By Leo Webster — Senior Copy Editor

During the 2021 SRC election debates, a highlighted issue was the lack of student involvement and knowledge about the SRC. Most students are aware that the purpose of the Student Representative Council is to work with the administration and faculty to advocate for students, as well as being an opportunity for students to gain political experience. It is also a major supplier of funding to student clubs and other projects.

Many students have mixed feelings about the SRC, since it draws its funding from school fees, and its projects do not always have immediate results. Despite this, the projects of the SRC have been relevant in recent years, such as overseeing the review of the sexual assault policy, making basic necessities more available to students, and supporting Eco-Week and other sustainability initiatives. There are also longstanding projects such as O-Week and Doolittle’s Co-op that have an impact on student experience, yet are not necessarily well-known as part of the SRC.

Some pertinent recent projects include the Meal Care program, which attempts to reduce food waste from Dewies and other locations on-campus by giving the leftover food to those who need it. Another proposition is for more affordable menstrual products, which is due to be voted on in the coming days. The SRC has worked with the Sustainability Office on various projects, including the Community Cupboard, a food pantry available to those struggling with food insecurity.

When asked about ways for students to get involved, Secretary General Karen Dymond said that being a student representative is a great role because it is an opportunity to share one’s perspective on the Bishop’s experience. These positions are usually elected by other students and involve representing the student body and initiating various projects, depending on the particular post. About her own role as Secretary General, Dymond said she enjoys being able to work directly with students and support their projects.

Current SRC President Camilla Rizzi sees her role as an opportunity for advocacy and change. She is the first Indigenous SRC president, as well as the youngest, and she plans to use her office to advocate for student needs. The beginning of her involvement in student government came from her role as a student activist after the confession on the Arches bridge in fall 2021. According to her, various students suggested that she run for office. 

When asked what advice she would give for students looking to get involved, Rizzi said: “There’s a spot for everybody. If there’s not room, make room.” She said that her experience with government is that people often like to keep things the same, saying that individuals have to speak up to make change.

One of Rizzi’s main concerns since taking office has been mental health advocacy. She says that due to her experiences as a person of colour, “I’m able to have those difficult conversations.” Bishop’s continues to expand its mental health support, with drop-in counseling available to students in addition to the Peer Support Centre and Sexual Violence Support Centre. Some of this support relies on the efforts of students, not only professional counselors.

Probably the most popular way to get involved with the SRC is volunteering at events, particularly O-Week and Winterfest. In addition to being the most popular events, they also have the largest portion of the SRC budget after salaries and payroll. And interestingly, the biggest revenue source after student fees is sales from the Gait.

           Anything that costs money will be controversial on a college campus, and it makes sense from a student perspective, since off-campus students benefit less from campus initiatives. However, the situation is not as simple as giving up extraneous events in order to have fees reduced. Many students who are involved find the benefits of these programs incalculable – for instance, the printing costs of the creative writing journal are paid through SRC funding. Not to mention that the SRC is compensating students to be activists and advocates rather than forcing them to choose between work and involvement.

The programs of the SRC are too many to name, and this newspaper has covered many SRC-sponsored events, since most programs on campus lead back to that institution. Any form of governance leads to questions about its purpose and legitimacy, but in this case students are able to answer these questions not only through observation, but also through their own contributions.