Maxwell Heroux is a fourth-year political science student who is one of the two candidates running to be president of the Carleton University Students’ Association.
Heroux is a CUSA councillor and previously worked at Ollie’s Patio and Pub.
The Charlatan sat down with both presidential candidates before voting began today to discuss their platforms.
The Charlatan (TC): Why are you running for CUSA president?
Maxwell Heroux (MH): As someone who worked at Ollie’s, is a councillor for CUSA and is involved in so many other student groups, I see a lot of opportunity for CUSA to improve itself. Every student benefits from improved services across the board.
TC: What would be your top priorities as CUSA president?
MH: My top priority is transparency. With more transparency, a lot of things become more accessible. We can better advertise our service centres, our businesses and everything CUSA offers students.
My second biggest priority is the club system. Clubs have struggled with funding and with understanding the systems involved. There’s been difficulty knowing when deadlines are and receiving funding on time. We need better internal systems, so clubs can see deadlines well in advance.
TC: One of the key roles CUSA plays is that of advocating for students. What would be your top advocacy priorities?
MH: Divestment would definitely be one. The university has funds invested in companies complicit in illegal settlements and apartheid in Israel, as well as companies connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the U.S. I believe the university can be pressured to divest from genocide within the next year, just like it was pressured to divest from fossil fuels.
Another major priority is ensuring the university does not use generative AI or AI of any kind in marking. With the draft AI framework being published, now is a critical time for advocacy against that technology.
The third priority would be public transit and campus parking. We need better public transit to campus. The university also recently repealed parking permit systems for several lots, and I would advocate for those to be brought back.
TC: Another key role of CUSA is its responsibility to support about 170 clubs on campus. How would you support campus clubs?
MH: One of the biggest things is being available to students at every opportunity. I’ve seen club representatives come into CUSA’s office with questions all the time. Having more people there to help guide them is crucial.
Improving resources for clubs, including the website and the procedures of the CUSA Clubs Oversight Commission is also important. If those resources are easier to understand, it’s much easier to guide people through next steps.
TC: Despite improvements to the state of CUSA’s finances, Ollie’s is still experiencing financial challenges and The Wing shut down again this year. What changes would you make to CUSA’s finances?
MH: My first priority would be a top-to-bottom financial review. Even if I can’t stop businesses from losing money during my term, I can lay the groundwork so people know where the money is going and can adjust their strategies accordingly.
TC: Bill 33, a provincial law that will allow the government to make some student levies optional, could come into effect next academic year. If CUSA’s levy is made optional and brings revenue cuts to the association, how would you handle the fallout?
MH: CUSA would have to adapt. It would be a struggle, but it can be done. This year, a lot of work was done with much less funding. If levies are cut, it would probably impact businesses first rather than service centres.
It’s a big risk, which is why I’d work with other student groups and levy groups to fight it.
TC: Picking up on that, how concerned are you about Bill 33?
MH: It’s a very big concern, but one that can be mitigated. The Student Choice Initiative was overturned through a coordinated effort by many student groups across the province. We now know how to fight these policies, and I think there’s a possibility we could stop it in a shorter time span.
TC: What actions would you take to get students engaged with CUSA?
MH: I want to introduce more volunteer-led and honorarium-based roles, rather than relying so heavily on full-time non-student staff. That gives students more opportunities to be involved.
For events specifically, we need better advertising and we must avoid scheduling overlaps.
TC: How do you imagine CUSA’s future?
MH: I imagine a students’ association people can take pride in. I’d work with student groups to increase collaboration and improve systems like the clubs advisory roundtable so student voices are actually heard.
My goal is that by next year, there aren’t just two candidates running for president. I think that reflects a lack of faith in CUSA. I’d love to see more people passionate about serving and advocating for students.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured image by Simon McKeown/the Charlatan
This article, and all of the Charlatan’s work, is brought to you by an independent student newspaper dedicated to informing, uplifting and entertaining the Carleton University community. We are a levy-funded organization which plays a role in the broader, vibrant student culture on campus. By reading this article, you are supporting our efforts.
