Team CHR ready for tall order

Team CHR presidential candidate Safiah Chowdhury, ArtSci ’11, vice-president (operations) candidate Ben Hartley, ArtSci ’10, and vice-president (university affairs) candidate Chris Rudnicki, ArtSci ’11, have some big ideas when it comes to what they would do for Queen’s if they had an unlimited budget.

“Giraffes on campus,” Chowdhury said.

“A giraffe parade every year,” Hartley said.

“No; a giraffe parade everyday,” Rudnicki said. “They said ‘Unlimited.’”

Chowdhury, Hartley and Rudnicki joke around easily or, as Rudnicki says, they “really click personally.”

“Team CHR is comprised of people with very different backgrounds academically and socially and we bring that diversity to the team to better represent student interests,” Rudnicki said, adding that the three teammates have been heavily involved in different areas of the AMS, Queen’s and their home communities.

Chowdhury is the AMS human rights deputy this year, the Religious Issues Committee chair in 2008-09 and an AMS Social Issues Commission first-year intern in 2007-08. She was also an executive member of the Queen’s University Muslim Students’ Association (QUMSA) and a CFRC programmer. In 2008-09, Chowdhury was a Gael for Arts and Science Frosh Week.

Hartley said he’s a student director on the AMS Board of Directors.

“I complained for two years about the AMS wasting my money so I decided to roll up my sleeves and get involved,” he said.

Hartley said he was a research assistant with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations and has also worked as a community organizer in North Vancouver, B.C.

Rudnicki was the editor in chief of Syndicus magazine until he resigned in December. He was on Arts and Science Orientation Committee in 2009 and is also the AMS’s clubs manager this year. He also chaired the Journal’s board of directors until taking a leave for the campaign.

Chowdhury said she thinks the AMS is critical to student life at Queen’s.

“Students should be able to see themselves reflected in administrative decisions, because of the advocating of student government,” she said.

Hartley said he thinks the AMS should provide tangible benefits to students who aren’t interested in campus politics.

“It shouldn’t just be a place where those who are naturally inclined to student government simply go,” he said.

One of team CHR’s campaign promises is to implement solar panels on the 35,000 square meters of appropriate roof space of University buildings, such as Victoria Hall.

“While we won’t be fully solar powered, our energy costs will decrease by eight to 10 per cent,” she said.

The solar panels will generate income for the University through the Ontario Power Authority Feed-in Tariff program (FIT), which gives Queen’s money in exchange for feeding back into the power grid, she said.

Chowdhury said the panels could be implemented at no cost if an external company rents the roof space for the solar panels. If this path is taken, the University won’t receive the FIT payments for the first eight to 12 years.

The University could also purchase the panels itself. This option would cost $20 million but would generate enough income to break even within eight to 10 years, Chowdhury said.

“Our team will advocate that this is a really awesome opportunity we should start on right away,” she said.

Team CHR also plans to introduce swipe cards and debit to the Common Ground.

Chowdhury said the swipe cards, which will cost about $200 to buy in bulk, would be paid for through the Common Ground operating budget. The equipment cost is negligible, she added.

“We believe the extra convenience will increase sales and so it will be immediately covered,” she said. “It’s about time for the Common Ground to support different payment options to make it a competitive service.”

Chowdhury said, if elected, the team would introduce kosher and halal food options at the Common Ground.

Team CHR also plans to create new jobs for students on campus.

For example, engineering students could work on the solar panel project or fine arts students could be hired to beautify the Queen’s Centre, she said.

“We’re looking into having those funded through Physical Plant Services, the administration or a work study from the Ontario government,” she said, adding that the University of Toronto has done this.

Team CHR is also mindful of the less attractive aspects of the AMS and the University.

Chowdhury said the first term of the 2008-09 academic year was difficult for her because of Islamophobic incidents that occurred at Queen’s and in Kingston.

“While that was tough, the outpouring of support given to QUMSA was phenomenal and my best friends at Queen’s today, I met through that process,” she said. “It provided me with a lot of self growth.” In spite of the difficult moments, team CHR is enthusiastic about what Queen’s has to offer, Hartley said.

“I come from a low-income background and going to the castle [the Bader International Study Centre] was a dream and not a practical reality because of the cost,” he said.

Hartley said he chose Queen’s because he was offered a scholarship to study at Herstmonceux Castle.

“I never expected to get the opportunities that Queen’s has provided me,” Hartley said. “I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed my undergrad as much at any another school.”

For Team CHR’s full platform, visit votechr.com.