ECSS Fall 2024 Elections

Sophie Bechard

Position: Vice President Equity

 
Personal Description: Hi everyone, my name is Sophie and I’m hoping to be your VP Equity for the 2024-2025 term! I’m a second-year civil engineering student who has been involved with the ECSS since the start of my time at UVic, initially with the First Year Council and more recently over the summer as ECSS secretary and Director of Outreach. I am also very involved in student life as I am on the Seismic Design Team, play flute in the Vikes Band and dance with the Ballroom Latin and Swing club.  

 
Platform: As a Director of Outreach who helped further define the role by forging relationships with clubs and groups both within and outside of ECS, I am no stranger to redefining the potential of a role and building vital connections. My focus this year is to make our student environment more inclusive and encouraging for new students to participate in; I am aware of the struggles many students have with branching out in the ECS community, getting involved with the ECSS or even just knowing the full extent of what the ECSS can do for students. I know it can be difficult to enter an unfamiliar environment until you find a space you feel comfortable in, which is why I will be consulting with others to transform the ECSS lounge into a place that is easier for all students to use. By voting for me you will be choosing someone who truly cares about listening to what you have to say and will take the initiative to improve your experience in ECS. 

Point Form Summary of Platform Description:

As VP Equity I will strive to: 

● Always put your concerns first and look to you for the changes you want to see. 

● Relate to the struggles new students face and help them build connections within ECS to help them succeed. 

● Support students from marginalized groups by taking action through various routes such as supports, events, committees and more. 

● Promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by working with the EDI committee to address students’ concerns. 

● Recognize commemorative days and find ways the ECSS can lend support; for example, I’d like to support and potentially have a presence at the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women this December. 

● Work to refresh the ECSS lounge and other spaces used by ECS students to help it be a space everyone can enjoy. This could include painting, adding comfortable couches and chairs, and redecorating to better represent the individuals in our community 

Lachlan Van Egmond

Position: Vice President Equity

 
Personal Description: I am destined for greatness 

 
Platform: I will reduce all fees to zero for both the ECSS and the UVSS saving countless students hundreds to thousands of dollars over the course of their degree programs. Student fees will no longer subsidize “businesses” or “initiatives” such as sending students to random conferences to talk about random things that nobody really cares about. It is wrong to force students who simply want an education to pay into various student societies that they have no choice to opt out of. Such societies generally cater to and benefit a minority of students while forcing the majority to pay. While the average student scrapes by for rent and food money a select few are able to take advantage of what amounts to almost free vacations on the dime of the ECSS for various conferences. Regarding equity I will ensure that all ECSS ventures after the complete defund (should any remain) will be based solely on merit. I will ensure complete meritocracy. My view is simple. We cannot have an equitable learning environment unless students are free from being coerced into paying for student societies and events that they do not want to pay for or take part in. In a fair and just world you get to keep your 30$ and buy yourself something nice. 

Point Form Summary of Platform Description: 

● Reduce fees to zero for the ECSS 

● Wage a long and determined campaign against the UVSS to reduce UVSS fees to zero 

● Challenge byzantine major declaration rules 

● Reduce Co-op Fees 

● Enforce complete meritocracy 

Abdullah Azeem

Position: First Year Representative

 
Personal Description: Hi, I’m Abdullah, a first-year BSENG student. I’ve lived in Victoria for 11 years, though I’m originally from Pakistan. At Royal Bay High School, I had the opportunity to serve as an ambassador, where I helped new students feel welcome and integrated into the school community. I was also honored to be the valedictorian, which gave me a chance to represent my classmates and develop my public speaking skills.

Outside of academics, I enjoy playing basketball, badminton, hiking, and coding apps. I’m excited to bring my leadership experience and enthusiasm to this role!

Jay Sayani

Position: First Year Representative 

 
Personal Description: Hello! I am a first year CS student. I moved here from India 6 years ago and found an interest in technology. Other than coding, I have many hobbies like hiking, cooking and learning all things engineering. I would love to meet people and make friends so please feel free to say hi! 

 
Platform: As a first-year student, I am eager to represent and support my peers within the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. My passion for these fields has been growing for the past six years, and running for first-year representative feels like the perfect opportunity to bring that enthusiasm to the wider community. I understand how overwhelming it can be to move to a new place, feel disconnected, or face uncertainty about academic choices. That’s why, as your representative, I will focus on creating fun, inclusive, and collaborative events to bring us together. Additionally, I know how confusing it can be to navigate the process of declaring a specialization. I plan to provide guidance and resources to help my fellow classmates make informed decisions, ensuring everyone feels supported and confident in their academic journey.

Point Form Summary of Platform Description: 

● Running for first-year representative to bring enthusiasm to the Engineering and Computer Science community 

● Focus on creating fun, inclusive, and collaborative events for students. 

● Aims to provide guidance and resources for declaring specializations. 

● Ensure first year students feel supported and feel confident   

Cathy Yeung

Position: First Year Representative

 
Personal Description: Hi everyone! I'm Cathy Yeung, a first year engineering student. I hope to run multiple events for first-year engineering and computer science students, such as study and movie nights, fun engineering challenges, a small hackathon, and more! I'm open to all suggestions and event ideas :)  

Austin Novak

Position: Vice President Internal

 
Personal Description: I am a 2nd year undeclared engineering student who plans on specializing in computer engineering. I am interested in the project management aspect of engineering and am running for VP Internal to both improve my leadership and managerial skills. In addition, I am enthusiastic about making new connections with both the undergrad ECS student body and the ECS faculty.  

Platform: I guarantee to make the academic concerns of the engineering and computer science undergraduate body my top priority and will do all that I can to ensure they are heard. I will value the time I will use to converse with the discipline representatives and make sure that I am approachable and attentive to each of their concerns. I can promise the discipline reps that meeting times will be made known in advance to ensure that everyone can properly plan for them, and that I will stick to pre-established meeting times to the best of my ability to avoid any scheduling conflicts. I also promise the reps that they will never have to worry about anything outside the scope of their representative responsibilities. 

Point Form Summary of Platform Description:

• The concerns of the ECS undergrad body are my top priority and I will make sure that their voices are heard to the ECS and greater UVic faculty.

• I guarantee that both the discipline representees’ time and concerns are respected. I will make sure that I am both approachable and attentive for any concerns that a rep may have.

• I promise the discipline reps that meeting times will be made known in advance to ensure easy planning, to stick to agreed upon meeting times to avoid any spontaneous change of plans, and that they will never have to worry about anything outside the scope of their own positions.

Sam Wilson 

Position: Vice President Internal 

 
Personal Description: I am a 4th year mechanical engineering student familiar with some of the many challenges of doing a degree in our department. I’m passionate about improving the lives of current and future engineering and computer science students through cooperation with the department and through communication with all my fellow students! I’ve been a contributing member of our student society (ECSS) for quite a while and know how it operates; I have general knowledge of how the Facility of Engineering and Computer Science operates. I am taking the lightest courseload of my degree thus far and will have lots of time to meet with fellow students and UVic staff! I also am the ECSS Co-Director of Outreach this semester and am excited to get to promote engineering and computer science outside of UVic, as well and within it if I am elected to VP Internal.

  
Platform: If elected for VP Internal, I hope to promote clear and open communication with the Department of Engineering and Computer Science so our voices can be best heard. I want to cooperate to make both the studies of ECS students and the jobs of the faculty easier. I hope to improve the transparency of expectations from the department and the options available to students by the department/university; such as approved course substitutions and course challenges, which are very helpful to reduce workload. I look forward to working with our discipline representatives to better understand the unique challenges of the different fields and get their input on how best to assist students on those challenges. Creating an open environment for all of you to share your point of view and to hear your thoughts on how to improve your undergraduate degree experience is a key to being a successful VP Internal. I am also the ECSS Co-Director of Outreach this semester and am excited to get to promote engineering and computer science outside of UVic, as well and within it if I am elected to VP Internal. Thanks for reading!