CREDIT: SARAH WATTS
Alan Bushell was elected president for the Fanshawe Student Union on March 12 for the 2015-16 school year.

Alan Bushell, current Fanshawe Student Union vice president of athletics and residence life, as won the FSU presidency for the 2015-16 school year with 51.4 per cent of the vote.

In his platform, Bushell says he would focus advocacy; better parking solutions and better Wi-Fi reception on campus; better London Transit Commission bus services; international student issues; and diversity and inclusion, such as bringing First Nations elders to campus.

The Belleville native says he would work with the college to offer “economical deals” when it comes to tuition and affiliated fees.

Another project he wants to focus on is the Health and Wellness Centre, an expansion of the Community Fitness Centre scheduled to open in January 2017 and a project the FSU will be contributing $24 million over 25 years to.

“Basically, when it comes to my platform, it’s largely based on advocacy and continuing with issues for students at large,” Bushell said at the presidential Q&A that was held March 5 in Forwell Hall.

When asked about the biggest issues facing Fanshawe students at the event, he said student issues fall into two categories: accessibility on campus and succeeding.

He said the high cost of post-secondary education, such as tuition fees and parking fees, needs to be addressed. The other major issue is the health and wellness of students, he said. Fanshawe needs to expand such programs. 

“When students are here, they need to be in the right mind set and they need to be fit,” Bushell said.

In his March 4 election speech in Forwell Hall, Bushell said he would also encourage innovation.

“There’s need for new, exciting entertainment events,” he said. “I plan to encourage the entertainment team to take chances and really try to bring diversified activities at Fanshawe.”

“Innovation and things along those lines come from people taking risks and trying their best.”

Other innovative change he says he will bring to campus is a diversified food menu.

“Having something like Chinese or Indian food even just for a daily special would be fun.”

As vice president of athletics and residence life for the 2014-15 school year, Bushell says he completed all of his objectives, maintained all the division’s services and made some new additions to the programs.

His major initiative as Student Administrative Council elect for the School of Information and Technology in the 2013-14 school year was to facilitate Wi-Fi connection on campus, something he said he accomplished. In fall 2015, students will not have to sign in every time students move around the school.

Bushell has sat on budget and policy committees and CSA policy committees.

“I believe my passion and experience will be essential to overseeing such a fantastic group of services.”