March 21, 2018

Brit Paris acclaimed as Graduate Students' Association president

Voter turnout increases as 13 nominees vie for election
The new Graduate Students' Association executive, from left: Mohammad Mansouri, Marcela Lopes, Elena Favaro, President Brit Paris, and Mina Iskander.

From left: Mohammad Mansouri, Marcela Lopes, Elena Favaro, President Brit Paris, and Mina Iskander.

A new Board of Directors for the Graduate Students' Association has been elected following what turned out to be an exciting election with a total of 13 nominees and record numbers for voter turnout.

President Brit Paris was acclaimed, keeping her position after serving last year. The vice-president external was also acclaimed, seeing Marcela Coelho Lopes capture that position.

“It’s so great to see such an increase in student engagement in this year’s election,” says Paris. “This election might be the largest one we’ve had in over 10 years, which shows that our membership cares about the future of the GSA.”

Other result highlights:

  • Mina Iskander, capturing 40.2 per cent of the vote, is the new incoming vice-president student life.
  • Elena Favaro will be vice-president academic, attaining 25.8 per cent of the vote.
  • Acquiring 26.3 per cent of the vote, Mohammad Mansouri will be the vice-president finance and services.

This election saw a significant increase of student involvement over the previous year resulting in 697 votes, approximately 12 per cent of the graduate student population over last year’s 455 votes at 7.5 per cent.