Hi Badgers!

I hope everyone had a great reading week and that midterms are going well! I’m excited to share another update on what I’ve been working on over the past month.

UPass continued to be a big part of my work, including helping students with questions and issues related to their bus passes. I also wanted to address the concerns we’ve received from students about safety and accessibility when taking the bus to and from the Marilyn I. Walker campus. We’ve been working with Brock University, the Human Rights and Equity Office, other departments on campus, and Niagara Region Transit to address these concerns and explore how we can collaborate further. We’re also looking at what immediate support BUSU can offer students in the meantime. I’ll continue to share updates as we work towards a solution.

We’ve also received concerns from students who have not been able to board the bus when their cards don’t swipe, despite having a valid UPass sticker. We’ve communicated these concerns to Niagara Region Transit, and they’ve since sent a reminder to their drivers that students with a valid UPass sticker can still board when their card is not swiping. If you’re experiencing issues with your card not swiping, please visit the Brock Card Office so they can look into it and help.

Please continue to reach out to me if you experience any of these issues or have other concerns. Hearing about your experiences helps us understand where students are still facing difficulties and what we need to follow up on.

This month, I had my second Senate meeting and also attended meetings with the Undergraduate Program Committee and Senate Bylaw Working Group. These meetings continue to be an important way for me to bring student perspectives into discussions and decisions that affect your academic experience at Brock. I also had the opportunity to attend the President’s update to the Brock community on October 8. It was really nice to hear about the work happening across the University, reflect on the past year’s achievements and learn more about what’s ahead.

I also had my first National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) campus committee meeting this month. The committee’s goal is to use student feedback from the survey to better understand students’ experiences at Brock and identify where and how additional support can be offered. The committee is also looking to have more students join and share their perspectives, so please feel free to reach out to me if you’re interested! Alongside this, I attended the Black History Month Working Group Kickoff and meetings with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence planning committee.

After attending the Student Ombuds Advisory Committee meeting, I left wanting more students to know about their office and the support they offer. They provide confidential and impartial guidance for concerns regarding academic integrity, disciplinary matters and conflicts. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, I encourage you to reach out to their office for support!

Moving forward, my office hours will be on Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. Please feel free to stop by if you have any questions or concerns about your student union or student life, or if you just want to talk!

Sincerely,
Malak Eldafrawy
Vice President, University Affairs
Brock University Students’ Union