CSU presidential candidate Ralph Lee says he will promote the interests of all students, with a student’s agenda, by leaving his political beliefs at the door.
A Montreal native and deeply involved with the Concordia Student Safety Patrol, Lee feels that students have been alienated and misrepresented by the current student union and wants to have an agenda that will have the student’s best interest.
“I am deeply committed to stay in touch in with students, this is not an empty promise. I am not a leftist or a rightist. I have a student’s agenda,” said Lee.
Lee believes that he can work with all students with different interests and that he can accomplish this by setting up a mechanism or a committee to talk to students. Moreover, he wants to set up workshops for students and potential employers so that students can find a job after graduation.
“Our union was hijacked by leftists and they have been pursuing their own personal agenda. My executive will park their personal ideologies at the door and deal with issues that matter for students,” added Lee.
The candidate said that he got his idea for his platform by talking to students in many different departments and programs. “I have seen what the CSU has done and by talking to the students I have come up with good solid ideas.”
Here are some points of Lee’s platform: for the executives to take pay cuts, work with the administration in a constructive way and to de-politicize the union.
Lee wants to cut the salary of the executives from $14,000 to about $1,000 to $1,500. The balance would be given to students who volunteer their time to Concordia community as financial grants. An impartial committee would be set up to choose the candidates.
Another aspect that Lee is striving for is to work more constructively with the administration and to stop the confrontation. “I want to have a more diplomatic relationship with the administration, not one that is antagonistic, like you see in high school.”
“It is unwise to take sides on political issues,” said Lee. Not only does he not want to not take sides, but he also wants to de-politicize the CSU. Lee believes that it is not the mandate of the a union to take up political issues and that it will take a while for this to be reversed.
Lee chose his slate because he knows what their strengths are. “They have strong diverse skills that complement each other.”
As for his own experience, Lee believes that by working out in the world and then returning to school will enable him to bring a certain kind of experience to the job as CSU president.
A Montreal native and deeply involved with the Concordia Student Safety Patrol, Lee feels that students have been alienated and misrepresented by the current student union and wants to have an agenda that will have the student’s best interest.
“I am deeply committed to stay in touch in with students, this is not an empty promise. I am not a leftist or a rightist. I have a student’s agenda,” said Lee.
Lee believes that he can work with all students with different interests and that he can accomplish this by setting up a mechanism or a committee to talk to students. Moreover, he wants to set up workshops for students and potential employers so that students can find a job after graduation.
“Our union was hijacked by leftists and they have been pursuing their own personal agenda. My executive will park their personal ideologies at the door and deal with issues that matter for students,” added Lee.
The candidate said that he got his idea for his platform by talking to students in many different departments and programs. “I have seen what the CSU has done and by talking to the students I have come up with good solid ideas.”
Here are some points of Lee’s platform: for the executives to take pay cuts, work with the administration in a constructive way and to de-politicize the union.
Lee wants to cut the salary of the executives from $14,000 to about $1,000 to $1,500. The balance would be given to students who volunteer their time to Concordia community as financial grants. An impartial committee would be set up to choose the candidates.
Another aspect that Lee is striving for is to work more constructively with the administration and to stop the confrontation. “I want to have a more diplomatic relationship with the administration, not one that is antagonistic, like you see in high school.”
“It is unwise to take sides on political issues,” said Lee. Not only does he not want to not take sides, but he also wants to de-politicize the CSU. Lee believes that it is not the mandate of the a union to take up political issues and that it will take a while for this to be reversed.
Lee chose his slate because he knows what their strengths are. “They have strong diverse skills that complement each other.”
As for his own experience, Lee believes that by working out in the world and then returning to school will enable him to bring a certain kind of experience to the job as CSU president.
