Hi Badgers,

I hope you are all doing well and getting excited for the holiday break. I am happy to share my November update with you.

November was one of the busiest and most exciting months of my term. I started the month by taking a short break after returning from Sudbury, where I joined five other BUSU delegates for the OUSA General Assembly. Once I was back, I began preparing for everything that was planned for the second week.

During the second week, I had the opportunity to attend the Technology and Education Seminar and Showcase (TESS) conference hosted by eCampusOntario, and I brought two student leaders with me. TESS brings together the digital learning community to celebrate success, exchange ideas, and imagine the future of education. Hundreds of educators, administrators, librarians, and instructional designers from across Ontario and North America attend this event. The 2025 conference explored innovative and practical solutions that help educators, institutions, and learners thrive in a changing environment.

On the 13th, I hosted the Pizza with Politicians event at Residence 8, which turned out to be a great success. The weather did not make things easy. While I was driving the golf cart full of event supplies, it stopped in the middle of the road right as a hailstorm began. Thankfully, our BUSU street team and events team responded quickly and made everything possible. We were joined by five politicians who had meaningful conversations with students. The feedback was very positive, so I will be hosting the event again on January 15th. Keep an eye out for that announcement.

In the third week, I hosted my second VPEA advisory committee meeting, which gave me helpful feedback on the work I have been doing. Fiona, Natalia, and I also visited the Faith and Life Centre, where we met with Zach to learn more about the space and explore how we can show students that it is open and welcoming to everyone. It is a beautiful study spot on campus, especially in the winter when the trees outside are covered in snow and you can enjoy a warm drink inside. I highly recommend checking it out.

I continued my work on the BUSU-Brock ancillary fee protocol review committee, which examines all matters related to ancillary fees. We had important discussions about the future of these fees, especially now that Bill 33 has passed. Transparency and accountability are essential when we talk about student fees, and our committee is committed to upholding those values. On the same day, the BUSU executive team also hosted the first meeting of the Advocacy Volunteer Group. The students who joined us were passionate and thoughtful, and they brought forward concerns and ideas that we have already begun working on.

On Sunday the 23rd, Fiona and I traveled to Toronto for the Student Advocacy Conference hosted by the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. We received training on lobbying elected officials and communicating our key advocacy priorities. The conference ran from Sunday to Thursday, and I also attended a steering committee meeting on Friday.

This year, OUSA had 19 student leaders advocating throughout the week. Fiona and I were placed in different groups. In my group I advocated alongside the Vice President of the McMaster Students Union, the Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association, the Vice President Student Services at the Ontario Tech Student Union, and the Vice President of the Trent Durham Student Union. Together, we discussed our priorities with legislators and staffers at Queen’s Park, which include increasing investment in post-secondary education, supporting student and community safety, and preparing for future enrolment demand. To learn more, you can check out OUSA’s recap here: https://www.ousa.ca/sac_recap_2025

That wraps up my November update. Thank you so much for reading. I wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year. I cannot wait to share more updates with you soon.

Sincerely,
Aaditya Gupta
Vice President, External Affairs
Brock University Students’ Union