.
Logistically, the plan will have to take into account all nine faculties, and will likely disrupt or even change the way professors teach and structure their courses. The restructuring would also need to account for the fact that many non-traditional courses do not follow the three lectures per week mold, as well as the potential for reduced engagement for students in a longer lecture format.
But beyond that, his overall platform lacks the coherence and depth that other candidates have in their platforms. The rest of his platform includes a confusing pledge to improve clubs resources, and a number of unspecific commitments to student issues such as food prices, environmentally friendly initiatives, and student housing. Although one of Helie-Masters’ key points is improving the resources and support for clubs and faculty societies, he admitted, “I have not had enough time to talk to everybody I need to talk to.”
Helie-Master’s other main goal involves a Hamilton Welcome Day as part of the Welcome Week experience, where students would explore Hamilton in an event structured similarly to Shine Day. In order to address the issues with student engagement that Shine Day has, Helie-Masters explained his desire to “market it the way you market MacConnector,” as well as having the event occur much earlier during the week.
Although more details on his platform will be rolling out as the campaign continues, Helie-Masters will need to develop more concrete ideas around his goals to demonstrate dedication to the general student body. While he can boast a schedule that includes varsity swimming and managing a faculty society, his credentials can only take him so far.
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Tristan Paul imagines every student as a piece of a puzzle that makes up the McMaster undergraduate student body. As a result he has centred his platform on getting students involved and collecting feedback from the student body.
“The role of the MSU and the MSU president is all-encompassing,” said Paul. “So what I’ve tried to do with my platform is incorporate those mechanisms where we can give students the tools to essentially provide feedback […] and have a meaningful role in shaping their student experience.”
One of Paul’s most prominent communication strategies is the MSU Drawing Board, an online portal where students can submit feedback and vote on their favourite ideas. He also hopes to implement MSU Messenger, an online chat room, and MSU Town Hall, a meeting in term one about the progress and goals of the MSU.
In the area of academics, Paul hopes to improve the course selection process by adding mandated mid-term evaluations and working with the university to make existing course evaluation data available to students.
He also wants to implement course intentions, a system where students map out their desired courses in advance to give administrators an idea of how many students may enrol in a course.
The feasibility of a course intentions system is still questionable. Many students may not know what courses they will take in upper years, and these decisions often change as a student progresses through their degree. While a good idea in theory, only time will tell how this works in practice.
Q: Opponent you would vote for?
A: Matt
Q: Opponent's platform point you would criticize?
A: John Tambakis - EARN Service
“I think they’ll encounter the same problems that the Peer Tutor Network had.”
Q: Most ambitious goal?
A: Grocery store
When asked about his most ambitious goal, Paul discussed his idea to open an on-campus grocery store.
“[Through] one-on-one conversations with students we realized that the convenience of a grocery store on campus is something that students really want,” said Paul.
“[It’s] ambitious in the sense that it requires a lot of consultation and working with various stakeholders.”
After researching existing models at Western and Queen’s, Paul began talking to university administration about this idea. The response he got from both Hospitality Services and McMaster administration was positive.
Yet, with Mac Farmstand in the student centre every Wednesday and Thursday from June to October and a bus to Fortinos that runs from Mary Keyes every Wednesday, the effort and expense of opening a grocery store may not be necessary. Paul has discussed the idea with administration and one-on-one with students, but only a survey of the student body will tell if this idea reflects students’ needs.
The idea of improving clubs is common across all candidates, but Paul has a unique idea. He wants to administer anti-oppression training for club presidents and create an opportunities portal where clubs can recruit volunteers in order to improve the extra-curricular experience.
A more obscure idea, stemming from his love of film, is converting a lecture hall into MSU Cinema. This theatre service would mirror Western University Film’s success. Again, it is unclear whether this is a service that is in demand from students or how it would be put into practice.
Paul has begun conversations with the university about his ideas, but has mainly researched student need through one-on-one conversations. Whether or not the entire undergraduate student body will determine these ideas to be their top priority is unknown.
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When I was leaving for university my mother told me “you get out of your university experience what you put into it.” That is what this campaign is about. It’s about wanting to make sure everyone who comes to McMaster can get more out of their experience here, and the heart of that lies in making connections.
The academic component of my platform is about providing students with the tools they need to succeed - tools such as quality study spaces and healthy food options. Installation of new working space and lighting will revitalize MUSC study space. I will collaborate with libraries to introduce a free laptop charger rental service. Rounding out the academic pillar, wraps sold out of Union Market during the exam season will address the late night food terrors.
To better support students, I am collecting student ideas all week at my campaign headquarters in MUSC - a participatory platform that I promise to use as a guide if elected. I will also install a simple, easy-to-use suggestion box outside the MUSC office for yearlong direct feedback. Finally, extended hours for the MSU Peer Support Line will provide help to those who need it most.
The student life pillar looks at revitalizing an underutilized space in the Arts Quad to create a relaxing space that once equipped with tables and benches could become a new sanctuary for students. Perhaps the most exciting is the McMaster Art Crawl. What better way to draw our members into a true society than to showcase the raw talents that exist on our campus?
Four years ago I began my journey in a different faculty, as a different person. Switching faculties was the first in a series of experiences that taught me that pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone can lead to immeasurable rewards. I have learned that sometimes you must be bold in taking the opportunities that present themselves to you, and I want to provide these same growing opportunities to McMaster students: the opportunity to succeed, to grow and to make connections for a better student experience.
As Patrick Deane said “this is just the start of something you can build through a lifetime.” So go out. Make connections. I promise you won’t regret it.
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My name is Corey Helie-Masters and I want to be your MSU President. That is a sentence you will be hearing a lot in the upcoming days. It may not be my name all the time, but someone is likely approaching you right now to tell you about their platform and why you should vote for them. Someone will talk about food, others about laptop chargers.
I will mostly be talking about saving 20 minutes everyday and how that provides so much opportunity to enhance student life. This editorial is purposed as a soapbox, one for each candidate to stand on and shout their platform as loud as possible, but I’m not going to do that. I want to use this stage to ask the question that so many people are thinking: why are there no female candidates?
I am not going to try and guess or stipulate why every woman on campus has decided not put their name in the hat of presidential candidates. I’m not them, but what I will do is ask them. I know quite a few women who would have made great candidates, and equally great presidents. The fact that not one of them has decided to run is quite upsetting.
So how do you go about increasing female representation? To reference a Silhouette article from two years ago, it’s not about getting the student body to vote for a female candidate—they are more than supportive—it is getting their name on the ballot. After conversing with a few of my female friends, I gained a little insight, and I think continuing that conversation is key. Focus groups with our current female student leaders can be used to identify why they are not seeking more senior positions. Different groups could become involved and this could turn into a future project for the WGEN.
I think that’s what we need to happen. It’s what I will make happen. We need to increase our support for our female leaders and get them involved, because in order to truly get connected, we need the experience and influence of every person on campus, whether male or female.
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McMaster feels like home to me. It is my campus, my community. In this school, I feel like have I have found a family and all the other clichéd things that make McMaster loved. The sense of belonging that I feel on this campus is something that I hold very dear. With this being my home, I wonder how I can give back, how can I make it better, how I can bring people together. I want students at McMaster today, tomorrow, a year, five years from now to be impacted and benefit from whatever we can achieve together now. I envision an MSU that is focused and addresses the major issues that students face.
From the beginning of this MSU presidential campaign, I wanted to be a person who listened to the needs and concerns of students. I have taken time to talk and engage with people, and find out what issues concern students, and what areas of this school they want to see improved by the MSU. This input is reflected directly in my platform. After all, this campaign is for you, the students of McMaster. Issues such as reasonably priced food on campus, rewards programs for using MSU services, affordable exam prep services, all reflect subjects that matter to students. With those in mind, I believe that I can truly make a difference in the future.
On that note, I acknowledge that there are issues that are not necessarily on my platform in this campaign, but I am willing to listen and work with everyone to find the answers to the tough questions and achieve whatever we can to benefit the MSU and its students. After all, I aspire to be a president that actively listens to you, to care and serve you to the best of my ability, to work with you rather than over you. I like to think I would be a president who genuinely cares about the students that I represent and make sure that everyone has a voice.
A friend told me once “the atmosphere you permit is the product that you create.” I believe that McMaster deserves nothing less than being the best institution that it can be. And it starts with us, together.
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John Tambakis’ theme seems to be giving students value for their money. As a Commerce student, that’s certainly his area of expertise.
“A big issue for me is understanding that students’ money is valuable, and respecting that, and having the MSU reflect that,” he said. “Life’s so expensive on campus [and] I’ve addressed that on numerous issues within my platform.”
One of Tambakis’ goals includes a takeout area at TwelvEighty to rival the on-the-go ease and quality of food at La Piazza, to erode at the large share that Paradise Catering currently holds. He also wants to establish a customer loyalty program for various MSU-owned businesses like TwelvEighty and Underground, where discounts would accumulate based on the total amount in purchases made.
In terms of his platform on food, Tambakis said, “I think this will have an effect on campus that will drive prices down.”
“I think my platform is the most feasible. I think it also gives students concrete results, instead of giving initiatives that may or may not happen in 3-5 years,” he continued.
His most ambitious plan is a new MSU service that will be called the Exam Assistance Review Network, or EARN. Citing the high cost of courses run by companies like Prep101, Tambakis is looking to establish a cheaper exam prep service, run by and for the students.
Q: Opponent you would vote for?
A: Ehima
Q: Opponent's platform point you would criticize?
A: Tristan Paul – Grocery store
“You don’t need a grocery store on campus if you have more affordable takeout options.”
Q: Most ambitious goal?
A: Exam assistance review network (EARN)
However, with current MSU President Teddy Saull still implementing the Peer Tutoring Network, the redundancy of having two similar MSU services is immediately appreciable. In addition, the need for an MSU-run, paid, and specialized exam prep service is questionable at best, particularly when clubs like Students Offering Support provide similar services.
One of Tambakis’ platform points is the Marauder Club, which will serve as an avenue for students to gather and support McMaster’s sports teams. While the idea is similar in premise to one of the functions of the Maroons, Tambakis wants the club to remain open for any students interested in supporting the school, and is promoting free t-shirts and discounts as incentives.
“I want to make this an inclusive fan club for students, where fans feel welcome to go to these games. What I’ve found is that some of the greatest community-building and friends that I’ve made have been at sporting games,” said Tambakis.
But whether this incentive is enough to gather students is debatable, and it’s difficult to see the greater draw and sustainability of the idea.
Tambakis is also looking for greater club collaboration through his Club Spotlight plan, where clubs would jointly produce events that are sponsored by the MSU. Examples such as a joint performance between the Mac Marching Band and Dance Crew, or an interdisciplinary speaker series, indicate some flexibility in the style of event, although the benefit of the spotlight still appears to be inclined towards more publicly engaging clubs.
Taken as a whole, a number of Tambakis’ platform points seem to target specific interests in the population, and don’t necessarily apply to the greater McMaster community. While it’s worth noting that the aim of these ideas are to ultimately expand these populations, their sustainability remains in question. His focus on the use of incentives in his platform is creative and corresponds to his background, but he’ll need to better justify why his ideas are worth implementing.
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As you may have noticed over the past few days, puzzle pieces have been popping up around campus. Every student – or piece of the puzzle – matters, and is vital to its completion. If you are missing even a single piece, the puzzle is incomplete. As an MSU Presidential candidate, the collective student voice is what motivates me to change your MSU into your MSYou.
My campaign is based on this principle, and is built upon three pillars: Your Campus, Your Classroom, and Your MSU.
The first pillar I want to address is Your Campus. My first objective is directed at getting better food on campus, through the implementation of a grocery store, debit and credit payment options, and what I like to call “Food Truck Fridays.” I also want to create an MSU Cinema service to provide all-age programming at affordable costs. Finally, I want to improve clubs training and support by offering a Clubs Opportunities Portal, to connect interested students to MSU clubs.
The second pillar of my platform is Your Classroom. The first step of this involves the implementation of mid-term course evaluations, giving students the ability to influence how courses are taught. I also want to enforce the current policy which mandates that course evaluation results be accessible online, to serve as course reviews that provide future students with more information before they register. Furthermore, I want to institute “Course Intentions” to provide more student-driven feedback into course registration. By selecting the courses you intend to take, the university can better accommodate students for the upcoming academic year.
My third and final pillar – Your MSU – is the pillar that most motivated me to run for MSU President. The MSU has made significant progress in empowering students to get involved, and I want to build off this momentum to create a more student-directed MSU. I want to have an MSU Town Hall meeting in first term, and hold regular Online Chats and MUSC Office Hours to better connect with students. Finally, I want to create an MSU Drawing Board – a platform where student ideas can be voted on by other students, ultimately leading to a response from the MSU.
“If you’re talking, you aren’t listening.” The wisdom of my five year-old sister resonates within the MSU: without listening to all our members, our collective voice cannot be heard. I hope I have created a platform that not only implements student ideas, but also helps to better engage them at Mac. When you’re solving a puzzle, every piece matters.
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