Our Supportive Older Sibling: SMUSA
By Samarth Behl
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by SMUSA
To SMU students, SMUSA acts like a supportive older sibling who is passionately committed to enhancing every aspect of student life on as well as off-campus. Join us on a journey to explore the various aspects of SMUSA’s impact, where support, inclusivity, advocacy and enrichment shape a holistic and fulfilling campus life for every student.
Resources
At the heart of SMUSA lies a comprehensive and robust set of resources built to empower students and enhance their experience on campus. Students, however, are not always aware of SMUSA's resources.
SMUSA Information Desk:
This is a central hub where students can find answers to numerous queries ranging from general information about the university to specifics about their health plans and bus passes. This desk displays SMUSA’s commitment to ensuring students have easy access to the information they need for a smooth academic journey. This desk is located on the first floor of the Student centre.
Husky Patrol:
Recognising the significance of safety, SMUSA’s Husky Patrol offers rides to and from campus. This service exemplifies SMUSA’s dedication towards a secure campus environment. For rides to campus, students can reach out to 902-496-8755, and for rides from campus, students can visit the SMUSA information desk.
Centres for Inclusivity:
Pride and Women’s Centre- SMUSA hosts these centres on the fifth floor of the student centre to foster safe places for students. The women’s centre provides a feminist and women-empowering environment where students can find a place to hang out, work, and socialise and are also given free access to menstrual products and condoms. The Pride Centre offers a welcoming safe place for the LGBTQ community.
Food Room:
For students who are facing food insecurities, the volunteer-driven SMU Community Food Room serves as an on-campus food bank where students are offered both short-term and long-term solutions to ensure that no student goes hungry.
Gorsebrook Lounge:
This is the official campus pub, consistently celebrated as the best place for students to hang out. It has become an ideal spot for lunch, meetings, work, etc., for many students.
Support Services:
Whether it’s getting posters approved and stamped by the information desk, connecting students with tutors for academic assistance, or accessing the Experiential Learning Fund for educational pursuits, SMUSA has you covered.
Funding:
SMUSA Experiential Learning Fund (SELF) is designed to overcome obstacles to students’ growth. The fund provides sponsorship for students for various activities like conferences, competitions, and volunteer initiatives. It has a limit of $200 per request and a yearly limit of $500 for a student. This fund encourages students to explore beyond traditional education. The application for this fund can be found here.
Academics
If a student faces an academic offence allegation like plagiarism, the SMUSA Academic and Advocacy VPs should be their first point of contact. Their role extends beyond student representation as they empower students by educating them about their rights and providing resources to navigate such cases.
SMUSA facilitates the Tutor Database, which offers students access to a pool of tutors. This database not only assists students in getting academic help but also creates employment opportunities for those seeking to tutor. With these services, SMUSA stands as a pillar of academic support, contributing to an equitable academic environment on campus. This database can be accessed at SMUSA’s Website.
Photo by SMUSA
Societies
SMUSA plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and shared interests at SMU by supporting and promoting student societies on campus. Students looking to explore or join existing societies can rely on SMUSA’s comprehensive information about the diverse range of societies on campus. This information can be found at SMUSA’s Website.
SMUSA also encourages students to engage in these societies as it allows them to connect with like-minded peers, share interests, and contribute to a vibrant campus life.
Moreover, SMUSA extends its support to aspiring society builders. If students wish to create their own society, SMUSA offers assistance and resources. This support empowers them to take initiative and build their own communities, contributing to the rich interests of students that define the Saint Mary’s University experience.
Events
SMUSA is the architect of several events which cater to the diverse needs and interests of SMUdents. SMUSA has a holistic approach towards student engagement as it hosts both educational as well as social events.
Educational Events:
SMUSA goes above and beyond by hosting educational events that enhance student’s academic journeys. For example, SMUSA hosted Academic Integrity Week from October 30 to November 2, in which topics like AI, citations, copyright, plagiarism, etc., were discussed.
Social Events:
In social events, SMUSA creates vibrant and specific experiences that bring communities together. Taylor Swift Week in mid-November featured craft nights, trivia and karaoke, showcasing how SMUSA integrates pop culture with student life. This was just one example of the many exciting events SMUSA hosts regularly, like paint nights, bingo, movie nights, etc. SMUSA hosts weekly themed trivia nights, adding an element of friendly competition to campus life.
SMUSA also significantly contributed to welcome week with events that played a crucial role by setting the tone for the entire academic year. For more information on SMUSA’s impact during welcome week, check out this article.
These events provide students with an opportunity to unwind, socialise, relax, connect, and showcase their knowledge in an entertaining and exciting atmosphere. To learn more about SMUSA’s upcoming events, click here.
Advocacy
SMUSA serves as a powerful advocate for the student body, ensuring that their concerns and needs are heard. The VP Advocacy plays a critical role in representing students, acting as a voice for the voiceless in case of a conflict with professors or other university employees.
Beyond the campus, the current VP Advocacy, Anubhav Gupta and President, Shiray Tan, engage with politicians to discuss students’ concerns. A great initiative is the Provincial Advocacy Week from November 11 to November 17, where the VP advocacy and the president collaborate with student unions from other universities to meet provincial politicians and discuss students’ needs and problems like financial aid, housing, food security, etc. Following this, Federal Advocacy Week will take place to discuss these issues on a federal level. These actions would highlight student concerns to policymakers.
SMUSA’s Advocacy efforts, led by the VP of Advocacy, ensure that SMUdents’ concerns are not only heard on campus, but echoed in political matters too. This has an impact on shaping policies that foster an environment that supports student well-being.
In conclusion, SMUSA’s holistic approach, resources, events, academic services, society support and advocacy reflect its dedication in developing a vibrant and supportive campus community, ensuring that every SMUdent experiences a positive transformative journey throughout their academic life.