Meet the 2024 KSA general election candidates

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Next week, the Kwantlen Student Association’s annual general election is taking place. Students will be able to vote on Feb. 14 and 15 from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm. In-person voting will be the only voting method available to students, which will take place on each Kwantlen Polytechnic University campus. 

Details about how to vote in-person and accommodations for those who are unable to do so are currently unavailable. The Runner will provide updates as soon as information becomes available. 

Twenty-six positions are available on council, which aim to serve the needs of all KPU students. 

There are five campus representative positions, one per campus. In order to run for this position, a candidate must be taking at least one class on the campus they’re running for or did in the previous semester, or live in the city of the campus representative position they are running for. 

There are seven constituency representative positions, which include students of colour, queer, international students, women, Indigenous, disabilities, and mature. A candidate must self-identify as a member of the constituency they are running for. 

There are 14 faculty representative positions — five for business, three for arts, two for science and horticulture, and one for community and health studies, design, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Candidates running for these positions must be registered in the faculty they’re running for. 

Elected candidates will start their term on April 1. The following interviews have been edited for length and clarity. 

 

Surrey Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Prabhjot Rana

MAJOR: Public Relations

Why are you running for this position?

It’s my fourth semester here, and until now, it’s been one-and-a-half years since I’ve been here. I’ve met plenty of students. I work with them, I am friends with them, and I have seen people, how they are stressed about their studies, work, and everything. I have many things that I can do for students who know me.

Domestic and international students are different in colleges because the fee structure is different. How it’s different is after one year, the university raises the fees for domestic and international students differently.

There is a cap for domestic students that is two per cent that the university can only raise the percentage of total fees. But for international ones, there is no cap. Sometimes they may rise at three per cent, sometimes they rise at four per cent, so it creates a financial drain for them, and they’re not mentally prepared for how much of our fees we should collect and gather. It creates problems in their structures and how they’re running.

I want to take sports to another level. There are many sports enthusiasts of games that KPU doesn’t give concern about like football and cricket. There’s no real cricket ground we have to play or to train students. They go to other parks and then they play there, but we should have a ground and we should have items, we should have things so they can be more motivated.

Why should students vote for you?

I have gained much of a social image until now. There are many friends of mine who motivated me, who pushed me to contest for this election. They see the leadership quality I have.

Back in my home country, I was in student politics. I have graduated from a college, and I was president three years in a row there by contesting proper elections. And they see a spirit in me, and I see spirit in their motivation. These two things are enough that can work positively if I win, or if students vote for me, these things are enough. So they can trust me. I will vote for better change.

What would you like to change about the KSA?

If I’m winning, I would be expecting to be a vice president or president because I’m contesting a big seat, a hot seat. If I’m winning it, I’m expecting that. So I want to make that equal, like every council member is a council member. The responsibilities are the same, the work, the meetings, everything is the same, so I want to make that equal.

There should be no differences in between. Yes, if you’re standing for Richmond, that’s a sideline campus. I want to make everyone equal. Every council member and executive member are together. They can work remotely, brightly to get their students stress free and a good study environment.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

If I win, right after it, I will start my work on which promises I’m standing for. Outsiders are the biggest issue today. Security officers and the workers are fed up with them because they’re creating an uncomfortable environment for students.

If six or seven outsiders are standing at Tim Hortons or Grassroots Cafe, some students feel uncomfortable with them because they talk and laugh loudly, and they don’t care because they don’t study here. They don’t care about professors. So I will work remotely and accountability with KSA and KPU organizations to ban them properly.

After day one, I will start my work and positively affect that aura with the things I will be doing. That accountability will be seen by everyone. 

 

Cloverdale (Tech) Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Jeremy Law

MAJOR: Mathematics 

Why are you running for this position? 

I heard from a lot of students at KPU Tech about how sometimes people feel isolated or excluded when a lot of events don’t go out to this campus, or when they don’t feel like they’ve been heard. On council, there’s often been people who don’t really know the realities of this campus, they’re not represented adequately. 

I want to bring more light to a lot of these amazing students we have on campus, and reflect on how education should be accessible and affordable. Over the years, I’ve realized that I want to be spending my time in meaningful action towards the community and something that I care about. Having a rep who is willing to contribute and have that time is so worth it. 

Why should students vote for you? 

I have experience not only advocating for students, but also navigating a lot of the internal processes like how to get a decision from an idea to an actual bylaw change. For example, I came up with the idea of keeping student reps accountable by having mandatory attendance and rules around being at those meetings to show they’re dedicated. 

Most of my courses were at KPU Tech. If I were to be elected, I want to bring more vibrancy to the campus. I want to do game nights to combat loneliness for students, and it’s also a fun way to unwind. I’ve heard a lot of students want KPU beer brought to the campus, just allow them to purchase it. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

The KSA should be for and representing students. A lot of the ways to participate should be accessible. I want to make it more inclusive and accessible by breaking down that barrier in language in KSA meetings. If a student showed up, and wanted to know what’s going on, they would be able to digest most of the information. Creating this accessible attendance for students invites more welcoming spaces for students and shows a strong power to knowledge. 

Students should also have access to minutes, reports, and documents to know what’s going on and how the ideas could better contribute to the existence of the organization. I also want to do drop in hours on all the campuses. Instead of having students having to come to the Surrey campus, we bring council to other campuses. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I’ll always be open to getting an email from a student, open to discussing any challenges or solutions. There’s not one way that I would not want students to reach me. In the past, I’ve always put my passion, my whole heart in my role. I showed up at meetings, conferences, at places to make sure that I represent and fight for students. 

 

Langley Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Jashanpreet Singh Sekhon (Incumbent Langley Campus Rep/VP of Student Life)

MAJOR: General Studies 

Why are you running for this position? 

I think there are some changes that haven’t been made in the previous year because things take time. So I want to re-run because I already know what the KSA is and I can work better than someone new. It takes time to learn things.

Why should students vote for you? 

It is better for them. I am here to work for students and I have already worked a year for them. It will be easier for me than a new guy who takes the position because it takes almost three to four months to learn about the KSA. I have attended the CASA conferences, so it is easier for me to be the representative.

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I have done a lot of things for academic integrity. Students have been suspended without any issues sometimes because they have to present in a group for their classes and often face suspension due to violating integrity in their projects. Mainly the international students run into this problem, that’s why I work for them. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I am already accountable to the students as the vice president student life. Everything is in front of them and they can easily look up the minutes from the KSA website and check what I have worked for and how many meetings I have attended.

 

Students of Colour Representative (1 Position Available)

Ishant Goyal 

MAJOR: Entrepreneurial Leadership

Why are you running for this position? 

I am someone who has been interested in improving student life. My journey started in 2018. I’m a Langara college graduate where I was a part of the Education Council. I built up on my experience at KPU on Board of Governors (BOG), mingled with the higher administration, and learned everything from rules and policies to bylaws. I was also elected last year to the Senate so now I think I bring in a really key perspective, from the academic and policy side. The BOG handles property, revenue, business, all that stuff that’s off limits for the management. I think that’s what’s really required on the KSA and at the higher level. So I do bring in that lens and I want to be with some lens to the student union too. 

My prior experience on BOG and Senate really brings in the key experience of helping students represent what diversity is and I want to try my best because I already have strong bonds with the management because of my current position as a volunteer on board and Senate. So I think that would be the face and the prime reason for me to run for the students of colour representative and restore the bond between the university and the KSA.

Why should students vote for you? 

For me, change is something that I want to embark on. In my previous roles, one of the key things I really worked on was extending the library hours, which were extended from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm. I worked closely with the university provost for that and we also lowered the CGPA and the term GPA for students. I have also been working with the university about student life and been a key advocate for having lower raises in tuition policy. We have been talking to the president and the university since the previous year, the fee raise was 2 per cent for domestic and for international students but if you look at other institutions, they reflect a higher amount. 

As a senior student, I bring in a key perspective and I also have experience of working in the university as a peer tutor at the library. So I do know when students come in for services what they want from me. I also had the opportunity of working as a student assistant in the future student’s office, so I know what resources a new student needs and what they are looking for. I’m also working as a student assistant and mentor in the international peer mentorship program and have a lot of things going on. For me, bringing in that much experience really helps elevate me over other candidates, and then build up the KSA to a certain level. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I’ll be honest, I think that’s a bit of a black and grey area. I would not comment on something specific, but for me, the primary focus would be on what can be done to restore that bond so the university can trust us because we are equal partners. What I really have been advocating for is more financial aid, scholarships, awards, bursaries, for students, and talking to the university to see what is the need of the time. This might not fall under my students of colour portfolio, but I want to address student food insecurity. That’s really needed because of inflation right now people aren’t able to eat healthy meals. I want to revive the program and work with the university to address everything. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I will do whatever is the need and the desire of the time for students and work on the financial side, and on food insecurity. In my experience at KPU, it’s not that we lack resources, it’s about making those resources available so the students know about them. I feel like mentorship is something that is lacking. I think students should be given mentorship because I mentor students and get new mentees every semester but my previous mentees still contact me. I have to help them out because I feel good, it’s not my duty, but I do it out of passion. Also universalizing resources, where people can really go to a resource centre or resource coordinator, to rely on, to know where to go, and what to do. So whatever is the need of the time and what students need is going to be my primary goal always. 

 

Students with Disabilities Representative (1 Position Available)

Lesli Sangha

MAJOR: Business

Why are you running for this position? 

I decided to re-run for re-election as the students with disabilities rep because I am an experienced leader that was in this role in 2022, and I would love to continue the work I started in the past for students with disabilities. During my term, I had added myvirtualdoctor and mylegalplan for students to address the challenges students were having. I believe this shows I have students’ best interest at heart. 

I love talking with students and guiding them to resources on campus and in our local community. Many students encouraged me to run because they want to see a KSA that is transparent, and cares about making the information they share accessible. 

Why should students vote for you? 

I’m a passionate student leader that got results. I changed a KPU policy, navigated getting benefits, advocated for testing, and improved grant funding. I can find solutions to problems, and I’m someone who seeks to actually listen to what barriers are preventing students from accessing education. I’m running because I want to highlight the resources that are there for students with disabilities and help them navigate the journey to get the help they need. People are a diverse mix of identities, so you need an intersectional lens to address it. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I want to bring the KSA student executives and council members to Tim Hortons and Grassroots where students gather to have meaningful discussions, hear what students have to say, and learn about the barriers or issues they’re experiencing. 

I want to make it easier for students to know what resources the KSA offers that can benefit them. I plan to make the website more accessible so it’s easier for students to find all the resources the KSA has to offer their student members. I have advocated to make the website more accessible in the past, but there’s still so much more work that can be done such as integrating spoken audio into the website, adding more contrasting colours, and improving the ease of finding information on the drop-down menus. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I am someone who loves to chat, and students love food. So I would love to meet with them at Grassroots to learn about their life as a KPU student and what’s important to them. In my past two terms, I provided committee reports about my active responsibilities, and I’ll do the same if re-elected. I’m available by email at lesli.sangha@student.kpu.ca. Students can also find me on Instagram @lesli_studentmentor or @bchealthnews on X. 

 

Women’s Representative (1 Position Available)

Suhana Gill

MAJOR: Political Science 

Why are you running for this position? 

I’m running because I want to empower women, because at KPU we have many girls in a variety of industries, whether that be trades, the arts, and the business program. I want to empower them where they can meet with other women within these fields, so they can connect with them, have a mentor, a good idea of what they’re walking into because it’s so important for women to empower and endorse one another. I’m truly passionate about uplifting other women and empowering them in any industry that they’re going into. 

Why should students vote for you? 

They should vote for me because of change. I believe that the KSA needs a nice change, where we see more diversity, more varieties of events where they can meet with other people and get more involved within school. It’s essential, they’re not only coming to KPU to study, but come here to connect with other students. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

To get it more out there what students have that the KSA offers them. Some more availability of programs that they can go into, and have it known because I believe that students come to KPU and they look at the website, but they don’t have a clear idea of what is truly available to them. I want to make the KSA more out there where students can actually understand what benefits they have at the KSA, what they can do to further their studies, and just have it more accessible to them. We are here to not only help with school, but help the students and it’s important that they connect with each other and with the KSA council. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

Seeking more questions and just listening to students. When you’re a representative, it’s so essential to listen to students and what they have to say in the concerns they have. I believe as a representative for women especially, I would be all ears to them, because we’re supposed to empower, listen, and help raise one another. 

 

Arts Representative (3 Positions Available)

Bhargavi Barot 

MAJOR: Criminology 

Why are you running for this position? 

This is my first semester, I’m learning about the university and how things function here. The reason why I want to be part of the KSA is I want to make sure I can be of some service to the community of my university. I want to give back where I can be a voice between students and the authorities of KPU. I want to make sure that I be the voice of my fellow peers. I can be a reliable medium to communicate things that are hindering them, maybe in their studies, co-curricular activities, or maybe in their life in general. 

I also want to make sure that my skills are of some use to the KSA where I can be closely involved with my fellow peers and I can know them better. With my intellectual ability and my skill abilities, I want to make sure I can make some amendments in the university to make sure that life of the students are as comfortable and smooth as possible. 

Why should students vote for you? 

I’m a teacher at one of the institutions in Surrey and I’m a student here. In both of these positions, I want to make sure that this experience of mine is the best ability to use to my fellow peers where I can understand both scenarios. I want to make sure that everyone’s needs are fulfilled, not only the students, but both sides. I am someone who is always open to any perspective that’s new to me, I’m not someone who is very rigid. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I’m still learning a lot about the KSA, so some of the things which I might change right now would already exist. If I get elected for the arts representative position, I want to make sure that I work with the KSA team closely so that we can make sure that the students’ life is as comfortable as possible. We can be the best help to them by actually taking time to do surveys regarding what things are hindering students. 

I don’t want the students to feel that the members of the KSA are different from them. I want to make sure that they feel that we are from their community and we understand them. We still have that feeling that KSA is a part of us, but I want to make sure that feeling is enhanced. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable for students? 

I would love if students could reach me. They could reach out to me on email, social media, and I’m definitely there on campus. This semester, I’m mostly on the Surrey campus, but I would love to visit different campuses while being in the KSA. 

I would make myself accountable for all the promises that I’ve made and if there’s something that’s lacking from my side, I would definitely love other students to come to me. 

 

Dishika Gour

MAJOR: Criminology 

Why are you running for this position? 

This is my second year at KPU. I came originally from the science faculty, but when I came to the arts, it was a little bit different. Science has more career options or career opportunities, they have great career services and more options, but when I came to transfer to the arts faculty, there wasn’t a broad range for career services. 

When I was studying science, I was so focused on science. But when I came to the arts, I’ve been learning diversity and all that stuff. It’s really engaging, everyone should have a knowledge of culture, different diversity. The primary reason to stand in these elections for me was the gap between KSA and KPU. I don’t know what’s the reason behind that, but I want to make a balance between the KSA and KPU. 

Why should students vote for you? 

When I was a first year student last year, I was a normal student. I was not interested in this stuff. I came here to study, that’s all. But there should be someone who needs to change, because students are the core part of university, they know what’s going good and bad. 

If I were to be elected, I would be focusing on career services like promoting mentorships for political science students and mentorships from KPU alumni. It would be easy for students to connect with the alumni rather than a random person. 

People are more aware about the science and business stream, but students are not really aware about opportunities in arts, so that’s why I really want to have a lot of opportunities in arts because we carry so many subjects. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I would be working on improving the student services which include the career pathways, counselling, and academic resources which will help them to achieve broader goals in the field of arts. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I really love to talk to people, engage with people. That will help me to learn students’ problems, learn about what they really need. I’m always open to take feedback. That will surely help me and allow me to do what I really want to do for the students. 

 

Harmannat Pabla

MAJOR: Psychology

Why are you running for this position? 

I am running for arts representative because initially, I was in a different program, and I switched into arts. But when I look into the program, I see there’s a lot of different categories within the arts program. Everything is just all in the arts program, so it’s hard to look at all the different co-op opportunities. Some areas, like criminology, have a lot of co-op opportunities, whereas psychology doesn’t have half as many. Being in the psychology department, I feel like it’s good to have psychology co-ops or work experience so that students can actually get to know if the field they’re going in is right or maybe they should pick a different major or minor to have a backup option.

Why should students vote for you? 

This is my third semester at KPU and I’ve done a fair share of courses here. I’ve had siblings who went here, and they ran in elections before. So I know how the election process runs. It’s important to have a voice that puts students’ voices forward instead of pushing your own thoughts forward. Even last year on the council, there was only one domestic student and I feel it’s good to have a domestic voice because there is an entire international student perspective on the council, but there is no domestic student perspective. I feel it’s good to have a fair representation of everyone who studies at KPU.

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I believe the main focus is reputation because a lot of things happened in the past elections and councils. I feel the reputation with the KSA and candidates who are running is a little bit off, which reflects on how the candidates are seen by the school authorities and the students itself. I feel it’s important to regain that trust with your students because at the end of the day, you’re there for your peers, for the students, and if they can’t trust you, what’s the point of being in such a position?

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

When people run for elections, they tend to make a lot of promises they can’t fulfill. We’ve seen that in politics and school elections. I feel it’s better for me to stay true to my word and not promise high-end things that I know might not be feasible. So I will stay true to my word, not lie, be truly honest with what I feel, and try to make actual connections rather than ‘woke’ connections. I feel having those actual connections like getting to know people and not just saying, ‘Oh, please vote for me,’ and going away, but actually sitting down and asking students, ‘What do you think can make our program better and what information might you have that we can bring on to the council?’ will help build the program.

 

Jasmine Kaur Kochhar (Incumbent Arts Rep/VP of External Affairs)

MAJOR: Journalism 

Why are you running for this position?

I am running again because I feel there are certain aspects with regard to academics which have not been addressed yet. The last election, we focused more on student life because we had just gotten out of the COVID-19 era. But now it’s more necessary to work more on the academics front so you’re gonna see me again. The faculty of arts is more of a broader spectrum because all other faculties have a limited area of work except for arts because it’s the most broad one where journalism and criminology run parallely. Even students who take up gender studies come from the faculty of arts. So I will aim to enhance more scholarships and bursaries work on academics.

Why should students vote for you? 

I have sustained myself in this position for a year and I’ve achieved some of my goals, but there are still some left. If students still have faith in me they should definitely put my name ahead, again.

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

The KSA needs more discipline and regulatory authorities. Last time we had a bit of a fumble and we learned from it. That’s why I think a year is not enough time because we spent a year just learning, but we can implement it in the year after. We also need more time as a student association because when an executive director is getting changed, we need more stability. If we have some repeated members in the council, they can provide that stability.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

My work last year has proven that I have been available as much as I could. I did not take up any other job, and five days a week I was roaming around the campus. I have also done my best to help students who needed help and came out and spoke to me, and the ones who couldn’t, can contact me. Even as a student, if any help is needed, I’m all here.

 

Business Representative (5 Positions Available)

Gurnoor Kaur (Incumbent Women’s Representative) 

MAJOR: Business Management 

Why are you running for this position? 

There are a lot of things that we need to work on. I wasn’t able to move around and do those things as the women’s representative. But I believe that if I run from my faculty, I can deal with the stuff more rigorously. I am excited because I want to do something for my faculty, that’s why I’m running for the business representative.

Why should students vote for you? 

It’s up to them. But I will try to communicate and interact with them. I feel like I am a confident person and I can bring up their issues to the council. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

There is a lot of stuff, because I have been on the council before. I know we have a lot of bursaries that we need to give to the students in a certain manner. We were dealing with some stuff with arranging a lot of activities on and off campus. But there were some things that KPU was not approving, and some students from other opposition parties were messing up. So that’s why we need to fix those things. We want to bring more active life to KPU and KSA.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I will give my time to the students, KPU, and the KSA. I will be here as much as I can and interact with students and if I’m elected, I will be present for every meeting. We will do some campaigns and ask for feedback about how we are doing and how students are feeling.

 

Jasleen Kaur

MAJOR: Business Administration

Why are you running for this position? 

There was a voice inside me that always motivates me to give back to the community and take up leadership roles. I have been a person who has been really active in KPU, attending all these events. I like connecting with people, talking to them. What motivates me to get a leadership role here at the KSA is why not make KPU a place where people from other universities want to join? What can we do to make this university more livable and more community centered. 

Why should students vote for you? 

The major reason would be that I really care about KPU. I am passionate about making it better, more diverse and inclusive for Indigenous communities or people who are from minorities. My engagement with the community and passion to always contribute and give back makes me deserving for this role. 

If I get this chance to build community, I would like to meet as many people as possible, make their voices heard and contribute to KSA meetings. We all need support, and sometimes people are too scared to ask for help. I would love to serve people and make them heard. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

Recently I talked to the KSA staff, and some of them mentioned how the leadership is not going very smoothly, so I want to make sure that it does. The shuttle bus doesn’t run from Surrey to Civic Plaza campus, there’s small things that we need to take care of. 

I talked to lots of students who are really concerned about not getting into a course in the later years of completing their education because it gets competitive and there’s not a lot of seats. If there was a way to introduce a job placement agency within KPU and if this idea was put forward, that could actually be really impactful. 

I would like to focus more on events, like bringing more influential people and focus on issues that really matter. There’s lots of events that happened where security and safety was compromised, and there were incidents of fights and stuff that creates a bad impression of KPU within the society. There’s lots of issues that we need to take care of. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I will make sure to meet with them on a regular basis. I am a morally, ethical, and responsible person. I’ve always been into studying, and that shows my determination and discipline. Even if I’m not meeting people regularly, it’s the inner desire that motivates me to make better change and promote the wellbeing of everyone.

 

Keerat Goyal

MAJOR: Business Administration

Why are you running for this position? 

I faced several problems in the last one-and-a-half years, and I want to solve them. Especially, there are some courses which are the most upcoming, like business, but they are not still in KPU. I want to bring that to KPU. Stock trading is the biggest business ever, it’s a very big opportunity for students if they get into that.

Why should students vote for you? 

I know the problems of students because I personally faced those problems in KPU. Especially if I want to go into the stock market, there is no course. If I want to go into real estate, there are no courses. Like UBC and all the colleges have that. That’s why I want to bring that to KPU, so students can enroll in courses of a short period, like four months or six months, and they can get help in that.

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I’m not sure about the changes, but definitely I’ll look into that. The major changes are regarding the business problems, which I faced in the academy session last year. I’ll bring the changes, like regarding the issue of academic books, which will be available for more time so students can study it even at home. There, it should stay for three hours in the library, but I want them to be at least for 24 hours, so they can study during their exam time from those books.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I usually listen to, firstly, the problem of the student. I usually interact with people, listen to their point of view, listen to everyone’s point of view, and react according to that. I’m not the person who takes my advantage first. Then, I’ll listen to the problems, and I’ll remain accountable throughout the year. They can even see that.

 

Valerii Nikitin

MAJOR: Business Administration

Why are you running for this position? 

I am running for the business representative position because I’m a business student. I really want to gain experience in this area. I think it’ll be really useful for me after I gain experience to share it with other students.

Why should students vote for you? 

Students should vote for me because I am really disciplined and enthusiastic about businesses. I moved to Canada from Ukraine to study it.

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

I think it’s good, but I feel that it could be more open to allow more people to work at the KSA.  

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I will reflect on my own experiences and how I learn in my classes. I will also think about any changes that my classmates or other students might want and encourage them to bring new ideas to me.

 

Syeda Maria

MAJOR: Marketing Management

Why are you running for this position?

I’m running for this position because, although it is my first year, I am interested in being part of a representation where I get to basically make changes according to the students and fulfill their needs as to what they want the differences to be in these faculties. So I want to work towards making a great change for all the students.

Why should students vote for you?

Students should vote for me because I’m a very strong representative. Even in my time in high school in Canada, I was a part of my own club. I was basically like the CEO, even though it was like a mini, short club that I just started in my last semester. Although I was the president of that club, I was actually a very strong voice for my students. So I would say I would be a very good fit for it.

What would you like to change about the KSA?

I was actually trying to do my research last night and according to the position that I’m running for, a change I was looking for was basically in the major options that are under these faculties. I’m not sure if it really connects with the KSA, but the major options they have in each faculty, I want to bring more differences in it.

Because when I was trying to come into KPU, I was looking at all the majors that were provided over here, and I feel like there were a few that I was trying to go for that were not provided at KPU. But then, I do love this university now that I’m in it, and I’m grateful that I was able to choose my career, but I feel like if there were more options for me to choose from, it would be a great impact for this community.

As of right now, I do see KSA as a very successful community. It’s a very warm environment, and welcoming. So I wouldn’t say there’s any specific change that I would make to it, because I’d say it’s perfect so far right now.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students?

I will remain accountable by making sure the promises I am making right now to the students of making these changes, I want to fulfill them and not back out from it. So now that I’m trying to run for it, I actually want to make these changes rather than just saying it for their votes, but then not fulfilling my promises. I want to make sure I actually fulfill those promises because I’m getting elected.

 

Science and Horticulture Representative (2 Positions Available)

Lakshay Khanna

MAJOR: General Sciences

Why are you running for this position? 

It’s my last semester, and my whole experience with the KPU education and other stuff was pretty phenomenal. But I feel like there is still some room where the university can improve. 

I was talking to previous professors about what problems they and students face, the most common problems. The number of classes in the science field is pretty low, so students have to pick different campuses for different classes. The schedule gets kind of messed up every semester. So I want to make sure that each campus is providing a specific number of classes that caters to the student needs. 

I just want to improve the existing life for the current and upcoming students so they get a better science study experience. 

Why should students vote for you? 

After I graduate, I don’t have the study load that’s going to come in between the work that I’m going to do with students. The other thing is the experience I have already with different professors, I know them pretty well. I’ve had classes in Richmond, Surrey, and online classes. I know the major challenges students face. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

As you might know, there was a huge snow storm that affected transit and the transit strike that went on. What I observed was that when the transit strike was going on, the KSA came up with increasing the service of the shuttle bus. 

If there is a service like that, why can’t it be more frequent? In two years, I’ve never used the shuttle because it never matched my time. I will work on improving the shuttle experience to different campuses, especially to Richmond, because most of my friends and I personally have faced this issue. Students using the shuttle could save potentially 30 to 45 minutes. That time could be utilized anywhere, personal development, work, and studying. 

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

There is a huge responsibility with the position that I’m running for, because I have to represent the faculty on all the KPU campuses. I’m pretty open to criticism. If you ever think I’m getting too comfortable or something, just shoot me a text or shoot me on my social media. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible and listen to the issues you have.

 

Navneet Bhangu

MAJOR: Health Science

Why are you running for this position?

This is my faculty, and I want to work for my faculty to guide other students. I saw many people who are interested in science, but they don’t know how to be involved in it, how to be better in it, so I’d like to help my peers, my friends, and my fellow students here.

Why should students vote for you? 

I have the ability to talk to people. I really like to talk with other people. I really like to listen to other people’s problems, talk to them about it, and find the solutions for it. 

What would you like to change about the KSA? 

More opportunities for volunteer work. I registered for it for months, and I didn’t get an email. So for the volunteer work, and discounts they’re giving, they should promote it because I saw people do get the discount, but I don’t know how to get mine, so I want them to promote things they’re doing for us.

If elected, how will you remain accountable to students? 

I’m very much a student involved with the studies. So I think I will always be in the meetings, talk to the students of my faculty to know their problems, and try to solve them. If they have any problems, I will try to tell the faculty members and the department to solve it and to try to be responsible for them.

 

Candidates unavailable for an interview by press time: 

Note: Some candidates listed only their first name in the All Candidates List. 

Civic Plaza Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Abhi

Aditya Kapoor

Joban Maan

Cloverdale Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Keshav

Yashanpreet Guron

Richmond Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Aryan Kalia

Nitin Agarwal

Shreyash

Surrey Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Naman Bhandari

Prerna

Simranjeet Singh

Vishavjeet Brar

Langley Campus Representative (1 Position Available)

Jaskirat

International Students Representative (1 Position Available)

Harabhijeet Singh (Abhi)

Paramvir Singh Johal

Mature Students Representative (1 Position Available)

Aryan Bansal

Jaskaran Sohal

Manroopbir Sidhu

Queer Students Representative (1 Position Available)

Arnav

Elizabeth Spencer-Spreeuw

Students of Colour Representative (1 Position Available)

Adebayo Adenuga

Arman Bhinder

Students with Disabilities Representative (1 Position Available)

Usha Gunatilake

Women’s Representative (1 Position Available)

Ridhi Aggarwal

Shiromani

Arts Representative (3 Positions Available)

Alisha Mehta

Gurleen Kaur

Manav Samra

Prabhdeep Kaur

Yugveer Gill

Business Representative (5 Positions Available)

Gurdit Singh

Hamraj

Jivan Bajwa

Jobanpreet Singh

Kiranpreet Kaur Khaira

Nagpal

Niharika

Nishant Kapoor

Pala

Shubhkaran Singh

Simranjot Sekhon

Tanbeer Singh

Tanushka Vohra

Tejas Pathania

Yuvraj Bains

Design Representative (1 Position Available)

Levi Okrah

Science and Horticulture Representative (2 Positions Available)

Akashdeep Singh

Bhoomika Seera

Hannadi Jal

Ranveer Singh

There are no candidates for: Indigenous student Rep, health, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement.