As the fall semester begins, BUSU is working to raise awareness about the ways to get involved in the university through the union.
On Sept. 10, BUSU held the first of three advisory council meetings of the school year. Students filled Isaac’s patio to receive a background on BUSU and their initiatives, discuss how the student union operates and learn about the committees they can join to amplify their voice in various sectors of the university.
Their presentation began with an introduction from BUSU’s Vice-President of External Affairs, Mark Chrabalowski, explaining the technical side of BUSU’s involvement with the university and stating that their mission is to make student experiences at Brock as good as possible.
He then explained the importance of joining clubs on campus, noting that they are a great way to find a community among your peers.
The presentation continued into a list of the notable things BUSU adds to the student experience, namely the many events that happen during the school year, a health and dental benefits plan, the U-Pass for Niagara Regional transit and overall advocacy for the representation of all students in the university.
Next was an overview of the student executive team and their roles at BUSU, hearing official introductions from BUSU’s President Anusha Pahuja, the Vice President of University Affairs Carleigh Charlton, the Vice President of External Affairs Mark Chrabalowski, and the Vice President of Student Services Shinaya Peris.
Following this, BUSU’s General Manager Robert Hilson shared a few words about the importance of getting involved at your university and how the students’ union can be a vehicle to do so.
The student executive team then recapped what they and their Board of Directors accomplished this summer, the highlights being updated club policies to streamline club funding and efforts put into sustainability initiatives.
The next tasks for the Board of Directors are executive priority approval and BUSU 2023-2024 audit approval, the latter of which will be available online.
Lastly, Carleigh Charlton took the floor to explain BUSU’s six committees that students can join: the President Advisory Committee, the Vice President of University Affairs Advisory Committee, the Vice President of External Affairs Advisory Committee, the Vice President of Student Services Advisory Committee, the Clubs Advisory Committee and the Elections and Referendum Committee.
All committees centre around helping the BUSU executives achieve the goals they set out for the school year, while also providing them with feedback and being a voice for students on the matters at hand.
The President Advisory Committee focuses on the “strategic direction” of BUSU.
The Vice President of University Affairs Advisory Committee appeals to those who are interested in advocacy and student representation at the university.
The Vice President of External Affairs Advisory Committee focuses on giving students a voice at municipal and provincial levels.
The Vice President of Student Services Advisory Committee is concerned with hosting events and working with Brock’s clubs.
The Clubs Advisory Committee deals with the funding and budgeting side of running clubs.
The Elections and Referendum Committee helps to run February’s Board of Directors election.
The next advisory council meeting will occur in December, with another following in March.
If you have questions before then, more information about BUSU’s advisory council and their general goals and operations for the 2024-2025 school year can be found at www.brockbusu.ca.