Age: 19
Program: BA Political Science and Law
Hometown: Barrington Passage, NS
Website: voterichard.ca

What is your past experience with the DSU or with student life in general on campus?

Serving as the Arts and Social Science Councillor on the DSU keeps me busy. In addition to the regular responsibilities of a Councillor, I’m on five committees: Society Review, Grants, Executive Review, Residence Relations, and Recruitment. I’m also on the Dal Arts Society Council, and three committees there. I’ve been a student rep on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and this year I am a member of the FASS Governance Review Committee and Student Affairs Committee.

But my favourite experience in student life has been as Howe Hall President. It’s there where I feel like I can really help improve residence student’s experience at Dal.

What is your favourite place on campus and why?

 Howe Hall. And I’m not just saying that because I’m the President.

University residences are pretty unique. Where else would you find 700 young people living so close together? Naturally that results in plenty of good times, but it has also created the tightest-knit community I have ever seen. And for other residents, those 700 people are no longer just students or neighbors. They become problem solvers.

We can work together on things like homework, but more importantly we can find someone else who shares a passion, or is seeking a solution, and we can work together to make it happen!

Why are you running for the DSU?

Recent government decisions have resulted in a raw deal for students- we can expect tuition hikes, at the same time university funding is being cut.

It's time to make post-secondary education a major policy issue in Nova Scotia, especially with a provincial election on the horizon. Only then will the government begin to make positive decisions for students.

I’ll focus on attainable solutions that will actually make Dalhousie better for students. 

I want to improve financial assistance and maximize space for students on campus. Federally, I will push for increased transparency in the tri-councils for Graduate students. I will also work to increase professional development opportunities offered to students. It's time to make Dalhousie University the best university that it can be.

What’s your best memory from your time at Dal?

Frosh Week 2011. My own frosh week was a blast, but it had nothing on my first frosh week as a leader.

Seeing the excitement in the eyes of 1200 new Dalhousians (I prefer to call them Tiger Cubs...) who were about to start one of the great adventures of their life, took me back to my first week at Dal. I remember expecting a few new friends, the occasional good time, and lots of studying, but my experience at Dal and in Halifax has surpassed my wildest expectations.

As I got to know the frosh that were to be living in Howe Hall for the year, I found myself just as excited as they were, hoping that their Dalhousie experience would be as awesome as mine has been; with just as many great people, and just as many crazy experiences in Halifax.

What would be your top three priorities if you got elected to this position?

1. Recognizing that the government is only going to start making positive decisions for students if post-secondary education is made a provincial priority. Then, and only then, will we see sensible decisions in regards to tuition and university funding.

2. Focusing on attainable solutions that will actually make a difference for students. For example, tigerbooks.ca is a DSU website to buy/sell used textbooks. Unfortunately no one knows it exists. By promoting it, students can use it and save money, making their education a little bit more affordable.

3. Working to improve the quality of a Dalhousie education, by working to improve study space, and increase financial assistance offered to students.

Is it Gray-wood or Grah-wood?

Does it matter? Whatever you call it, it’s still a pretty sweet place to hang out and drink $12 yards during power hour.

But for the record, it’s Graywood.