By Carolyn Gruske
In the sobering light of the day after, RSU President-elect Paul Cheevers is a little more philosophical about his victory.
“It will be another week (before it is official). It has to be passed at the Board of Directors meeting. It’s a deja vu feeling.”
Unlike last year, however, Cheevers does not have to worry about a recount and losing presidency—the Board approval is just a formality.
With the election behind him, Cheevers says his mind is on the job that lies ahead. One of the early items on the agenda is a meeting with Ryerson’s incoming president, Claude Lajeunesse.
Although he admits that he doesn’t know the president’s name, he says that “I want to meet with him in the next couple of weeks.” It is Cheevers’ goal to establish closer ties with the administration. “I want to be able to meet with him on a bi-monthly basis.”
Cheevers also plans to spend some time with current big cheese RSU president Mike D’Angelo. “I hope he’s willing to train me, because a lot of this is new to me. Especially on the management end—the in-house management.”
While Cheevers claims inexperience in some areas, he has strong opinions about the issues facing him this term. One problem he feels strongly about is increasing student involvement in RSU activities. He plans to start next year off by organizing high-profile orientation activities. He hopes that a parade, picnic and big-name band will draw up to 8,000 people.
Cheevers also plans to spend a lot of time making sure students enjoy their time at Ryerson. He feels the rewards are worth the effort.
“If students have a great time when they are here, after they graduate they’re going to contribute to and support the school. If they don’t, we’re not going to have the contributions and support, and we won’t be the leading school of the future.”
Another issue Cheevers wants to tackle while in office is the booming tuition increases.
He says he understands education costs will have to increase, but he questions the need for a hike because “students loans account for such a small portion of the federal debt.” He also disapproves of the proposed income contingent repayment plan (ICRP) for student loans. Cheevers says that unless “you earn $30,000 immediately after graduating, it is a brutal system.”
“It doesn’t take into account the unemployment rate for graduates which is about 18 to 23 per cent and the fact that women and minorities earn less in the first few years after graduation.” Instead, he supports “a lot more grants and loans.”
In order to reach his objectives, Cheevers wants to work with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), an organization this year’s RSU rejected. He said getting politicians to listen to student concerns is important and if necessary, the CFS should organize more strikes and protests.
Now that Ryerson students have voted to remain in the organization, Cheevers would like to see involvement with other CFS-related schools in the area, and work together in a manner similar of that of the Metro University and College Caucus (MUCC).
Next year, another proposal will be introduced to build a new students’ centre. Cheevers, who in the past opposed the centre, insisted on making his views on the subject clear.
“I am not absolutely opposed to a students’ centre. It would be great in ten or fifteen years.” He explained his position by saying that he doesn’t want to make students pay $50 per year to finance construction. He believes that it is better to “take the $2 or $3 a year students are paying now, and wait until we have at least 60 per cent of the needed funds. The land isn’t going anywhere. There’s no inflation. We should sit on it and relax.”
Cheevers also pointed out that along with the cost of building the centre, students must be aware that they will also be paying for operating costs.
Providing students with “the facts” is Cheevers’ way of ensuring that students are kept involved with the goings on of the RSU. He feels that by doing this, the RSU will be able to improve its open door policy. But he said he won’t fall into the trap of hiding in his office, hoping students drop by and talk.
Cheevers feels so strongly about government accessibility that he promises to spend a lot of time “being very visible around campus—walking around or rollerblading if security doesn’t catch me.” Students, on the other hand, are welcome to stop him at any time.
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