As the snow melts, UNBC’s Graduate Student Society (NBCGSS) membership is electing its Board of Directors. Offering CFURadio their perspective on this is Behrouz (Bruce) Danesh. The 2024 UNBC Valedictorian was a past undergraduate student society Director, and a current NBCGSS Grant Administration Assistant. He brings his perspective as a former Director in the NBCGSS to the conversation, reflecting on a busy year which included the resolution of a pending BC Human Rights Tribunal complaint lodged against the society in 2021.
Looking ahead, the society’s candidates hope to strengthen policy, increase transparency, host inclusive events, and strengthen connections with UNBC to leverage resources that the institution provides, particularly when it comes to employee training. EDI orientations offered by UNBC have become integral to new part-time staff employed at the society, the number of which has increased over the past year.
In retrospect, after becoming one of the society’s part-time staff, Danesh mentions the benefits of having more than a sole Executive Director (ED) hired, citing burnout prevention, on-campus employment opportunities, and protecting institutional knowledge as an asset.
What he can specifically speak to, in terms of what awaits future Directors, is some of the grants coming to the society. A NBCGSS Food bank is one of those things with assistance from Food Banks BC, PHABC, and the United Way. This, along with the streamlining of numerous society operations with AI through a MITACS grant, and perhaps a MITACS assisted modernization of accounting procedures.
While there is a lot for NBCGSS members to look forward to, their electoral candidates have platforms available in every members @UNBC.ca domain email account, with included voting instructions. Elections occur March 25th to 27th, with results announced by email and whatsapp, on Monday March 30th.
For any inquiries regarding the election process, please contact gssadmin@unbc.ca.
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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