Sadriddin Mirkodjaev (running for VP Finance), Dasha Moryakova (running for President), Abdallah El Chami (running for VP Internal) and Jambo Mirzabekov (running for VP External) met for questioning in the Independent Centre Tuesday.TRU United executive candidates met to answer questions about their slate, which hopes to: "Enhance Student Life, Promote Unified Campus Culture, Fight Increasing Tuition, Create a Green Campus, and Develop a Parking Plan."
Three of the candidates (Dasha, Jambo, and Sadriddin) are already on the 2009/2010 council. But Dasha explained that that doesn't make things easier for them, as some might assume. She explained that they still have to do their office work, their school work, and have time to campaign.
"Both [slates] are regulated under the same policy," said Jambo Mirzabekov (VP External candidate). "We did not even use a staple from the office to staple our posters."
The group slate includes continuation of projects that TRUSU is currently working on, but they also have some new ideas. Abdallah El Chami, who is not currently on the council, said that they will be working on communicating with the students in new ways.
"The big thing we have to understand is that we are dealing with a new generation of students," said El Chami. He explained that he intends to use new social media online to communicate with the students, such as twitter and facebook.
"This month we'll be engaging in conversations with students," said Dasha Moryakova (Presidential candidate). She said that each week they want to walk around and talk to the students, ask them any questions they may have about the union.
"I'd like to add, we've been busy developing the students' union building," said Jambo Mirzabekov. "Now our main goal is to increase awareness in membership. Introducing ourselves and talking to students face to face."
The students' union building only fully opened up this past September, after some major renovations. Now, TRU United said that they will have more time to take part in other projects because there are no longer unanticipated surprises that require their attention. The Common Grounds coffee shop is open and the building is fully useable again.
"My thoughts are that I think we are on the right track," said Sadriddin Mirkodjaev (VP Finance candidate).
Dasha Moryakova said that her door is always open.
"The purpose of the building was to bring students here, and I'm here," she said. "I have never ever locked the door in front of someone and said I'm busy. I think what is most important is to be working with students. We could close ourselves in this building, but we put ourselves in a tiny place," she said of the office portion of the Independent Centre.
There is potential for low voter turnout this year, because the polling station has been moved to a single location in the Independent Centre, but TRU United hope that it means more educated voting.
"If a voter walks from Old Main, then they want their vote to count," said Abdallah El Chami. "It takes an effort to come [to the Independent Centre]."
Sadriddin Mirkodjaev said that the Independent Centre is an appropriate location.
"I'd like to add that the building was build to represent a student movement, not just a student union," he said. Last year people were forced to vote because they couldn't walk around campus without being given pamphlets and asked to vote at poling station, he explained. This year students who wish to vote will vote because there is a candidate that they wish to vote for, not because they are forced to do so by campaigning candidates.
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