Zane Colt, a second-year public affairs and policy management student specializing in Middle East studies, recently got elected to the university’s Board of Governors as an undergraduate student representative.
The Charlatan’s Jessica Chin spoke with Colt about getting elected and what he hopes to achieve for students on the board.
The Charlatan (TC): What originally prompted you to run for undergraduate representative?
Zane Colt (ZC): I decided that I really wanted to represent all the undergrads and I had really big visions for the school and I wanted to make an impact. I wanted to be the voice for students. I went for it and never looked back.
TC: What was it about the board that appealed to you, as opposed to the Carleton University Students’ Association?
ZC: It’s the highest governing body on campus, so it’s incredibly influential and not a lot of people know about it. It’s too bad, because it really can be a voice . . . be a huge outlet for students. And I wanted to be that liaison between the [undergraduates] and the administration to fight for what students need on campus.
TC: What did you think about the election process?
ZC: A lot of it was also done online and through Facebook and the power of social media really, really impressed me over the past few weeks and the impact that it has in rounding up students to actually go out and vote, as well as just hearing about my campaign and spreading it out to their friends.
TC: What are some of the things you hope to accomplish during your term?
ZC: One of my main points is to try to get students a fall reading week. Leading academic institutions . . . in Canada have it, why shouldn’t we? Students need a little bit of a break to focus just on studying and revising before exams, and not have the distraction of extracurriculars or schoolwork. I also want to see a student-run sexual assault [support] centre on campus, I want to see a binding socially responsible investment plan on campus, I want to see more plugs, more outlets on campus and better Wi-Fi circulation, more space for student clubs on campus, and a better communication strategy between the undergrads and the administration to help voice their concerns.
TC: How are you planning to do all of this?
ZC: A lot of lobbying, a lot of standing up for what I believe in, a lot of talking with other clubs, a lot of talking with board members who have influence, and learning the lay of the land on the board in order to develop sub-committees, and working relationships with the members in order to have them see [that] students need these platform points and they deserve them as part of the hard work and academic excellence that they do.
TC: Do you have any plans to get students more involved with the board?
ZC: Part of that communication strategy I was referring to was obviously developing town halls and office hours in order to have a more open line of communication and to report back and clear up what the minutes really mean for the board.
TC: If you could describe yourself in three words to all of the undergraduates, what would they be?
ZC: Motivated, creative, and a listener.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
