Safe sidewalks are essential. They keep pedestrians and cyclists connected to their communities for school, work and recreation. Research has shown that sidewalks are important for the wellness and wellbeing of the community. Sidewalks help to enhance mobility, keep pedestrians and motorists separated thereby preventing accidents and helps to promote social activity. SFU is on the Burnaby mountain and with the planned expansion of the TMX pipeline as well as an increase in the number of tank farms, which both poses increased fire risks, it becomes essential to provide SFU students, staff, faculty and the entire community with a safe and accessible sidewalk to and from the mountain. There is only one entry and exit point to and from the mountain. As a result, if there is ever an emergency and the road closes, everybody will be trapped on the mountain. Additionally, as the province commits to reducing greenhouse emissions, waste and pollution, it becomes important to explore other effective transit options that can help us meet our long-term climate goals. A safe, secure and accessible sidewalk to and from the Burnaby mountain will mean that students, faculty, staff and other community members can explore other ways of commuting such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards, e-bikes among others that can help reduce noise and air pollution.
RECOMMENDATION: Build a safe and secure sidewalk on both sides of the mountain to ensure easy access to and from the mountain. This sidewalk has to be built in a way that ensures that pedestrians and motorists are separated and mobility is enhanced.
As the number of years young people spend in school keeps increasing, many complete without any practical experience. This makes it difficult for them to enter certain fields of work, even entry level positions. In order to help smooth their transition from school to the workplace without sacrificing taking the time off studies to do so, it becomes essential that students be given the opportunity to know what is expected of them at the workplace. That is why the Simon Fraser Student Union would like to propose a joint internship and volunteer opportunities program with the City of Burnaby. This initiative, although will not promise a job afterwards, will provide students with transferable skills which employers seek (such as communication, teamwork, leadership, technical and leadership skills). Further, these opportunities will allow students the opportunity to experiment. This is because internships and volunteer opportunities usually do not require a specific time commitment. Consequently, students have the opportunity to adjust their school schedules so that it does not interfere with their studies. The ability to experiment and move from one position to the next will also allow students to experience a field without feeling tied down when they find out that it is not for them. Lastly, internship and volunteer opportunities can help students to network and get inside information on job vacancies.
RECOMMENDATION: Collaborate with the City of Burnaby to give students internship and volunteer opportunities.
This initiative was initially started after having witnessed the success of a similar program launched by the New Westminster School System. The aim of this campaign is to provide free menstrual products in high traffic washrooms in the Student Union Building and subsequently have it expanded to other high traffic washrooms on all three SFU campuses. Menstruation is a natural and unavoidable part of life for many women. It can often affect one’s quality of life due to gender-based inequalities and associated health problems. According to a 2023 survey published by Planned Canada, a quarter of Canadians who menstruate have had to choose between buying period products or paying for other essentials such as food and rent. This is echoed by the Government of Canada who found that 1 out of 6 Canadians who menstruate have experienced period poverty and 1 out of 5 who menstruate say that they may not be able to afford period products at some point in the next 12 months. These numbers are even higher for people from marginalised and remote communities, are Black, indigenous and people of colour. Studies have shown that lack of access to menstrual products can negatively affect the emotional wellbeing of students as well as their class attendance and participation. As such, this campaign was launched to provide students with accessible menstrual products aimed at aiding them to participate fully in school, reduce stigma, embarrassment and discomfort surrounding periods and help to promote gender equality.
The first pilot of this project was done in collaboration with the Graduate Student Society, Women’s Center, and Out-on-Campus. We submitted a proposal to the Student Experience Initiative (SEI) to fund this project and it was approved. Due to COVID- 19 in 2020 where in-person classes were shifted to online, SEI postponed the initiative. However, the initiative was never restarted after in-person classes resumed.
RECOMMENDATION: Collaborate with SEI and start the pilot project of having free pads and tampons in high traffic bathrooms in the SUB. Collaborate with sponsor on providing free menstrual products on campus.
Fall is the start of the academic year for most students. For some, it is the period where they enter post-secondary schools; for others, it is an opportunity to move to another level on their academic journey and catch-up with friends after the summer break. This means that in most departments, the fall semester is very vital as they prepare for new and returning students while introducing a variety of course options students can choose from. This means that, for most students, fall semester can be academically challenging. As such, many students often feel overwhelmed, anxious and stressed. Thus, a reading break would provide the perfect opportunity in the academic calendar for students! Studies have shown that reading breaks play a pivotal role in students’ educational experience beyond a pause from classes. Reading breaks allow students to recharge. Oftentimes, the pace of academic life can be face-paced and this often leads to exhaustion, stress and anxiety. Providing students with reading breaks provides them with a much needed rest, enabling them to reset their minds thereby contributing to their mental health and overall wellbeing. Additionally, reading breaks enables students to plan strategically. Break in the academic calendar allows students to assess their progress, identify areas of improvements and set realistic goals for the remainder of the semester.
RECOMMENDATION: Run a campaign to the student body and gather support for a reading break in the Fall. Send a letter to the SFU Senate so that they consider instituting a policy that requires the university to have a reading break during the fall semester.
