President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri has issued this statement to the York community:
I am delighted to announce that members of the Task Force on Student Life, Learning & Community has selected seven students to join them and all have accepted the invitation. With approximately 225 applicants from every faculty, college and campus – both graduate and undergraduate – there was a wealth of York talent to choose from.
Each of the students who put their name forward was reviewed by at least two of the faculty and staff members and assessed in accordance with the selection criteria for membership, including their experience in working with teams or as part of a group, and a demonstrated commitment to understanding the needs of students. The task force members then decided, by consensus as a group, on the seven students who best met the selection criteria, with particular attention given to ensuring representation of a wide and diverse cross-section of the York student community, These students are among York’s finest and each one of their accomplishments would fill many pages. It is important that you hear who they are and learn a little bit about them:
- Asma Fatehi is pursuing a BA in philosophy and sociology and a BEd. Born in India, Fatehi is keenly interested in the effects of intolerance and excessive conflict on men, women and children both in India and around the world.
- Nimmy George has volunteered as the chief returning officer for the new student government for the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and for the election of a graduate student to the Board of Govenors of York University. George says that her participation on University committees and in events has allowed her to develop a greater understanding of student life at York University.
- Azwar Khalid is completing his studies in the Computer Engineering Program in the Faculty of Science & Engineering at York University. He is the winner of IBM’s Web 2.0 Business Case Competition (2007) and successfully completed IBM’s SOA Web Services Course Certificate in 2008.
- James Murayama (BA Spec. Hons ’05) is a master’s student in the Graduate Program in Geography. His research examines how contested representations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are framed by students at York University.
- Elena Prager is a student in the International Bachelor of Business Administration Program, Schulich School of Business. She is one of only 30 Export Development Canada International Business Scholars in Canada. Prager is the founder and president of York SOS: Students Offering Support.
- Aaron Rosen is a third-year student enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He was a York Federation of Students Science & Engineering Councillor for 2007-2008 and serves on the Emergency Campus Response Team.
- Denise Williams (BSc Spec. Hons. ’06) is completing her studies at Osgoode Hall Law School and will graduate in June with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. An alumna of York, Williams previously studied kinesiology and health science.
Please join me in thanking these students for agreeing to serve York in this very important way. Thanks are owed also to all those who applied. They will be contacted and invited to participate further and I hope they do so.
I believe that the Task Force is off to a great start and I look forward to hearing from them and you, on how we can engage with one another in meaningful and even passionate ways while remaining a civil, respectful, and open-minded.