The election for 2020 Okanagan Student Board of Governors Representative is currently underway with three hopeful candidates aiming to establish themselves as the next voice representing the Okanagan campus.

Here is the information about each of the three candidates:

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Jassim Naqvi:

Hello everyone! My name is Jassim Naqvi and I am the current UBC Board of Governors Student representative for UBC Okanagan. I have been a Senator-at-Large for the Okanagan campus for the past two years and have worked closely with the UBCSUO and the UBC Okanagan administration on a vast number of student-related and governance-related items.

The Board of Governors (BoG) are UBC’s highest non-academic governing body. BoG deals with the financial operations of UBC as well as internal administrative operations (more at bog.ubc.ca). Some of my key highlights in 2019-2020 included being meticulously involved in our DVC Appointment Advisory Committee, assisted in bringing in $4M to UBCO to support indigenous and graduate students, and raised urgent concerns regarding the acute UBC Okanagan academic space shortfall to name a few.

UBC Okanagan faces an unprecedented time of severe shortfalls in student funding, academic space and student resources compared to UBCV. At this moment, my institutional memory, strong working relationships and deep understanding of UBC Policy and Governance allows me to keep the voice for our campus raised effectively in a time where we absolutely need it. Having successfully hit my core sustainability, communication and student legacy targets as campaigned for last year (Let’s chat about them on Messenger or email me at jassim.naqvi@ubc.ca!), I see it as my responsibility to further advance the needs, priorities and interests of UBC Okanagan students. For more information, visit facebook.com/senatornaqvi.

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Quinn Krahn:

I am proud that I cut my own hair and that I use a flip phone. Doing these things may seem insignificant but for me they are milestones in my journey toward achieving self-efficacy and intentionality. Prompting and pursuing these traits cradles my desire to run for student representative. Through my university experience I have struggled with my identity and my worth. I have had to work hard to achieve the grades I’ve received, and I have had to work harder to find and maintain a social cohort that supports and motivates me. My intention is that I will not be considered for this position because of my qualifications/achievements. Rather, I want to be considered because I believe I can represent the majority of students that have struggled and will struggle to find meaning and purpose in their education. I want to represent my peers as a student that cuts his own hair because it reminds him that he is capable; that uses a flip phone because it reminds him that he can be intentional. I am fascinated with all faculties and am driven in my own personal pursuits to promote mental health in the future. I have had experiences that would make me successful still, these ambitions don’t make me a good candidate. What does, is my ability to understand and empathize with the needs of my peers. I have worked hard to become an efficacious and intentional person; I hope I can make it easier for others.

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Keyvan Khadem:

We the engineering students at UBCO have had ample opportunities in the past few weeks to analyze the aims and objectives of the various competitors in the upcoming election. Mr. Khadem's honest and practical approach sets him apart from the other candidates. He has shown great concern for the students and their thirst for knowledge and their advancement in this institution, and his willingness to listen to students' problems is commendable. We are writing today to show our support for his campaign for the 2020 election. It is our intention to vote for him and support him through his journey before and after the election. We will also spread the word about his abilities and competence. We are confident that through his service to UBCO he can assist this institution to progress every day.

In addition to his candidate information, Keyvan was also able to answer a few questions:

What are your plans/goals if you are elected as student board of governors representative?

To create a true bridge between students and the board of governors. I have noticed that students feel so distant from the board of governors and the decisions and the policies made by them. Some of the students actually believe their voice has no importance in their decisions and policies. Therefore it is my goal to break that gap and allow students to voice their concerns regardless of how big or small their concerns are — to give voice to all that needs to be heard.

What motivated you to participate in this election?

I am a Civil Engineering student and I am passionate about my studies and my future. I can see many years ahead of me of how I can use my education to serve humanity. However, when I am interacting with some students I feel they only see themselves as a student number in this institution. They see education only as obtaining a degree and receiving a piece of paper at the end. I believe “human being is a mine, rich in gems of inestimable values and education alone can reveal these gems”. I think every student is that mine and I want them to believe in themselves and in their dreams which eventually got them to attend UBCO. My everyday motivation is to serve the students to come to UBCO and love their education and be inspired by their lectures and the environment that they’re discovering their minds and talents.

Any issues facing UBCO students/campus that you wish to address?

Some of the issues are tuition fees that are being raised 2% annually. The other matter is the quality of lectures and policies made around exams and tutorials. The main concern is that UBC is considered  “a place of mind,” but if a mind is distracted with financial problems, exam pressure and the low quality of lectures, will there be any space left for creativity and discovery?

Why do you believe you should be the next student board of governors representative?

I believe whoever truly believes that can serve students and this institution for its betterment should be the next student board of governors representative. I want students to get to know me, email me and ask me direct questions and voice their concerns in order to see that my only intention is their best interest. I have my own family, business, and many other international responsibilities, but I choose to serve as student representative to the board of governors because I believe students are the treasures of every nation and these treasures should be safeguarded because true education is a wing to human’s life.

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To vote for a Board of Governors Representative candidate, visit the SSC and go to the “Grades and Record” menu and select “Webvote.” Voting closes on Friday, March 6 at 4:00 p.m. and all students are eligible to vote.