New DSU exec combines fresh and familiar faces

A mix of new and familiar faces will greet students this fall as their Dalhousie Student Union executive.

Chris Saulnier, computer engineering student and last year’s president, was re-elected to lead the DSU for another year back in March. Joining him again will be Kayla Kurin, psychology and classics major, returning as vice-president internal.

“A year is a very short amount of time to be working in this environment, so I’m really excited to come back and finish a lot of the things that we started last year,” says Mr. Saulnier, citing a particular interest in building greater awareness of what the DSU has to offer students.

He’ll be joined by three new executive members: Jamie Arron (international development studies) as vice-president student life; Evan Price (finance) as vice-president finance; and Sarah Bouchard (political science and religious studies) as vice-president external.

“It’s a great way to do something meaningful and get involved in something outside of the classroom,” says Ms. Bouchard.

“I think we all have ideas about leaving behind positive change at Dalhousie, and this is a great vehicle to be able to affect that,” adds Mr. Price.

The team is hitting the ground running to prepare for September, when the DSU hosts orientation week activities, society fair and training for society leaders and residence council. They’re hoping to build on what appears to be growing enthusiasm surrounding the DSU: an increase in voter turnout in March’s elections and more applications for orientation week leaders than last year.

“It seems like students are more pumped about engagement with the DSU than I’ve seen in my four years, certainly,” says Mr. Arron.

“It’s also about what the DSU can do for them,” adds Ms. Kurin. “We have our services and our events, but we want to hear from students so we can help them achieve their ideas.”