by Kiah Gutowski, Séamus Smyth, Lisa Johnson & Carole Dastous
Weal staff and contributors

STUDENTS’ EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Presidential Candidates

Zaheed Khan, aka “Big Z”
Big Z has set his sights on the presidential spot after claiming victory in this past fall’s student legislative council election. Similar to his pseudonym, Z has grand plans if he is to become the head honcho of the SAIT student body. Z is a second-year hospitality and tourism student who describes his campaign as green and inspirational. The cooking wizard is determined to increase the positive endorphins running through male and female students by spreading the love. He stated that “student life,” is the number one issue at hand for SAIT students and again, turned to his mantra of, “Love everyone always,” as a potential solution to the matter. Big Z is heavy on the charm and his good intentions seem genuine, but SAIT students may be looking for somebody to improve their quality of life, not someone to help them re-live the peace and love movement of the 1960s.

Chris Leeson
The most diabolical candidate of the entire election, Chris Leeson is determined to have an arms room built in the heart of SAIT to ensure students are well protected from the impending threat of terrorists, communists and even extra-terrestrials. Leeson cited Joseph Stalin and Osama Bin Laden as his main influences and promises to put trivial pursuits at the forefront of his campaign. Leeson is leaning heavily on the idiot vote at SAIT, explaining, “In politics, intelligence doesn’t matter.” Leeson is egocentric and dictatorial, but I believe he is trying to prove a point. If nobody shows up to vote, somebody with these types of policies is capable of being elected. Hopefully the SAIT population proves Leeson wrong, but it’ll be far from surprising if Lesson proves to be right.

Sebastian Rodas
Sebastian Rodas is asking the SAIT student body for a promotion this election as he hopes to jump from the role of SAITSA vice-president of finance to the president of SAITSA. Rodas has held his own under the guidance of current president, Steven Hildebrand, and said he is now prepared to oversee the student body at SAIT. He is clearly experienced and is well tuned to the issues SAIT students cope with on a daily basis. He is looking to add more value to student life, meaning he feels more space for student clubs is in order. He finds that many clubs are quickly expiring because SAIT is failing at properly accommodating them. Rodas is tired of SAIT cheerleading about their tremendous results, and wants to begin focusing on what needs to be improved at the distinguished Calgary institution.

VP External position
Matthew Armstrong
This is a unique ballot because it is not a choice between a number of SAIT students, but is instead a “yes” or “no” decision. Matthew Armstrong, the current vice-president academic is the sole student running for the position. Armstrong is tenacious, intelligent and comes across as caring about the well-being of SAIT students more than arguably anybody on campus. If successful in his campaign, he said he will immediately look to re-negotiate the U-Pass. “It needs to be available for students on practicum, that is the biggest change that has to happen,” explained Armstrong. If students were to vote “no” the position would be left vacant and there would be a by-election at the end of the year. So the question is, do students want an educated, politically astute gentleman advocating for their rights?

VP Academic
Andrew Crossett
Many SAIT students may recognize the tall, camera carrying guy with the black hat on campus, and it is that reputation that will put Andrew Crossett on the map for candidate of VP of academic with SAITSA in the upcoming elections. “I keep coming back because I love the hands-on learning experience and great instructors here,” said Crossett who is completing his fourth-year this spring. Crossett began his path at SAIT in the network engineering technologies program, and continued on to the journalism program, majoring in photojournalism this year. Crossett works for the Trojans as a photographer and has also contributed to the Weal as an editor and photographer. “It’s that experience that has allowed me to see the inner workings of many programs and issues at SAIT,” said Crossett. Crossett hopes to influence the lack of access students have to the campus. He said that although SAIT is supposed to be a “24 hour” place for students, it seems to be limited. “All the necessary pieces are in place for student to have 24- hour access, but the buildings still close,” said Crossett who wants to see the campus open up, “At the least common areas” on a regular basis.

VP Student Life
Jose Landaverde
Jose Landaverde is charismatic, friendly and can fill any room with positivity. 
“I want students to have an experience while at SAIT, not just to study,” said Landaverde when asked what he hopes to be the biggest change in the coming year. Landaverde mentioned a list of unique ideas including sumo suit wrestling, campus-wide “amazing races” and picnics as new ways to encourage student relationships on campus. Landaverde’s experience as a SAIT club member and student in the environmental technologies program has allowed him to also appreciate the activities SAITSA provides for students currently. Being the president for the environmental technology students’ association and planning two successful industry nights this year, has given Landaverde what he says is the experience to, “Get the job done.” “A lot of the social activities are great. I hope to continue providing those great services to students as well,” said Landaverde. Landaverde believes that he is approachable and fun, and plans to utilize those skills in encouraging students to participate in monthly events. “I just want to make everyone’s experience here to be something they can look back and remember,” said Landaverde.

STUDENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Thomas Cruikshank
Thomas Cruikshank describes himself as, “passionate and logical.” Although these two descriptors are often at war with each other, Cruikshank seems to make it work. The first-year mechanical engineering student is focusing his campaign on bridging what he feels is a disconnection between SAITSA and the students. As Cruikshank is running for his second term on the SLC, he feels he has a strong grasp of SAITSA’s inner-workings—its benefits and shortcomings. Even before last fall’s election, Cruikshank was heavily involved with SAITSA events such as the open house and welcome week. He also took on the position of president for the SAIT league of engineering technologist students, and helped lead SAIT’s concrete toboggan team.“SAITSA needs to spend less time focusing on its operations, and more time on how to make the student experience at SAIT better,” said Cruikshank. Cruikshank said SAITSA is taking the wrong approach by focusing on The Gateway and the Odyssey. Cruikshank said the Gateway is doing just fine and the Odyssey is two years away from being self sustaining. He feels SAITSA is lacking in extracurricular activities and groups for students. He noted that SAIT has only 20 clubs, while other post-secondary institutions have as many as 200. Cruikshank suggested more student clubs, and more opportunities for students to interact with SAITSA members. “SAITSA has to go out there, bang on desks and find out what students need,” said Cruikshank.

Allison Hewitt
Allison Hewitt describes herself as enthusiastic and well-organized. As treasurer and co-organizer of SAIT’s concrete toboggan team, Hewitt stood out for her organizational abilities. Team members mentioned that the team would have been lost without her skills. As a part of that team, Hewitt got a surge of school spirit and she didn’t want to let it go. “The school spirit suffers at SAIT,” said Hewitt, who is running for her second stint on the SLC. “Maybe it’s because most students are here only for two years, but students-apprentices for example-are not much aware that SAITSA does more than run the Gateway.” The first-year civil engineering student wants to see students find their own school spirit. “There should be a balance of studying and fun in everyone’s college experience,” said Hewitt. She said that the first thing necessary to make this happen is for students to gain a greater awareness of student activities and, more specifically, come out and vote. Hewitt wants to get SAITSA out of the office and interacting with students. It’s easy to ignore a poster, but not as easy to ignore a person, said Hewitt.

Cesar Jimenez
Personable and open to making new friends, Jimenez has only been in Calgary for four years and has worked hard to become a productive member of the SAIT community. Originally from Columbia, Jimenez wants to be, “Part of the people.” “My mentality is always to be part of the community,” said Jimenez. As a member of the SLC, Jimenez wants to focus on helping international students become dynamic members of the SAIT community. “SAIT is a community that is based in multiculturalism,” said Jimenez. “I want to find a way to help integrate international students to their new environment, and to help them make new friends,” said Jimenez. Jimenez wants to create more events for interaction with SAIT’s many international students and find ways to make the entire SAIT community work together in true harmony. Jimenez has claimed the phrase, “Why not build things together?” as his motto.

Lin Cai
Lin Cai is all about the fun—responsible fun, that is. He feels that SAIT is lacking in the “fun” department. As a new member of the SLC he wants to expand the amount of events on-campus, rather than just welcome weeks, open-houses and job fairs. The first-year Business Administration student is already making plans concerning how new events could fit into SAITSA’s budget. “I believe that students shouldn’t come to school just because they have to; they should come to school because they want to,” said Cai. “In coming to school, they should enjoy their time here rather than just doing homework, going to classes and going back home.”
Although the Gateway tries to bring the fun to campus, Cai is very aware that not every student can or wants to attend events held in a bar. Cai wants to host more events during the day or right after classes, so that students don’t have to come back at night to enjoy some on-campus entertainment. “I would like to bring more fun to the school than it already has,” said Cai.

Sammy Piera
Sammy Piera is perseverant. In last fall’s SLC election, Piera missed getting a place on the council by merely one vote. But, he didn’t let the loss bring him down, and is running once again as a candidate for SLC. The first-year automotive service technologies student wants to use his creativity and friendliness as tools to help make SAIT a better place. He wants to tackle the big issues facing many of SAIT’s students. He is focusing his energy on finding solutions to SAIT’s parking and U-Pass problems. “I’m not sure how much say I will have in them, but it’s worth a shot,” said the ever-persistent Piera. Piera compared SAIT’s parking prices to the prices at the University of Calgary. SAIT’s parking is priced from $120 –  $145 per month, for students, staff and faculty. The U of C’s parking ranges $50 – $130 per month. “I want to lower the fees, maybe get it on par with U of C,” said Piera. He also wants to help make the U-Pass optional for students. Currently the U-Pass is mandatory and included in student fees. Piera want to focus on those who drive and have never taken transit. If the U-Pass was optional, “For a two-year program, you save $420 in total,” said Piera. Piera has set his sights high and he wants to be remembered for, “Staying true to my promises.”