The contested Undergraduate Trustee position this year features three candidates vying for the role.
Three candidates debated their platforms during an hour-and-a-half-long discussion at Goodes Hall on Oct. 28, providing insight just days before the election on Oct. 30 and 31. The candidates focused on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the issues facing international students at the University.
READ MORE: International student enrolment sinks amid federal visa cap
Seham Kettaneh, ArtSci ’28, EJ Kelvin, ConEd ’29, and Zain Al Sudani, CompSci ’28, were ratified during the October AMS Assembly. The Undergraduate Trustee is one of the few students on the Board of Trustees ing the Rector and Graduate Trustee, all of whom hold a fiduciary responsibility to the University.
Transparency & fiscal responsibility
Both Al Sudani and Kelvin emphasized the importance of transparency to help students understand where their tuition is going.
“I feel like there’s a lack of understanding or information for the public about how [Queen’s] is handling the money and where the money is going,”Al Sudani said during the debate.
Al Sudani added the student body may better understand and accept the potentially controversial decisions made by the Board of Trustees if they have greater context on the reasoning behind those decisions.
Kelvin highlighted the same issue, stating many students aren’t getting the experience they’re paying for.
“People aren’t happy with how money is being spent because we spend thousands of dollars to go here, and everyone highlights this amazing education that you’re going to be getting at Queen’s, and then some people don’t feel as if they’re getting that experience that they came and paid for,” Kelvin said.
International students
Candidates focused on the international student strategy Queen’s has created to help alleviate the budget deficit. Kettaneh claimed the University has been taking in international students as streams of revenue to help decrease their deficit.
“International students are kind of viewed as cash cows,” Kettenah said.
For a student paying tuition in the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS), international students pay approximately $56,999.69 for both the fall and winter semester whereas domestic Ontario students pay $7,518.59.
READ MORE: International student restrictions tighten across Canada
Al Sudani responded in agreement that international students can be seen as “cash cows,” but also understands many universities can progress research and generate profit through international students. Al Sudani claims the University needs to strike a balance between the two perspectives.
Kettaneh stated she isn’t interested in neutrality when making decisions. “I’m really keen on cutting the bulls—t.”
When candidates were asked whether they would prefer to allocate funds to residences, retail spaces, common areas, or academic spaces, Kelvin expressed a preference for investing in residences—not only to bring in more students, but to ensure all students could live within the residence community. Al Sudani stated he would prioritize common spaces for faculties, while Kettaneh indicated she would focus on enhancing academic spaces for students in the years to come
Anticipated challenges as an Undergraduate Trustee
The final question asked candidates what they look forward to as potential student trustees and the challenges they anticipate facing if elected.
Kettaneh expressed her enthusiasm about ensuring her voice is heard in decision-making.
Al Sudani emphasized his eagerness to meet new people and advocate for students, but he also expressed concern about not being able to fulfill the diverse needs of the student body.
Kelvin reflected on the importance of keeping her promises to students, citing a fear of letting them down. She looks forward to developing her leadership skills and focusing on making decisions that will benefit students in the future.
“I would make [decisions] that I think would benefit the most students in the long run and I would be honest and open about that decision,” Kelvin said during the debate
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