By Ab. Velasco
When the competition for the vice-president finance and services position sizzles, the two candidates will be asking voters to choose on how they like their chicken done: chow mein style or on a pita bun.
As the son of renowned Chinese restaurant owner on the Indian archipelago of Goa, Ronney Young lived the lavish lifestyle of a playboy. He partied, he womanized, he drank, he smoked.
Having recently abandoned frivolity in favour of a university degree, the second-year international economics student has his eyes set on the executive. He is aiming to spice up the student government with a new flavour.
“For the past few years, it’s been the same circle of friends running RyeSAC,” the 30-year-old says. “I believe that someone bringing in fresh blood and a fresh perspective would create actual change within RyeSAC.”
Young;s goals are closely linked to his passion for people. For starters, he wants to see an increase the bursaries being handed out to students. And he plans on working closely with every student, from the Women’s Centre, to RyePride, to disabled students. He is even looking the community food room to get a new freezer.
The animated candidate, who also enjoys travelling, reading, and playing sports, says that he knows first hand how to work under pressure. He cites countless nights in the restaurant when he faced a full house with a short staff. “The biggest thing is to have a pragmatic approach. How do you maximize yourself with limited resources? I would definitely be bringing a pragmatic approach [to RyeSAC].”
While Young is hoping to make chop suey out his sole competitor, he is, surprisingly, not the only man who has rendezvoused with culinary fare.
In his third-year T Sheridan College, Mike Verticchio was elected the first full-time president of the student union. During that year, he was involved in the construction of the “Caged Pita,” a $100,000 student-run venture. The revenue went back to the union so they could provide cheaper food than what the cafeteria was offering.
While the risky venture may have been a recipe for disaster, Verticchio embraced it. “From the leadership point, working with half a dozen different parties, and for the groups to get their feedback about what needs to be done, was an unbelievably fun experience,” says the 24-year-old.
The fourth-year business management student, who transferred to ryerson last septemnber, says that he is running for RyeSAC because hw wants to make a contribution, including to the new student centre.
His previous contribution to RyeSAC includes being on the Board of Directors as a business and Academic Council faculty representative, as well as a student centre commissioner. He also helped out at the tax clinic.
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