Toby Lew elected in unopposed race.
Toby Lew is your new director of education & equity.
The race for this position was a quiet one with Lew running as the only candidate. Despite having no competition, students still needed to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ during the voting period which ran April. 1 to 7.
With 1,302 electors casting a ballot Lew received 839 votes of ‘yes’ giving him the win with 85.5 per cent of the total vote.
He will join the Student Association (SA) board as of May. 1.
The director of education & equity is at the forefront of advising the board on issues related to equity, advocacy, and education. Lew will also take lead on planning campaigns as the main contact for the Canadian Federation of Students.
“I think this position is really important for the SA, because the union isn’t just about helping students out with their experience and providing services, it is also about making sure that they have the right tools to succeed academically,” said Lew.
Currently finishing the second year in the general arts and sciences program, Lew is already helping students as part of the tutoring and learning center and as a peer leader for the general arts and sciences program.
“The reason I ran specifically for education and equity is because I feel that academic support is helping students academically and in terms of equal rights, but when it comes to education, hasn’t been pushed to its true potential.”
A unique aspect of Lew’s election campaign was the absence of pledges and specific promises on his campaign posters. Lew spoke about a sense of mistrust among the students for the student association because of unfulfilled promises from past directors.
“I felt that it was important that I focus on what my mission was, what was my overall goal, rather than individual initiatives. If you are making false promises, that can create a huge mistrust amongst the students for the association.”
He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the constraints and limitations of the SA and to focus on feasible goals that the SA could work towards for the benefit of the students.
Rather than being seen as a lack of direction, Lew hopes that this highlights the proactive approach he is taking to enhance the SA and its services. He already has a few ideas to bring to the table that he believes will have high value to the students.
This includes the creation of designated boards for students to put up posters and information about their projects, surveys, shows and programs. Among others he also shares his concern for the growing cost of living and has plans to discuss possible expansion to the presto load program.
Lew also put emphasis on the need for equitable mental health support with the turbulent times international students are in, having to face a constantly changing post-secondary education landscape. Similarly, Lew shares his concern for the wider student population facing program suspensions and pauses.
One thing he notes is that George Brown College needs to reduce its dependence on international students and focus on domestic students by maintaining their unique and diverse programs. He hopes that the SA and GBC can come together and create a more inviting space.
Lew encourages anyone facing any challenges or issues to be open and share them with him or any representatives or directors.
“I will be working directly with a lot of the representatives…, to reach out to their programs and their departments, to speak with them and see what they need, because I think that is important.”
