Elect Ben Taunton to SRA Science, 2009-2010
Hello McMaster Science!
I’m currently a 3rd year Life Science student who is also working on a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I have been on the McMaster Science Society (MSS) Executive for three years, initially as a First Year Rep, and then two years as VP Communications. I have a strong interest in politics and debate and I enjoy getting to the heart of issues and getting problems solved. I’m looking to expand my horizons from intra-faculty work and move beyond to help McMaster as a whole. I believe my McMaster Science Society experience is an asset as I know what science students want and I know how to represent you.
I would really like to improve communication between the student body and the SRA. I believe a lot of improvements could be made in this area, from website organization and facilitation, to media and print initiatives.
My other interests include HSR issues, and environmental issues.
The vast majority of my time spent with the MSS has been as VP Communications. That said, most of my work has been Communications-involved. For the past two years, I've been designing 95% of all science posters, and have been leading the forefront for advertising MSS events and business to the faculty. I have also been in charge of the website, and I have designed (for web purposes) and managed the online Sci-Co applications for the past two years. I also have troubleshooted any tech-related issues for the MSS, which primarily consitutes keeping the office computer running.
Last year I chaired a Public Relations committee for the first time, and it was a successful year. Our primary goal was to increase turn out at Formaldehyde, which was modestly successful.
As for my intentions as an SRA member, I primarily would like to work in communications between the SRA and the student body. There's a few things I'd like to look into:
- Developing some kind of a pamphlet or online information centre which visually depicts the structure of student government at Mac, and which describes what exactly each body of government does. These pamphlets could, for example, be included in materials sent to incoming first-years, and made available online for all students to browse. This would ideally work towards improving general awareness of all forms of student government on campus, and decrease apathy.
- Having regular (monthly, or bi-monthly) "town hall" meetings which can be advertised and where students can go to discuss round-table with other students and their SRA caucus on any issues they may have. I don't know how successful this might be, but it's a starting point anyhow.
- Improving the website. To be quite blunt, I believe the MSU website as a whole can be made much more user-friendly by applying Web 2.0 techniques ( eg:allowing user comments on news boards) and improving the usability of the website. (In other words, the site map/layout should be revised).
-I'm interested in the HSR issue. I don't know how much power we would have in this issue as SRA members, but I would like to work as hard as I can to stop and possibly reverse changes made to the HSR routes on-campus. Everyone and anyone I've spoken to has told me that they really don't like what's happened, and I feel like these changes are decreasing student's quality of life on campus against their will (I don't believe there was ever a referendum or anything to gauge student opinion on this matter).
- I'm interested in environmental issues on campus. This week's green bin campaign by Mac Green was awesome and I'd like to see more improvements being made (such as increasing the amount of materials which can be recycled on campus).
For more information or to show your support, check out this
facebook group.
Polling Day One: March 11th @ 9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Polling Day Two: March 12th @ 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
MSU Election Committee Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr... =45664042321
MSU Election Website:
http://www.msumcmaster.ca/servicesan...lInfo/main.htm
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