CSU Prez feels the heat and the sun
CSU President Khaleed Juma (right) flipped burgers while taking care of business during the Orientation BBQ on the terrace behind the Hall Building. Good thing he had some other volunteers to help out.
photo by rob maguire
Concordia Student Union (CSU) President Khaleed Juma and his seven-member executive were propelled to office following last March’s election by the highest voter turnout in the Union’s history. The third-year Economics major knows that this doesn’t set him up for an easy ride, but rather a stint in the hot seat.
“There’s a lot of people watching us, so this year our job is to get as many things done as we can. It’s our goal to make sure students continue to be part of their university,” he said.
“I don’t want people to walk away with just a piece of paper in their hand: I want them to walk away with an experience.”
The Toronto-born and London (England)-raised Juma said his Experience slate plans to fight proposed tuition increases, move forward with plans for a student centre and create a document to provide counsel to future executives about standard procedures, such as website maintenance.
Similarly, they will continue previous plans, like transforming the Hive at Loyola into a sports bar. They also vow to fight the administration’s proposal to move student activities from the Hall Mezzanine to another location, and lobby for amendments to the Academic Code of Conduct.
“Right now, if you appear before a tribunal and have two strikes [for offences like plagiarism], you’re out. We believe people shouldn’t have their futures torn away from them for that, but instead could pay or do volunteer work. Giving people that extra chance is something that we’re looking at.”
Over the summer, Juma has helped to assemble the country’s largest orientation party, Carnaval, which wraps Sept. 14. The 10-day phenomenon fêted Concordia’s cultural diversity with theme days ranging from “Easter Infusion” to “Wild West,” and featured performances by hip hop virtuoso Wyclef Jean, Canadian chart-toppers Mobile and Zuruba, a “65-person ensemble with violinists, dancers and flame throwers.”
The CSU wields a budget of nearly $1.5 million. With the “expansion of the CSU financial realm” whereby affiliates like the CSU Advocacy Centre now receive student-mandated funding, Juma added that “we’re working to make sure that there are as many checks and balances as possible to ensure transparency.”
Though his nearly $20,000-per-year salary is pegged to a 25-hour workweek, he’s been putting in 60 to 70 plus. That means his book collection (he owns some 900 titles and is fascinated by the history of the petroleum industry) and gourmet French cooking (he is a trained chef) have been put on the back shelf for now, but he said that for students, it’s worth it.
“My motivation was once to get out there and to make this profound difference. Now, I’ve also realized the importance of informing students about the education we will use for the rest of our lives,” he said.
“These are some of the best years, and the ability to encounter challenges presented during our time at university presents an incredible opportunity for growth.”