The Dalhousie Agricultural Students’ Association (DASA) is a unique group at Dal. While the DSU is the official representative organization of all Dal students, DASA is the eyes and ears of the “Aggies” on the Truro Campus. Its role in promoting and improving the student life experience through events and advocacy comes from its former incarnation as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College Student Union.
This year’s executive has been busy with such fantastic events as the College Royal and the recent visit from Temple Grandin, setting up the new student lounge, and meeting with local politicians to discuss issues that affect Dal AC students. What else are they thinking about this year?
Harris Bakker, VP Administration
Age: 20
Major: BSc. Agr. (Plant Science)
Hometown: Killoween, N.B.
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Run a smooth election.
- Keep good minutes.
- Work on prioritizing.
Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you.
Favourite band/musician?
Travis Tritt
Favourite class at Dal AC?
Structural Botany
Favourite movie?
Lawless
Favourite TV show?
Top Gear (UK)
Favourite website?
Your four dream dinner party guests?
The Godfather, Sherlock Holmes, Travis Tritt and Shania Twain. (But if only Shania showed up, that would be fine.)
Your dream job?
Potato farmer
Scott Butler, VP External Affairs
Age: 21
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Antigonish, N.S.
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Improving school spirit!
- Keeping the house councils happy.
- Getting House points to break 100 points this year! (Things are going excellent so far.)
What do you never leave home without?
iPhone
Favourite band/musician?
Apparently Luke Bryan, judging by my iTunes playlist.
Favourite class at Dal AC?
Physiology of Aquatic Animals
Favourite movie?
Transformers (I wish my Cavalier would transform into a giant alien robot…)
Favourite TV show?
The Walking Dead
Favourite website?
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Robyn McCallum, Rebecca O’Connell, Jessica Compagnon and Harris Bakker—and Harris is allowed to bring a guest of my choice, so in that case Pat Jeffcock is coming as well.
Your dream job?
Zoologist in South Africa researching Meerkats (and obviously playing with them too).
Jessica Compagnon, VP Internal
Age: 21
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Kingston, N.S.
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Increase communication.
- Advocate for student rights and student voice along with Students Nova Scotia.
- Increase and improve student life.
Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
The greenhouse in the Collins Building.
What do you never leave home without?
Keys...hopefully.
Favourite class at Dal AC?
ANSC3001 Animal Health
Favourite movie?
Pride and Prejudice
Favourite TV show?
Dead Like Me. It may be cancelled, but it’s still so good.
Favourite website?
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Jane Austen, Francis Crick, Tim Burton and Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
Your dream job?
Veterinarian in a small animal practice.
Robyn McCallum, President
Age: 22
Major: Master of Science (Agr.) – studying native bees and pollination
Hometown: Tabusintac, N.B.
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Better communication with administration.
- Diverse activities on campus to appeal to more groups.
- Getting Pat Jeffcock as our full-time general manager (CHECK!).
Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
Chartwell’s banana loaves and the cornucopia at pub.
What do you never leave home without?
My agenda. My life revolves around scheduling and highlighters.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
Iowa and Nebraska to tour corn farms and attend a manure equipment demo.
Favourite class at Dal AC?
Small Fruits with Kris Pruski. Who doesn’t like to make wine and taste it in lab?
Favourite movie?
Fast Five
Favourite website?
Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture (because it has cool photos of our students)
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, James Blunt and Barack Obama.
Your dream job?
Teaching agriculture to students and farming, while researching bees.
Rebecca (Reebs) O’Connell, VP Finance
Age: 21
Major: B.Sc. (Agr.) Business
Hometown: Upper Stewiacke, N.S.
Your three main priorities for your portfolio this year?
- Obtain student fees from Dalhousie earlier in the semesters.
- Establish a National Judging Competition on campus.
- Organize a tour day on Ag campus for Halifax students.
Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
Nothing productive is accomplished on a Thursday night.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
Dunes of Maranhao, Brazil
Favourite band/musician?
Eric Church
Favourite movie?
Home Alone
Favourite TV show?
The Big Bang Theory
Favourite website?
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Dean Gray, Pat Jeffcock, DASA and Temple Grandin. Oh wait, that actually happened!
Your dream job?
Saving the world.