Presidential Rumble: Renzella vs. Mazereeuw
Q: How are you going to increase awareness of the FSU on campus and in the community?
A: “In the community I have a bit of a relationship with Anne-Marie DeCicco and her staff and I can use that to breakthrough with a relationship in the community. Within the College, posters do not work very well, but street teams maybe with the class representatives going around campus would work better.”
Q: Do you feel Ontario colleges are receiving enough funding from the provincial government?
A: “Seventy per cent of all fees are covered by the government, and I have found personally paying $8000 a year is not that bad, but I think we can always push for more funding however I find it difficult to complain that they are paying 70 per cent. If the students want more money then I am all for lobbying for it.”
Q: How many kinds of beer are on tap at the Out Back Shack?
A: “I wouldn't even know, although I know they have local, import, and Canadian.”
Q: With the various incidents occurring off-campus involving violence, drinking, and partying, how will you help create a positive image for Fanshawe students in the community of London?
A: “There are a lot of volunteer opportunities within the community and opportunities that we can create at the College, an example that I would like to implement would be reading to children and possibly bringing the children on campus to do so. I know a lot of programs require volunteering hours as well.”
Q: In the wake of the career fair incident involving an arrested protesting student, do you feel protesting should be allowed on campus by students?
A: “I don't have a problem with protesting, but the protesting should be brought about in a way that is not going to be creating physical conflicts or permission conflicts, as long as the people go through the right avenues, then I have no problem with it.”
Q: What will be your biggest task for next year if elected as president?
A: “The main thing I want to do is get to know as many students as possible personally, then I will know how to help them and work through things with them. I am very family oriented, I want to make sure that when they come here, I want them to have a family type experience here.”
Q: How would you have handled the issue of the fence being erected around the campus, specifically in the area along Second Street?
A: “Had the College informed the Student Union, we could have informed the students, but they did not do this. With the fence issue the best way to handle it is to react, and the best way to handle it is not to get angry at the College, but ask them what the purpose of the fence was.”
A: “My calves, I like my calves.”
Q: What do you feel are the best attributes of your competing presidential candidate and how would they make a good choice for president?
A: “Travis is easy going, and he likes to have fun, he has good relations with people, and he is well versed.”
Q: What leadership style will you bring if elected as president?
A: “The way I like to lead is to increase student involvement with council activities. I like to have a vision, and work it out with a team, and then delegate who will get it done.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Colleges new marketing campaign and do you feel it represents Fanshawe students accurately?
A: “It does not necessarily represent Fanshawe students accurately, considering it is such a diverse body. But have they hit a younger demographic and found something that is eye catching and appealing to a younger demographic? Definitely. I think it is a great campaign but I know it has offended some people.”
Q: Name as many specials at the Oasis as you can?
A: “I don't have much money and I bring my food from home, but I know they have a pasta alfredo but other then that I don't know.”
Q: What are your thoughts on Fanshawe security possibly given ‘Special constable authority” on campus?
A: “It is not necessary. The police are out here anyway, and they are always over here for various reasons. I understand why they want it, but they want it only for a few situations, and I don't know if it is worth giving it to them for those few situations.”
Q: What do you feel was current president, Christine Thomson's best accomplishment from this past year, and conversely what did she handle the worst and how would you have handled it differently?
A: “She knows how to run events, and make sure that all the details are taken care of, and making sure people walk away with a positive experience. All the events she runs are planned very well and accommodates everyone… Her emotions, every once in a while a decision would be made on her emotions.”
Q: Where are the other campuses for Fanshawe College?
A: “Strathroy, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Simcoe, and Continuing Education at Galleria Mall, and I think that is it.”
Travis Mazereeuw
Q: How are you going to increase awareness of the FSU on campus and in the community?
A: “In the past we have tried things like posters, and giveaways, some of the best ideas we have had were pub nights and other entertaining nights. In terms of awareness, it should be a team effort and finding out what students need. Increasing awareness is a big issue that I want to work on for sure.”
Q: Do you feel Ontario colleges are receiving enough funding from the provincial government?
A: “Ontario receives the least amount of funding in all of Canada, so I do not believe so. Chris Bentley, being in London has been great, he is a very nice person and he wants people to speak up. In short, yeah we do need more money.”
Q: How many kinds of beer are on tap at the Out Back Shack?
A: “I guarantee J.P did not know that one, but on tap I'll say six.”
Q: With the various incidents occurring off-campus involving violence, drinking, and partying, how will you help create a positive image for Fanshawe students in the community of London?
A: “One of my main campaign points is that I want to create a better experience and positive atmosphere on campus, so students do not feel the need to resort to violence and drink irresponsibly. I want to create a friendlier environment, and get people more willing to talk to other people, but once again we are in College, and its going to happen, it is all about how you handle it and where you go from it.”
Q: In the wake of the career fair incident involving an arrested protesting student, do you feel protesting should be allowed on campus by students?
A: “I do not think it should be a free for all, I think every student has the right to express their opinion, not just in school but in their entire lives. I am a supporter of listening to students and if that is the only way they feel that they can be heard. In that incident alone, there is a lot of grey matter, but I do not disagree with students having the right to express their opinions as long as it is not violent and not hurting anyone else.”
Q: What will be your biggest task for next year if elected as president?
A: “To make the FSU bigger and better then it already is. This organization has great potential and we are only able to climb and grow from where we are. My main goal is to make students enjoy their time at Fanshawe, and when they look back, say Fanshawe was an amazing school and a good choice.”
Q: How would you have handled the issue of the fence being erected around the campus, specifically in the area along Second Street?
A: “We did discuss this issue at council, but it was clear that it was not run by us that there would not be any openings for students but you have to go through the College on things like that. I don't blame the students for taking affirmative action, and I think it is great that students actually voiced there opinion but it is destruction of property and I can't say I support that.”
Q: In relation to the ‘Best buns' competition recently held at a Forwell Hall Nooner, which one of your body parts would you select to display in a similar type of competition?
A: “My left knee.”
Q: What do you feel are the best attributes of your competing presidential candidate and how would they make a good choice for president?
A: “J.P is very kind, a great listener, and very dedicated.”
Q: What leadership style will you bring if elected as president?
A: “I believe in a strong leadership position but not in an overbearing one. I believe in friendliness, openness, the ability to communicate, and have open communication throughout all channels and most of all vocally working things out. It is very key that decisions are made as a whole and not as an individual.”
Q: What are your thoughts on the Colleges new marketing campaign and do you feel it represents Fanshawe students accurately?
A: “Tons of complaints, but we have had a lot of compliments. We have to look at it from the Colleges stand point, they want to make money and if this is the best way that high school students can relate to Fanshawe then I don't blame them. It is hard to represent the entire student population because we have such a diverse campus.”
Q: Name as many specials at the Oasis as you can?
A: “Taco Tuesday, roast beef dinner, sloppy joe, Chinese dinner, chicken ranch burgers, perogies, and fried chicken.”
Q: What are your thoughts on Fanshawe security possibly given ‘Special constable authority” on campus?
A: “Although I may not agree with everything that Fanshawe security does, I agree that security is needed but I feel the law should be left in the hands of the London Police.”
Q: What do you feel was current president, Christine Thomson's best accomplishment from this past year and conversely what did she handle the worst and how would you have handled it differently?
A: “Christine is an amazing president, she is a real inspiration, she is very open and accepting and she has done great things for the Student Union, and the best thing she has done is create better relations with College administration… Although Christine was very effective in her job she could have spent more time sitting and talking to just random students, maybe more time in the halls.”
A: “St. Thomas, Galleria, and Tillsonburg.”
