The Vice President Student Issues is responsible for ensuring that student issues are addressed at all levels of government. The VPSI also develops awareness campaigns about important student issues such as mental health and financial literacy.
Name: Lily Akagbosu
Lily joins the CUSA team for the 2018-2019 year as VP Student Issues. You probably know her from the CUSA International Students’ Centre, where she worked on events such as the International Student Gala and Culture Fest. Being an international student herself from Lagos, Nigeria, Lily understands that students’ concerns go way beyond academics. Thus, her policy priorities this year range from adding more financial support, mental health support, and physical health support, in addition to teaming up with other student groups to combat campus sexual violence.
Check out more details about Lily’s projects below.
Lobby for Improved Sexual Violence Policy Legislation
Speaking about the prevalence of sexual violence on campus should not be taboo. Across the province of Ontario, universities are hearing more and more stories of sexual violence on campus. We believe that the provincial government has a key role in keeping universities safe for all students. That is why CUSA will lobby the provincial government to commit to a province-wide sexual violence framework. We firmly believe that this framework needs to be survivor-centric and intersectional. We will also lobby the provincial government to establish a lived-experience working group and work with student groups on campus to advocate for better programs that support marginalized and disadvantaged groups. CUSA knows that much more needs to be done to support survivors of sexual violence and we are ready to fight for improved legislation and a better sexual violence policy on our campus. A policy that keeps students safe.
Improved Access to Library Study Space
Our library is a great place to study and do assignments on campus. During exams many of us find ourselves spending late nights there. Unfortunately, during those late-night study sessions, students struggle to find space. That is why CUSA will work with the university to improve access to the library’s study spaces, especially during exam periods. We will work with the university to change this policy, so students have more space and do not have to relocate after midnight. During exams, everyone is stressed out. We want to make this time a little bit easier for you by improving access to study space.
Advocate for Free Course Textbooks
Let’s face it, textbooks are expensive. We have to spend a lot of money each semester to buy books that we only ever use for four months. Right now, there aren’t a lot of options for students who
need these books for their classes. Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to worry about the outrageous cost of textbooks? CUSA will work with the university to make course textbooks and course packs more available in the library for students. We will also work with the University Senate to mandate more professors to use resources from Ontario’s Open Textbook Library for their courses.
Lobby for a Better Gym
During peak times, our gym is over crowded. Usually we are stuck having to wait for the equipment we want to use. Let’s face it Raven’s, it’s hard to stay fit and healthy when we can’t access what we pay for. That’s why CUSA will work with the university to build a bigger gym. When the university is determining which new construction projects it needs to begin, we’ll make sure they
know that the gym is a priority to students. In addition, we are proposing that the university add a people counter so that we know how many people are using the gym at any given time. This will
allow you to schedule your workouts during slower times for the best overall experience.
Wellness Wednesday: Weekly Mental Health Initiatives
Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime? It’s clear that this is a huge challenge facing students on campus and more needs to be done to help. In recent years CUSA has worked on a number of mental health initiatives, such as Pop the Stigma. But we all know that mental health is a constant challenge. That’s why this year we’ll bring you
mental health initiatives once a week with Wellness Wednesdays. Whether it’s a yoga session or a self-care night, we will introduce a weekly opportunity for students to improve their mental health.
Free First Aid Training
Many job and volunteer opportunities require that you have first aid certification. This type of training is also vital for ensuring that people on campus have the knowledge and know-how to help
in cases of emergencies. Unfortunately, this training could cost you over $120. Therefore, CUSA wants to provide you with these resources for free, making this important training available to all
students on our campus.
