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ASK The Candidates: Joel Leavitt

1. How does your platform differ from the platforms of the other candidates?

The process used to arrive at my platform is responsible for the differences you find. When assembling my platform I took a step back from the MSU and looked to other student unions. For instance, I found that student unions at Carleton and Ottawa were working together to instill a first term reading week, while others in Ontario already had one. The waste disposal at Guelph University was far more effective than ours, because the proper facilities and education were available.

2. Students have been dealt empty promises in the past. What is your assurance to students that your campaign goals are attainable?

My campaign goals are most certainly attainable, as other Universities in Ontario have already reached many of them. The ideas I am proposing through my platform may appear radical and unattainable at first, however other student Presidents will assure you that they can be reached. Some platform ideas such as the fall reading week may take some time to implement, but I am taking the necessary steps to get this goal in motion.


3. The position of MSU President is an important one with many responsibilities. What steps have you taken to learn more about the
MSU, its functions, and operations?

I have worked for an MSU establishment for almost two years now. With this experience I have learned the everyday workings of the student union. This past summer I was also the main contractor for the MSU. In this time I refinished Quarters, built Undercovers and had a part in building the Short Stop. During these contracts I had the opportunity to work with and observe many of the full time employees in the MSU. One of the most important things I did to learn about the responsibilities of the MSU President was to schedule a meeting with current President Ryan Moran. It was through this meeting that I was exposed to many of the undisclosed responsibilities. After months of contemplation and some additional research into the position, I decided to run for President. From this meeting I gathered that as long as I am willing and a hard worker the semantics of the MSU can be learnt in the following three months.

4. How do you plan on increasing the visibility of the MSU and its services to students?

I plan on increasing the visibility of the MSU by making its services more accessible. I value open communication and look to work with the MSU services to solve some of the barriers they currently face. I plan on being a visible President, who participates in as many of the MSU activities as is feasible. For certain events I hope to personally notify students themselves. I have always been active and extremely outgoing, evident by my extensive network of friends. These personality traits will make the task of increasing MSU visibility an easy one. In
respect to my current campaign, my team has been noted as the most visible on campus.

5. If elected, what are some changes students can expect to see within the first 4 months of you being in office?

Students can expect to see no more garbage or recycling bins standing on their own. Every garbage receptacle will have a paper-recycling bin, glass recycling bin and a compost bin beside it. You will also see composting in Commons along with a Styrofoam recycling bin. These are the main courses of action that you can expect to see and implemented within the first four summer months of my term. These initial issues will be addressed first as the student body on campus is not nearly as large. I will also get the base ready for my other platform ideas.

6. What is your stance on making McMaster a greener, more environmentally friendly campus?

I feel that McMaster is quickly falling behind other Universities in the field of recycling and environmentalism. One of the best ways to quickly improve our University is to look at what and how other schools have accomplished in their goals to implement an environmentally friendly campus. The University that I would use as a template for McMaster’s green movement would be Guelph University. Guelph promotes eased accessibility and an increased amount of receptacles to dispose of unwanted waste and recyclable materials responsibly. As students of McMaster University we need to stand together and push our school community to become eco-friendly.

7. With Lynton Wilson's $10m donation, plans for McMaster's new "Liberal Arts for the 21st Century" building are underway and will benefit the faculties of social sciences, humanities and health sciences. What are your plans to ensure that students receive the maximum benefit from this money and are properly represented in the construction of this new facility?

As I have said many times before the MSU has to be completely representative of the students if it is to work effectively and efficiently. As a potential MSU president I am not sure if it will be the sole responsibility of the MSU to determine how these funds will be allocated. However, the donation is in the order of constructing a new Liberal Arts Building and I will strongly contest that the students and faculty of these faculties (i.e. Social Sciences, Humanities, etc.) are
greatly consulted before any progress is made in solidifying construction plans or faculty room allotment. This is a big step for the Liberal Arts field at McMaster and I feel that it requires great attention by both the MSU president, as a representative of the students, and McMaster University to ensure that each and every student, Liberal Arts and not, can have access to and find a great use
in this new building.

8. Currently MSU members are enjoying the benefits of the HSR Bus Pass (U-Pass), allowing for free public transit throughout the school year. Within a few months a referendum will be held bringing into question whether the MSU would like to continue the U-Pass. What is your stance on this issue?

Personally, I will be voting to keep the HSR bus pass. I feel that this bus pass is very helpful to the students who commute daily and whom are lacking adequate means of transportation. If I were in Ryan Moran’s position, I would lobby for a small addition to this bus pass. I would like to give the students an option to pay a small additional fee, which will allow them to use HSR services during the summer. This would allow students to remain in Hamilton during the summer months and still be able to utilize the HSR transportation system without having to pay standard summer month pass fees.

9. The MSU Constitution states that part of the MSU's purpose is to "foster activities and events which will enhance the University experience of its members and contribute to the life of the University as a whole". What is your stance on MSU Clubs and increasing student life on campus?

It is almost needless to say that student life and participation in a club go hand in hand. As the president of the organization that has been given the responsibility to ensure that clubs exist at McMaster - through providing a meeting place, or funding events – I will personally ensure that every student both has, and knows about, the wonderful opportunity that clubs provide. I believe that the more funding that clubs have, or the more clubs that exist at McMaster, the better the likelihood that the positive student experience will flourish. However, I look at the MSU as the biggest club that McMaster has to offer. If more people can get involved in the MSU and the MSU can have more events that are more representative of as many people as possible than I feel that more and more students will become involved and their student experience will be increased. Its about being progressive in the way the MSU looks at things and as president I will take the leadership role in first increasing the opportunities students have in becoming involved in clubs, or other avenues of student life, and then foster the relationship that students have with one another by making the clubs process both cyclical and progressive over the years to come. I believe that the student experience is about the experiences we share with our peers. However, the MSU or its president cannot force people to become involved but I feel that given the opportunity to become involved, coupled with the accommodating nature that I express to all, this students union can garner the best four year experience in
the country.

10. Prior to the election, did you know of MacInsiders?

I was aware that MacInsiders is a great way to connect students. The visibility of entity is something I hope to improve.

11. If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

I would be a platypus for the simple reason that the Platypus incorporates unique features from so many different branches of the evolutionary tree. I see myself as a person who has evolved throughout my life.