KSA approves 2 new clubs for students to join
Meet the leaders of the Hindu Student Association and Sustainability Club
Honey Mathew of the Sustainability Club (left) and Tejas Pathania of the Hindu Student Association (right). (Robert Mumford)
The Kwantlen Student Association recently approved two new student organizations — the Hindu Student Association and the Sustainability Club.
Tejas Pathania, president of the Hindu Student Association (HSA), wrote he founded the association to “establish a supportive community for students interested in Hindu culture and traditions, fostering understanding and awareness within the university environment,” in an email statement to The Runner.
Pathania wrote the club’s goal is to offer a diverse range of events and activities that cater to students’ needs, and they aim to “provide ongoing support and resources for Hindu students throughout their academic journey,” as well as “promote intercultural understanding and collaboration through outreach and educational efforts.”
Pathania, in collaboration with the association’s Vice-President Kartik Palta and Treasurer Tanishq Chotani, plan on organizing cultural celebrations, educational workshops focusing on Hindu traditions, discussions about social issues, and community service initiatives in addition to networking and leadership programs.
The association hopes to organize events for upcoming Hindu festivals such as Krishna Janmashtami, Diwali, and Dussehra. Pathania wrote the club is a welcoming environment for students to engage in and learn about Hindu culture while fostering a supportive sense of community for personal growth.
Students interested in joining the club can email kwantlenhsa@gmail.com or tejas.pathania@student.kpu.ca.
Honey Mathew, president of the Sustainability Club, wrote that Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s commitment to sustainability drew her to the university.
“Upon arriving, I recognized the need for a student club where those pursuing [the] Green Business Management and Sustainability Program, and others passionate about sustainable development, could meet, share perspectives, and build skills for careers in this field,” she wrote in an email statement to The Runner.
The Sustainability Club, with a team of 20 members including Vice-President Karmina Alejandro and Secretary and Treasurer Kavya Saikia, is founded on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The club aims to engage with the university’s sustainability initiatives, celebrate achievements among students, and network with professionals who proactively promote climate and community-focused lifestyles.
“Ultimately, we want to be recognized as the student face of sustainability initiatives at KPU,” she wrote.
The club has many activities planned, which focus on creating a network of sustainability-based professionals, and will include a mix of on-campus and virtual events, Mathew wrote. They also hope to host alumni networking events to help connect students with graduates in the sustainability field.
They have a launch event tentatively scheduled for September, Mathew wrote, which will kick start their series of planned activities.
“We intend to create a comfortable space for students to share their dreams and ideas, not just about professional growth but also about developing sustainable lifestyles,” she wrote.
Students interested in learning more about the Sustainability Club can visit the KSA’s website at kusa.ca/clubs/. They plan to launch a website or social media channel soon.
