VUSAC elections were conducted online and remotely this semester. The Strand sat down with President Michelle Zhao (she/her) and Chief Returning Officer (CRO) Vibhuti Kacholia (she/her) to discuss the details students should know.
VUSAC fall elections began with a campaigning period from September 19 to September 25, 2020. In order to maintain equitable campaigning, VUSAC prohibited any form of in-person or off-campus advertising, such as putting up posters. The intention behind this, according to CRO Kacholia, is to equalize the playing field for all students.
A Town Hall took place on September 25 at 6:00 pm. The event was conducted via Zoom and followed a seminar style. Students asked anonymous questions by submitting to CRO Kacholia, VPI Tran Thai, or President Zhao via the chat function. Questioning from the VCU was encouraged. The other forum that reached candidates was the Facebook Election Forum. At the Town Hall, candidates gave one-minute speeches, with a 30 second response period.
Voting opened on September 26 at 12:01 pm and closed on September 29. Casting ballots was done online at voting.utoronto.ca. The silent period will be from September 30 to October 1. Election results will be announced on October 2.
Available positions were as follows:
- Eight (8) Councillor positions, with three (3) positions being reserved for first years
- One (1) Equity Commissioner
- One (1) International Councillor
The International Councillor is a new addition to the VUSAC team this year. This elected member will work under the Vice President External’s portfolio and will aim to carry out international student advocacy on behalf of VUSAC. They will collaborate with Victoria College and wider UofT international student groups to plan events and initiatives specifically for international students.
Kacholia tells us that there are options for students who have an unfavourable outcome in the election. “For candidates who lose the election, there will be an opportunity for a sit down with the CRO to discuss future opportunities.” VUSAC has a strong network with the community and can point candidates in a direction that might satisfy their interests. Candidates can expect an email from the CRO to set up these meetings roughly a week after the election.
Zhao encourages students who missed out on running in these elections to explore alternative ways of getting involved with VUSAC. Hiring for various commissions is currently underway. Zhao says: “You’ll meet great people and develop skills for your future that you won’t get a chance to in the classroom. Now is not the only opportunity to be involved with VUSAC.”
Links:
VUSAC Election Forum 2020-2021 Facebook group.
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