Winter Semester & Year Summary: VP Finance & Admin

Hi everyone,

The second semester, much like the first, has been a busy time for the finance portfolio.

the beaver dam

The Beaver Dam was extremely busy with events. Towards the end of the year we were hosting multiple events on the same day. These were largely successful and included a wide variety of events related to Huron, HUCSC Clubs, and more. Special thank you to Rachael Toffoletti, Dylan Kiidumae, and the team of bartenders who worked tirelessly throughout the year to keep the Dam open, facilitate as many event requests as possible, and improve the overall student experience in the space.

clubs

Our clubs portfolio reached 38 clubs, 13 new clubs were added this year alone for a 52% increase from last year’s final count. The entire clubs budget was allocated this year as a result of the increase in interest for Huron Clubs. Thank you to our Clubs Associate, Areeb Hussain, who put in a great deal of time and effort supporting clubs this year and facilitating Clubs Committee Meetings that were vital to the growth and development of the clubs portfolio this year.

merchandise

In regard to the MyHuronProducts website the Merchandise Associate, Elma Brakic, worked hard to facilitate merchandise sales and council initiatives throughout the second semester. Elma also worked to coordinated with various organizers to facilitate online ticket sales for events.

miscellaneous

In relation to the annual grad banquet that was held at The London Club this year, the old beaver dam was involved in hosting the pre and after party. This use of this space added a huge amount of nostalgia to the event for those who used to frequent the old space before the construction of the new Beaver Dam. The finance and communications portfolio collaborated in organizing the event and sourcing the old Beaver Dam as an alternate location for the pre and after parties.

During the second semester a great deal of general administrative duties and tasks for the Finance Portfolio have been underway. Our 2021-2022 accounting year finally came to a close after some catchup and the 2022-2023 is well on it’s way. Coordination with our accountants and bookkeepers have been ongoing and productive. The Finance Committee was active in approving a number of grants to student led initiatives in the second semester. Additionally, discussions with Huron regarding use of facilities, coordination with event organizers, and various departments and stakeholders has been ongoing throughout the semester and been integral to the success of our clubs’ events, use of the student commons, and best practices to continue and work on for future years.

Overall, the second semester has been extremely busy for the finance portfolio, especially considering a number of bartenders were required to go on leave to run for positions on council, including our very own Shivansh Mohan, Beaver Dam bartender and Finance Associate, who will the next Vice President Finance and Administration for the HUCSC as of May 1, 2023. Special shoutout to Pradyun Bajaj and Kate Groenewegen, Beaver Dam bartenders, who are your Vice-President Student Events and Political Science Representative on the HUCSC for next year, respectively.

Thank you for a great year and stay classy Huron!

P.S. the secret ingredients to a Beaver Dam Slam are:

… still secret.

MICHAEL GOODMAN, 2022/23 VP Finance and Admin

vpfinance@myhuron.ca

Winter Semester & Year Summary: VP Communications

Hey Huron!

The end of another semester means another recap! Now that winter semester is complete, the 2022-23 executive term also comes to an end. It has been a whirlwind of a year with many amazing accomplishments by the executive team, portfolio members, and the GA. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Matson, Emily, Michael, and Gayatri, as well as my AMAZING communications portfolio. Here is what comms has done the past four months:

JANUARY

• Frost Week promotion and photo collection

• Creation and promo for Orientation Leader/Soph applications in collaboration with Huron

• Promotion of Affiliate USC Town Hall in collaboration with the Elections Governance Committee

• HUCSC Presidential Election promotion and live streaming

• MyReps campaign

• Creation of Events Photo webpage

FEBRUARY

• Continuation of HUCSC Presidential Election promotion and live streaming

• Facilitated graduation photos on campus

• Academic Mixer promotions

• Working to create council merch with Merchandise Associate & VPFA

• Administration Town Hall promotion

• HUDS Production blog highlight

• Planning for Hearts of Huron

MARCH

• Graduation Banquet Promotion & Planning (in collab with Huron & VPFA)

• Creation of Graduation Banquet After Party Slideshow

• ITR promotion support

• HUCSC VP Elections promotion & live streaming

• Round 2 Clubs Promotion (clubs opt-in)

• Huron Day promotion

• Fashion Show photoshoot & promotion

• Support promoting the Huron library survey

APRIL

• Hype Team goodbye segment

• HUCSC x USC Incoming Team Video

• Reintegrating physical Huron graduation composites with Huron

• VPC Turnover with Diya

• 2023 Spring Hiring (turnover project)

CONTINUOUS

• Hype Team content

• Story promotions for clubs

• Monitoring the bulletin boards

• Ensuring brand and monitoring PR

• Weekly Beaver Dam Slides

MISCELLANEOUS

For a little data rundown:

• Our Instagram reach for @myhuron skyrocketed to 69.7% and had 21,946 in profile visits

• We had a 19.5% increase in FB profile visits

• With TikTok we were able to gain 42 followers and a total of 491 likes. Within the month of April, 9 of our videos were trending

• The average reach of our Hype Team content was 1,971 accounts and collectively 57,867 views for the year.

It has been a great experience to be your VPC this year and I am so excited to see all that Diya accomplishes next year! For those graduating, you will be missed and I wish you the best on your endeavors after Huron. As for those returning, I hope you all have a wonderful summer to relax and have a well deserved break. Congratulations on completing another year and making it a memorable one!

All the best,

JULIA CONRAD, 2022/23 VP Communications

vpcommunications@myhuron.ca

Winter Semester & Year Summary: VP Student Affairs

Stay tuned to see what Emily has accomplished!

Winter Semester & Year Summary: VP Student Events

What a semester it has been at Huron University College! Let’s take a brief look at what happened throughout the Winter Semester:

Frost Week

Starting off hot, we had Frost Week the second week back into the semester. We kicked things off with a flurry of activities, from the Pride Social, to hot chocolate with professors and Nollywood to Bollywood Night.

y2k Night

Later in January, we threw things back with Y2K Night (an event in collaboration with the Beaver Dam). Students were able to rock out to throwback hits mixed by DJ Robbie and were showed off their retro fashion.

valentine’s day event

Valentine's Day was full of love and fun, with La Société Française de Huron. We had polaroids and chocolates to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

academic mixers

In February we brought things back to the books with our Political Science and Philosophy mixers. Students were able to participated connect with professors, play some trivia, and connect with other students.

elections eats

But if politics was more your thing, Election Eats offered free food and drinks (coffee and hot chocolate) to encourage student participation in the upcoming HUCSC Elections. The current executive team was present to answer questions and talk about their roles.

axe throwing

For those feeling adventurous, Battle Axe Throwing offered in collaboration with the Huron Adventure Club. This was a chance for students to let off some steam and channel their inner lumberjack.

Graduation banquet

Working alongside Sara, Siobhan, Julia, and Michael, we celebrated the graduating class at the end of March with the annual Graduation Banquet. Starting with a Pre in the Old Beaver Dam, we then ventured to the London Club where a catered dinner and speeches took place with students and faculty. We finished the celebration with an After Party back in the Old Beaver Dam with a fun slideshow reflecting on the past few years at Huron. Congrats Class of 2023!

huron day and the fashion show

The day started off with food trucks in the roundabout for students to get some free lunch! Things then got competitive with our painting competition in the afternoon. The HUCSC charity fashion show started off the evening, where students showcased their creativity and diversity through fashion and cultural performances. To end off the day, we have silent disco in the Beaver Dam!

Overall, the Huron University College Student Council's events team really tried to hit the mark this semester with a range of fun and engaging events that kept students entertained and energized throughout the semester.

On another note, all these events could not have been possible without the events team and other portfolios. So big thank you to the entire events team, fashion show team, Matson our President, Julia our VP Communications and her entire team, Michael our VP Finance, and Emily our VP Student Affairs. Also, a big shout out to the Beaver Dam and all its staff for hosting all so many of these amazing events.

Lastly, a huge thank you to all of you for bringing your fun and enthusiastic energies to all events this year. 

It was a rollercoaster of a year Huron but we made it!

So, as always: Stay awesome,

GAYATRI SHARMA, 2022/23 VP Student Events

vpstudentevents@myhuron.ca

Winter Semester & Year Summary: President

Dear Huron students,

I am immensely grateful for such an amazing year. Your belief in me and our collective power as students has been remarkable. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you and my executive team, without whom none of this would be possible. Your resilience, commitment, and energy were impeccable, and as we approach the end of the year and summer, I congratulate you on all that you have achieved.

For the graduating students, I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors, and thank you for all that you have done for Huron. For returning students, I hope you take some time to enjoy the summer, and I cannot wait to see you all in September.

This year, I have been working hard to create tectonic change on and beyond campus. My platform focused on strengthening the ways we broadcast information to students, reclaiming the HUCSC role as an engine for advocacy and community-born change, and more. While I wish I had accomplished everything I set out to do, I am proud of what we have achieved together.

yearly achievements

I want to share with you some of the highlights of our accomplishments this year. We have seen great student engagement, with competitive Spring elections and an increase in voter turnout from 30.7% to 35.7%. I am thrilled that our voices continue to matter, and I thank you for holding your council accountable.

We have also made progress in addressing inequity and inaccessibility by creating an Adopt-a-soph program that has raised $7900 for Soph uniforms and meals during OWeek 2023.

We have also introduced awards and scholarships to recognize student efforts on campus.

To strengthen the ways we broadcast information, we have installed HUCSC-run bulletin boards in the new building, and we continue to explore other possibilities to improve how we deliver information to you.

We have also achieved significant advocacy wins, such as Huron’s decision to hire a new academic advisor for the 2023/24 academic year.

The new building, the Great Hall, and other study spaces have been extended for operations until midnight.

I want to thank my executive team, Julia Conrad, Emily Poirier, Michael Goodman, and Gayatri Sharma for their support throughout the ups and downs of this year. Together, we have shown that we can achieve anything when we believe in each other. Enjoy your summer, and I look forward to seeing you all in September.

MATSON KITAMISI, 2022/23 HUCSC President

president@myhuron.ca

Hearts of Huron: Meet Michael Haas

As a member of the HUCSC Hype team, Assistant to the President of the Political Science Club, among several other leadership roles, Michael Haas is a committed and actively involved student in the Huron Community.

Despite being a first-year student, Michael was excited to start the Huron Blood Donation Club. Michael established and ratified the Blood Donation Club in early February, with the advice and knowledge he gained as a member of Western's Stem Cell Club. Michael believes that starting this organization will allow him to educate his fellow students about the importance of blood donation and how it helps to save lives.

Michael and his team will continue to organize blood drives and educational activities in collaboration with the London Blood Services Center. He intends to increase the membership base in the future by expanding to Main Campus and working with Western's Stem Cell Club. Micheal advises everyone to take advantage of every opportunity and to not be hesitant to start a new program or club as a first-year student. Of course, he also recommends following @hbdc.huron on Instagram!

Hearts of Huron: Meet Michael Jutte

With an affinity towards media and advocacy, Michael brings awareness to the ongoing water crisis faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada and communities in El Salvador. Inspired by his brother, who works in environmental engineering, Michael continues to fight for everyone to have access to clean water through his work as a published author and producer of podcasts for Western students.  

Last year, Michael produced an article for the prestigious organization, SDG Cities, an initiative in London and Guelph that encourages the support of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using the organization’s platform, Michael wrote on the detrimental impact on the City of London infrastructure on Thames River, causing pollution and sanitary issues to the Oneida First Nations community. He expresses the need for change by both the City of London and by its citizens. 

Michael continued his studies abroad in El Salvador to deepen his understanding of the ongoing environmental crisis, particularly in regard to water pollution caused by mining. After learning how Canada is greatly inducing these consequences, Michael took this information to TedXWestern and presented his research as a series of podcasts. He aspires to educate and motivate those around him. Michael encourages everyone to study overseas at least once in their lives and believes that education has the ability to bring upon positive social change.

Hearts of Huron: Meet Suhani Shah

Suhani Shah is an outstanding student in the Huron community, having served as President of the Huron Green Club this year as well as Vice President of Marketing for the Huron Blood Donation Program.

As Suhani reflects back on the 2022-2023 school year, she feels most passionate and proud about her work as the HUCSC's Special Events Commissioner. This year, Suhani made it her mission to educate the Huron community about her culture and ensure that all international students, despite being halfway around the world, feel at home. Suhani proposed a Bollywood Night as a solution that would meet her goals. With support of the HUCSC Communications Team, she was able to prepare, organize, and execute a successful night that enabled over 100 students to become further immersed in her culture.

Suhani intends to make Bollywood Night an annual Huron event and to organize more events of similar nature to continue to bridge the gap between international and domestic students. As for advice, Suhani encourages all Huron students to get involved in the community by participating in extracurricular activities or starting one if there is not one that matches your interests. She also encourages everyone to be yourselves and push beyond your comfort zone.

HUDS: This Year's Musical "Little Shop of Horrors"

Hey Huron! The Huron Underground Dramatic Society (HUDS) is thrilled to officially return to the stage with our annual theatre production! We are excited to present the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" on March 9th, 10th and 11th in Huron's Theatre. The show will begin at 8:00 pm on March 9th and 10th; there will be a 2:00 pm matinee on March 11th. 

Synopsis of the Play

Written by Howard Ashman, "Little Shop of Horrors" was a popular Broadway musical that was later made into a Hollywood movie. Its science-fiction plot follows the escapades of Seymour, a hapless flower shop assistant who raises a plant that feeds on human flesh and blood. This hilarious horror musical features well-known musical theatre songs such as "Skid Row (Downtown)," Suddenly, Seymour," and "Somewhere That's Green."

More About the Play

Introducing the cast of our musical "Little Shop of Horrors" (Broadway version)- 

Seymour - Ethan Small

Audrey - Isabelle Funk

Audrey 2 - Landen Song, Danika McPherson-Zachar

Chiffon - Khalilah Tang

Ronnett - Sadie Bieman, Lauren Stewart

Crystal - Krista Cooper

Orin - Ksenya Kiseliuk

Mushnik - Warren Gichana

Bernstein - Sela Caldwell

Mrs. Luce - Sela Caldwell

Customer - Sage Milne

Interviewer - Emily Davison

Skip Snip - Sela Caldwell

Patrick Martin - Emily Davison

Ticket Information

Tickets are on sale for $10 for students and $15 for non-students. Come and see the fabulous work of our amazing cast, musicians and crew! You can find more information about the show on HUDS Instagram account @hudsociety.

More About HUDS

The Huron Underground Dramatic Society (HUDS) is the place for theatre opportunities at Huron. Whether you like acting, singing, dancing, writing, set building, or lighting, HUDS has a place for you! Every year we put on a main stage musical, sketch comedies, and singing showcases. We also have exciting inner club programming such as musical watch parties, workshops, and social events. As a club we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone not only has fun, but also feels that they are part of a family. 

Little Shop of Horrors is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 

Aarushi Holkar

VP of HUDS

Get to Know The Beaver Dam

Hey Huron! As we settle into the Winter semester, are you looking for a Dam good place to stop by on campus? Make sure to check out The Beaver Dam, our on campus bar open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8:30pm! You can find the Beaver Dam at the heart of campus in the Student Commons area of Huron’s Frank Holmes building, with activities being hosted every week.

Need us to convince you more to come on by? When you stop by the Dam, you are guaranteed to find a friendly face ready to have a conversation or provide you with your favourite items. The bar has been serving the Huron community for over 12 years, originally located in the Old SAC. In 2021 we moved to where we are currently located, and are so excited to remind you of what we have to offer for the rest of the year!

Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Drinks

We offer delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Some of our special drinks include the signature Beaver Dam Slam, Dam Delicious Lemonade, and our White Freezie. Not feeling alcohol? We also have a variety of pops and juice, and of course we offer iced water if you feel like something simple.

Dam Delicious Coffee & Treats

Not only do we serve alcohol, but we have a wide variety of Nespresso coffee to choose from, each available with different syrups and creamers, as well as our popular iced lattes. We also serve a select snacks/study treat like a chocolate bar.

Activities & Events

Along with our new ping-pong and pool table, the Beaver Dam hosts plenty of events intended for the student audience, such as club activities, information sessions, and our Live Music Nights. Make sure to follow @thebeaverdam on Instagram to stay up to date and catch the latest updates!

Merchandise

Looking to pick up some Huron merch? The Beaver Dam is supplied with different shirts, sweaters, and accessories to show off some of your Huron pride. Not to mention that the Beaver Dam has its own online merch store at www.myhuronproducts.ca.

DYLAN KIIDUMAE, Beaver Dam Assistant Manager

For Beaver Dam related inquiries, please reach out to our Beaver Dam Manager, Rachael Toffoletti at operations.beaverdam@myhuron.ca

HUCSC Presidential Election Outline

Hey Huron!

I hope you had a wonderful break and are ready for the winter semester! I’m excited to announce that election season is now here! 

We are starting off 2023 with the HUCSC presidential election, which will run for the remainder of January and into February. If you are passionate about student government, and have ideas to contribute to Huron student life, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved.

Learn more about the presidential election outline:

As President of the HUCSC, you will act as the official representative of Huron Students. The president will also set the strategic direction for the council by leading initiatives, policy, and the council’s executive team. This person will be responsible for the coordination and success of all HUCSC endeavors. The president is also the sole liaison between the HUCSC and the Huron administration. The HUCSC president sits on various Huron committees and boards such as the Huron alumni association and the Huron board of directors. The presidential role is a rare leadership opportunity that provides those who occupy it with a wealth of experience not found in many other student leadership roles.  For more information on the President position, refer to our Terms of Reference.

Huron students are encouraged to attend the presidential election information session on January 12th at 7 pm. Students will have the opportunity to hear from the current HUCSC President, Matson Kitamisi, as well as Chief Returning Officer (CRO), Sean Trotter, about the upcoming presidential election.

Students must complete the election nomination form if they wish to run in this election; the nomination form is open as of today,  January 11th. All candidates MUST attend the all candidates advisory meeting or they will face disqualification. Campaigning may only occur during the specified campaign period: Tuesday, January 24th at 9 am until Monday, February 6th at 10:59 pm. Any candidate who campaigns outside of this period will face consequences in accordance with the HUCSC elections policy. Election rules and policies will be explained in greater detail in the all-candidates advisory meeting. However, all candidates should familiarize themselves and their campaign teams with the HUCSC elections policy prior to the start of campaigning. The elections policy can be found on our website by clicking here. 

Key dates and deadlines for the 2023 Presidential election (all times in EST)

Nomination period starts: Wednesday, January 11th (9 am)

Nomination period ends: Monday, January 23rd (5 pm)

All Candidates Meeting: Monday, January 23rd (7:30 pm)

Campaign starts: Tuesday, January 24th (9 am)

Candidates Town Hall: Thursday, January 26th (7 pm)

Debates: Thursday, February 2nd (7 pm) & Sunday, January 29th (In the GA)

Campaign ends: Monday, February 6th (10:59 pm)

Voting starts: Tuesday, February 7th (12 am)

Voting ends: Wednesday, February 8th (8 pm)

Voting party: Thursday, February 9th (7 pm)

Any election related questions should be emailed to me (Sean Trotter, CRO) at  cro@myhuron.ca.

SEAN TROTTER, Chief Returning Officer (CRO)

cro@myhuron.ca

Fall Semester Recap: VP Finance

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year Huron!

The first term has been very busy for the finance portfolio! Special thanks to our Beaver Dam Manager, Rachael Toffoletti, our AVP Finance, Shivansh Mohan, our Merchandise Associate, Elma Brakic, and our Clubs Associate, Areeb Hussain, who have put in a great amount of work over the term!

The Beaver Dam

The Beaver Dam has been hosting a wide variety of events including the Huron Ball Pre-Party and the Dam’s Taylor Swift Night. In the New Year, we are excited to bring back our Dam Music Nights as well as a couple specialty events. Keep an eye out on our socials (@thebeaverdam on Instagram)!

Merchandise

We have been working hard on expanding our merchandise offerings, specifically in relation to charitable causes such as Movember. Our Movember Merch was also the first appearance of Blaze the Beaver. We are currently selling our Holiday Sweater, with proceeds being donated to the Julia Hunter Foundation. Merchandising has also been working with the clubs portfolio to establish club specific merchandise. This is a really cool opportunity that’s providing clubs with the option of meeting with the HUCSC Merchandising Associate, Elma Brakic, to design their own merchandise to be available on the MyHuronProducts Store. If you have any overall merchandise ideas, feel free to connect with Elma and share your ideas!

Clubs

A large number of new clubs have been proposed to the Clubs Governance Committee and been passed as new clubs. Most recently the Fitness Club and the Fantasy Sports and Analytics Club have been ratified. The number of Huron clubs is growing and we are always looking for new and interesting clubs to ratify. If you have a club idea and a group of interested students please reach out to Areeb if you need any assistance in setting up a proposal to get your club ratified!

In the New Year we are looking forward to having some great clubs' events, having the Dam back open for the new term, and seeing everyone back on campus after a well deserved holiday break. 

MICHAEL GOODMAN, VP Finance

vpfinance@myhuron.ca

Fall Semester Recap: VP Communications

Hey Huron!

As the semester comes to an end, I hope that all of your finals went well! The goal for the communications portfolio has been to continue engaging with students. and broadcast the work/projects of the HUCSC. Through social media, posters, blogs, and other means, we have continued to strive to increase the transparency of the HUCSC with the student body.

The comms portfolio continues to work closely and collaboratively with the four other portfolios of the HUCSC. We aim to share their initiatives, as well as other workings in council. Oftentimes, our team is the last phase in the finalization process before we present information to students!

Before outlining some of our accomplishments, I would like to thank the amazing communications team for their efforts and dedication throughout the fall semester:

Kiara Lau (Outreach Associate), Hannah Brayford (Social Media Associate), Gauri Pasbola (Marketing Affairs Coordinator), Mary Ann Sing (Beaver Dam Coordinator), Arpan Dhaliwal (Video Coordinator), Addy Buckley (Website Coordinator), Joey Lisser (Photographer), Maya Corroy (Photographer), and Amanda Wilson (Communications Commissioner).

Hype Team Members: Grace, Mike, Jayden, Ashmita, Suhani, Abel, Adele, Robbie, Claire, and Dylan

Promotion Delegates: Carolyn, Sabreen, Soha, and Sophia

Here are some highlights from the communications portfolio!

summer

• How to Vote in the Provincial Election

• HUCSC Teaching Award (congrats to Dr. Tsang!)

• Congratulations for Class of 2022

• Outreach to incoming class (Class of 2026)

• Website review and update

September

• Creation of OWeek and other HUCSC print materials

• Welcome Back Tuesday and HBK Night promotion

• 1/2 to St. Patrick’s Day promotion

• Club’s Week and MyClubs promotion

• Organized and promoted Fall Election and Fall Hiring Period

• Orange Shirt Day resources

• OWeek reflection post

• Updated the Beaverdam bar menu

october

• Official launch of the Hype Team

• Promotion of HUCSC office hours

• Organized and promoted the Huron Ball

• Promoted Unsung Leader Award Nomination process

november

• Continuation of Huron Ball promotion

• Organized and collaborated with Huron for Head Soph Hiring

• First week of on-campus Graduation Photos

• Organization and promotion of Taylor Swift Music Night

• Collaboration with VPSA Portfolio for Movember video

• Fashion Show hiring promotion

december

• Designed merchandise and promoted holiday sweaters to support the Julia Hunter Foundation

• Announced Unsung Leader Award recipient (congrats to Kyla Seaton!)

• Organized and collaborated with Huron for PA Hiring

• Released Huron Ball photos

Thank you for a wonderful semester, and we can’t wait to continue promoting and connecting with you in the New Year! Please take the break to rest and we’ll see you in 2023!

JULIA CONRAD, VP Communications

vpcommunications@myhuron.ca

Fall Semester Recap: VP Student Affairs

Hi Huron!

I hope that you all are finding some time to relax after the chaos of the exam period. This semester has been a busy one for all of council, and the Student Affairs portfolio has been no exception. Here is a quick rundown of some of the work that we did during this term.

September

In September, our team ran a used book sale to raise funds for the Woodland Cultural Centre in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The Woodland Cultural Centre is an organization based out of the former Mohawk Institute (one of the two residential schools that Huron has historic ties to) that works to preserve Indigenous cultural practices and move towards Truth and Reconciliation. In conjunction with selling Orange Shirts out of our merchandise store, our fundraiser earned just under $1000.

October & november

I along with the Communications and Events portfolios hired additional members to my team, namely a new Wellness Associate and Equity Commissioner. I am super excited to see what both Sana and Jayden do in their respective roles over the coming months!

Additionally, another project that you may have seen from us this term is our Movember Men’s Mental Health video, where some male students and faculty discussed their relationships with mental health and how they think the conversation round men’s mental health can be pushed forward. This was a destigmatization initiative, and it had an overall good reception! I’d like to give a huge thank you to all of those who participated for being vulnerable with us and contributing to the conversation.

throughout the semester

Throughout the entire semester and since the summer, another key project that I have been working on alongside the Equity team has been our Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Policy Paper. This has entailed thorough research and discussion within our team about what the current landscape around safety and gender-based violence looks like on Huron’s campus, as well as looking towards viable solutions based on other campuses and national frameworks. These will culminate in a series of Principles, Concerns, and Recommendations intended for both the HUCSC and Huron administration to implement to make students safer on and off-campus.

upcoming

As for what is on the horizon for next term, we will be launching a survey and consultations to help inform the recommendations made in our Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Policy Paper and ensure that they are in line with Huron students’ experiences with the topic. We will then start work on our next policy paper project, the Wellness Policy Paper.

Additionally, we will be launching some guides to help you navigate some sometimes-difficult areas of life as a student, including a Wellness guide with an accompanying men’s mental health toolkit, and an Academic Policy guide to help you figure out how to advocate for yourself in different areas of academic policy like appeals. We will also be looking to do some new programming initiatives, so stay tuned!

If you have any questions about any of the work described above, or want to chat about an idea you have that you think would fit within Student Affairs, just send me an email at vpstudentaffairs@myhuron.ca.

Wishing you all a safe and happy winter break and looking forward to seeing you all in the new year!

EMILY POIRIER, VP Student Affairs

vpstudentaffairs@myhuron.ca

Fall Semester Recap: VP Student Events

Hey Huron,

I hope you all did well on your exams and I want to congratulate you on making it through exam season! This past semester the Events portfolio had tons of fun organizing events for you.

September

We started the first month back with 3 events within the first week. September was indeed a roller-coaster of a month but we are glad you guys enjoyed the events.

• Welcome Back Tuesday (September 13th): This was the first event of the school year! Students were able to grab snacks and drinks at the Beaver Dam, listen to live music, and celebrate being back on campus for the year.

• HBK Night (September 15th): Featuring the one and only Huron Hunks, members of the BUCSC and KUCSC joined us at the Beaver Dam so student could meet executives, and other members on council.

• ½ to St. Patrick’s Day (September 17th): This was a fun bar night at Molly Blooms (only open to students 19+ plus)! We started celebrating this annual event with a pre at the Beaver Dam and then took a party bus to the bar. Students were able to enjoy food, drinks, and music throughout the night.

• English Mixer (September 22nd): We then had our first academic mixer which was for the English department. Students were able to meet their professors and mingle with them. 

• Early Celebration of Homecoming (September 23rd): We brought in an ice cream truck for students and had free ice-cream for the afternoon.

October

In October, we had a variety of social and academic events as well! 

• MOS Mixer (October 4th): Following a similar structure to our mixer in September, the BMOS allowed for students to connect with professors, ask questions, and enjoy some free food. Thank you to Dr. Bill Irwin for his amazing speech at the event. 

• Ping-Pong Tournament (October 6th): With a high demand with our new ping pong table, we hosted a tournament! The event was a huge success with all spots filling up. Gift cards were available for the winners. It was a fun night! 

• Halloween Party Night (October 27th): We had to end October with a bang because we were going to reading week, so we hosted a Halloween party. With a fun costume contest, themed drinks, and fun music, students had a fun time!

November

During the month of November, we kept the majority of events lowkey with midterms. But, we of course had our most anticipated event! 

• Board Game and Paint Night (November 16th): During the event we supplied students donuts and hot chocolate. To act as a small break from studying, students were provided art supplies and were able to get creative.

• The Huron Ball (November 26th): The theme of one of our largest events was Great Gatsby this year. The excitement for this event was off the charts, and the Events team was so happy to see this! The night was full of an amazing dinner and great music from DJ Robbie. 

• Taylor Swift Music Night (November 29th): We had to end November with another killer event since we were heading into exam season. So, partnering with the Beaver Dam Team, we held a Taylor Swift Night. The Dam was accessorized with decorations, which created a special space for the night. There was a photobooth, themed drinks, DJ Robbie, free food, and of course a night full of dancing to T-Swift's music.

December

In December, we decided to put our events on pause due to the exam season.

To wrap up, that was our semester! It was crazy, fun and amazing. The events team wants to thank you all for coming to the events this semester. We hope to see you again in the next semester too.

GAYATRI SHARMA, VP Events

vpstudentevents@myhuron.ca

Fall Semester Recap: President

Hey Huron! Congratulations on completing the first semester of the 2022/23 academic year.

As we head into the Winter Break, I want to wish you a very warm and amazing holiday season. Here is a brief update on what we have been doing at the HUCSC on your behalf.

Orientation week

During the first semester, we promoted tectonic change such as improving accessibility for our Soph team. With our Adopt-a-Soph program in collaboration with the Huron Alumni Association, we were able to provide funding for the team to receive free uniforms and meals.

Furthermore, we have been working with Huron to finalize OWeek 2023. In collaboration with Huron Administration, the Head Soph position compensation structure has been adjusted. This will make the Orientation week programming robust and recognize the efforts and contributions of student leaders. 

fall elections

Before the Fall reading week, we hosted our Fall election period. There were a few vacant department roles, as well as the opening of first year student representatives. After the election, our General Assembly (GA) was complete for the year. During the same period of time, the Communications, Events, and Student Affairs portfolios were hiring internally.

bulletin boards in the new building

We also strengthened the ways in which we broadcast information to students. Working with Huron’s faculty department, we were able to have HUCSC dedicated bulletin boards installed in the Frank Holmes Centre. This is just a one step closer to improving the ways information reaches out to you.

advocacy efforts

Throughout the summer and fall, we worked to collect feedback to bring forward on behalf of students. One exciting change to announce is the extension of operating hours for the Frank Holmes Centre and the Great Hall. These on-campus student study spaces are now until midnight. This allows students to spend time in Huron spaces without worrying about being interrupted by the initial 10pm closure time.

unsung leader award

Furthermore, we launched the second year of the Unsung Leader Award. I would like to congratulate Kyla Seaton for being the 2022/23 recipient. Also, we’d like to recognize all other nominees – it was amazing to see all student leaders amongst our campus. Through the received nominations, it was clear Huron students care about our community. 

Additionally, we worked to make the award more accessible to students by removing the eligibility criteria of 5.0 credits. We can’t wait to see this program continue and recognize deserving student leaders.

As I look forward to the Winter Term, I am more confident and determined to work on your behalf to represent your needs by enhancing Huron students’ quality of life and experience. There are still many projects and promises that are yet to be implemented, and I am excited to continue working towards them in the New Year.

Shoutout to the rest of my executive team, employees, and volunteers of the HUCSC for working tirelessly throughout the year. To all Huron students, thanks for your support, determination, and faith when times were difficult. I hope you have a kind and restful holiday.

MATSON KITAMISI, HUCSC President

president@myhuron.ca

2023 Unsung Leader Award Recipient

We are happy to announce this year’s recipient of the Unsung Leader Award is 5th-year Huron student Kyla Seaton! . This scholarship is awarded in conjunction with Huron to celebrate students whose contributions to the Huron community would not normally be recognized by traditional means. . Thank you to everyone who nominated special members of our community. We received a number of submissions highlighting the amazing leadership displayed by Huron students. Once again, congratulations Kyla!

Huron Ball 2022

We are so excited to welcome everyone to this year’s Huron Ball! Yes, you heard it right; it is the 2022 Huron Ball! I am Aaryan Lakhan Paul and alongside Hamish Fallowfield, we are your Huron Ball Coordinators on HUCSC this year.

We are excited to bring back this annual tradition and provide you with another glamorous Huron Ball. If you have never attended before it is a night of fun, laughs, and dancing that you will not want to miss. We want to see you and your friends join us and have a memorable time!

The ball will be taking place on November 24th, 2022 so make sure to mark off the date and add it to your calendars. We are also excited to share that the theme this year is the Great Gatsby. We look forward to seeing everyone and all the amazing outfits at the event! Down below are some frequently asked questions.

How do I purchase tickets?

Tickets are $55 plus tax. You can purchase our tickets online so click here to get yours. We only have a set number of tickets available and once they are gone, the event will be sold out! Sales close on November 7th at 11:59pm. Make sure to grab your tickets as soon as possible. Please note our in-person ticket sales have finished.

How does seating work at the venue?

Once you purchase a ticket, you will receive an email with more details. You will be able to submit a list of names with other students and we will try our best to assign you to a table.

What is the itinerary for the evening?

The evening will start with a Pre at the Beaver Dam from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm; feel free to grab drinks and snacks, take photos, meet up with friends, and get ready to go to the venue! There will be two rounds of buses to the event venue (Bellamare Winery and Event Center), the first round at 6:30 pm and the final at 7 pm. From 6:45 pm to 7:30 pm, students will arrive at the venue and sign in at the entrance. Throughout the night, a professional photographer will be present to take photos. Feel free to say hi to Jeffrey and ask for a photo! At 7:30 pm, the Huron Ball Opening Ceremonies will start and the Events Team will provide some announcements. Dinner will be available from 8 pm to 9:15 pm, the menu will be set with a variety of options (if you have dietary restrictions, you will be able to submit those in advance). The dance floor will open at 9:30 pm and the one and only DJ Robbie (Robbie Bowman) will start his set and create amazing vibes for the remainder of the night. Make sure to have your best dance moves ready! Students will be bussed back at 10:30 pm and again at 11 pm. The buses will leave Bellamere and come back to Huron.

We look forward to seeing everyone there! It is a night you don't want to miss, so make sure to purchase your tickets. In the meanwhile, please feel free to reach out to Gayatri, the VP of Student Events, at vpstudentevents@myhuron.ca if you have any questions regarding the Ball. 

Aaryan Paul, Huron Ball Coordinator

Letter to Class of 2026

Hello Class of 2026! My name is Matson Kitamisi, and I am the 2022/23 President of the Huron University College Students’ Council. I’d like to start off by saying welcome! We are so excited to have you join our Huron family, and I cannot wait to see what you accomplish.

I hope that you had a wonderful summer and were able to reconnect with family and friends as well as find outlets to re-energize before the school year. As we enter the fall semester, I want to remind you that the Huron University College Students’ Council (HUCSC) is here for you to create the best possible student experience and quality of life while you are here at Huron. Over the course of the summer, my executive team and I were busy making sure you have the best experience you need for the academic year (starting with OWeek)! 

We are thrilled that you accepted your offer to Huron! I hope as you explore campus and utilize on-campus resources you will agree that we have a small niche community where any passion can be pursued. Now that OWeek is coming to an end and you have begun your classes, I am sure you are reflecting on a blur of events and emotions. Please remember the immense support system you have here from resources like Career Development, Academic Advising, the Wellness Centre, and the HUCSC throughout this time of transition.

The HUCSC will continue to have the mission of putting students first. From our varied events throughout the year to our robust clubs system, and everything in between, the student body and your needs are at the heart of everything we do. We will also be expanding our team through elected and hired positions very soon. Lastly, the Beaver Dam (our on-campus bar) will be opening up! It is located in the heart of Huron (aka the Student Commons in the Frank Holmes Building), and offers coffee, tea, snacks, and Dam Good Drinks! 

One last thought I want to leave with you: what do you want to get out of your undergrad? You have so many options available to you, and that is what makes the university experience so unique. You have the ability to connect with people from around the world, to pursue old and new passions, and the chance to experiment and try new things. When I first arrived at Huron, I didn’t see myself becoming the HUCSC president, but here I am today. Through various executive roles in Debate club, World University Service of Canada (WUSC) , and the Huron Black Students Association (HBSA), I learned about our Huron community, developed skills, and found my own passions; and with the support I got from Huron students, I took a chance. As we connect over the year, I hope to see you pursuing what you care about in addition to your academics. 

My team and I are here to support and represent you as you navigate your time in undergraduate studies. If you have any ideas, concerns, epiphanies, or just need someone to talk to, please contact me at president@myhuron.ca or reach out to another executive. We will make sure to amplify your feelings and act as best we can on them. Class of 2026, I once again welcome you to Huron! I hope you had an amazing Orientation Week, and I look forward to getting to know each one of you. 

Matson Kitamisi, President

president@myhuron.ca

President's March Update

Hello Huron! It feels strange to be writing this, but the academic year will soon be coming to an end. Over the month of March, myself and the rest of the HUCSC continued with a busy schedule of advocacy, events, and other initiatives to improve your student experience.

HUCSC Spring Elections

In early March, the HUCSC concluded our spring elections. Those positions which are elected internally were voted on by the General Assembly at our March 6th meeting. Here, Michael Goodman was elected as the next VP of Finance and Administration, Julia Conrad was elected as the next VP of Communications, and John Pastor was elected as the next Speaker.

Following this, on Friday, March 11th, we announced the results of the HUCSC’s internal elections following the previous two days of voting. From these elections, Emily Poirier was elected as the next VP Student Affairs, and Gayatri Sharma was elected as the next Vice President Student Events. In addition, Annie Boss was elected as Huron’s 2022 Grad Speaker.

Further, the following students were elected to be General Assembly Representatives for the next year:

USC Representative - Siddharth Maheshwari

BMOS Representatives - Josh Underwood and Shivansh Mohan

CGS Representative - Hailey Budgell

Economics Representative - Jess Steves

French & East Asian Studies Representative - Julia Duquette

Political Science Representative - Mshari Sabah

Psychology Representative - Kate Hull

International Representatives - Mannan Rajani and Ekta Ubale

The HUCSC is only as strong as the talented students who devote their time and effort to it each year. I would like to extend my fullest congratulations to all of the successful candidates as well as to all those who were brave enough to put their name forward in these elections. I look forward to what all of you will accomplish next year!

Blue Community Initiative

I am also delighted to announce that Huron has become a Blue Community — a community that's free of the sale, purchase, distribution, and use of plastic water bottles on campus. This move, which was announced on March 22nd - World Water Day - comes in response to student advocacy efforts led by the HUCSC. I would like to extend a special thanks to sustainability commissioner Cogie Cogan for leading this project.

On March 6, The HUCSC General Assembly (GA) unanimously voted to support Huron in this effort by removing all plastic water bottles from HUCSC-run events and spaces. This change furthers the HUCSC’s previous declaration of a Climate Emergency at our October 2021 General Assembly meeting. The Beaver Dam and other HUCSC spaces will no longer sell, purchase, or distribute plastic water bottles in line with Huron's move to become a Blue

Community. We are excited to see a positive response to student advocacy and engagement. This is a small, but important first step for our campus and community.

OUSA Spring 2022 GA

From March 10-13th, myself and Emily Poirier attended the Spring 2022 General Assembly of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). OUSA is a coalition of student unions from across Ontario, dedicated to advocating to the Provincial government on issues of importance to students. As delegates representing Western’s USC, we had the opportunity to debate and discuss policy papers that dictate the positions OUSA takes to the Province. The policy papers that were up for review at this semester’s meeting were those covering student financial aid, tech-enabled learning and mature students.

Fashion Show, Grad Banquet, and More!

Finally, the HUCSC has continued our busy schedule of events as we approach the end of another academic year. Social events, many of which were held in the Beaver Dam, included performances by local bands, a student leader social and St. Patrick’s Day Karaoke. Academic events included the Professors Debate for ITR and movie screening hosted by the Huron Political Science Students’ Association.

The HUCSC further partnered with our counterparts at King’s and Brescia to bring mental health speaker and comedian Joshua Rivedal to Huron in March. Students from all three campuses attended to be entertained, and learn more about how to protect their mental health in university.

The HUCSC further hosted a two-day Life After University event, which featured panels from recent alumni covering such topics as applying to grad school, writing cover letters, and Ivey dual degree programs. This event was held in response to feedback from students for programming pertaining to life after Huron.

We hope to keep up our events momentum for the remainder of the semester, and I look forward to updating you all on April’s events!

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or feedback please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at president@myhuron.ca!

MATTHEW CHASMAR, PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT@MYHURON.CA