Sabrina Stea

Concordia has not seen a female presidential candidate for CSU elections in several years. This year, the university finally has one running, and she is making herself known all around campus.
Sabrina Stea is in her fourth year at Concordia studying Drama for Human Development and is acting president for the Fine Arts Student Alliance.
The 23-year-old Fine Arts student decided to run in the election because she saw an overall lack of communication in the university. She said this lack of communication lies between the students and administration as well as between the students and the CSU. “There is no consolidation of voices,” she said.
She wants to build a stronger sense of community and create channels between students, administration and the CSU to improve the communication problem. “I value the fact that Concordia has a student union, a union that will fight for the rights of students and promote those rights,” she said.
Stea and the rest of her executive team, known to poster readers as ACCESS, formed their group through a process of consultation after meeting with many students who showed interest in running.
She said their VP of finance was there to help clear things up with the CSU fraud. Stea herself is already an acting president for FASA and is on the board of governors of the university. She has also been a part of several different committees and university bodies.
Along with the combined experience of the entire group, ACCESS was able to see the issues that affect students and make them part of their platform.
The ACCESS perspective is one that realizes that the CSU is a resource for students. Their aim is to make the CSU an easily accessible space for students. They want to create student incentives for those who are busy with school and work, but still make time to be active members of the university. This would include credit substitutions, tuition reduction and student day-care. They would also like to create a student foundation that gives grants and bursaries.
Concordia is known for it’s poor bursary program, there are few given and they are small in amount. “Tuition is a barrier to education,” Stea said. She explained that other universities give better bursaries and that can sway students in their decision to come to Concordia.
ACCESS would also like to create a student co-op that would lower the cost of textbooks. “It’s a very feasible idea,” she added.
Stea said all these ideas are within reach if the communicaton lines remain open. The CSU has been active in defending student rights but by doing so, has left some students feeling alienated. Stea explained that students are happy to get results but at the same time “they are being considered without being consulted.”
ACCESS will be able to identify what issues students are facing along with what hinders community growth on campus with a position on the executive known as the VP outreach. The VP outreach makes sure that student input is sought. This is done through meetings, pamphlets and communicating with student groups.
Stea said she has received feedback from both men and women who “appreciate the fact that a woman is running.” Single parents have also mentioned how interested they are in the idea of a student day-care.
Stea made it very clear that she values all the members of ACCESS, with their different academic backgrounds ranging from political science and psychology to languages, women’s studies and creative writing.
Stea said they wouldn’t be running if they didn’t feel qualified. “We are committed and that essentially makes us good candidates,” she added. Stea hopes that students realize they will be voting for the entire team and not just her. “It’s a big commitment, it’s a dedication that we all have. It’s not about personal interest, it’s about being committed to students. I’m not doing this to pad my C.V.”

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