The results of this year’s Governing Council elections were released on February 25, and seven students were elected to the council. The voting period ran from February 7–18, during which 38 students ran to fill the eight positions available to students on the council. Last year, 53 students ran for these positions. One seat reserved for part-time undergraduate students remains unspoken for, and the university will make a third call for nominations for the position in the fall.
The Governing Council votes on university issues, including U of T’s budget and the appointment of university officials. Students are also able to bring forward motions at meetings. Four of the eight seats reserved for students go to full-time undergraduate students, with the four remaining seats split evenly between part-time undergraduate students and graduate students.
The winners of the full-time undergraduate seats were Jessica Johnson from Woodsworth College, with 288 votes; Annabelle Dravid from UTSC, with 275 votes; Madeline Kalda from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, with 103 votes; and Dveeta Lal from the Faculty of Physical Education & Kinesiology, with 83 votes.
The winner of the one currently filled part-time seat was Susan Froom from Trinity College, who won by default due to the fact that no other students ran. The university is planning to fill the second seat in the fall.
The winners of the graduate seats were Arman Rasekh from the Rotman School of Management, with 103 votes, and Summer Hart from the Faculty of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, with 265 votes.
Teaching staff were also elected to the Governing Council during this election cycle, and the university also held elections for other councils, including the Academic Board and the campus councils for UTM and UTSC. The Governing Council will vote on U of T’s budget as it is finalized over the coming months.
