This is part of a four part series:
- Monday – President Mark Livingstone
- Tuesday – VP Student Life Alex Vietinghoff
- Wednesday – VP Education Craig Mazerolle
- Thursday – VP Admin Mary-Dan Johnston
Next year, Mary-Dan Johnston says focusing on union governance will be her main priority as vice-president administration.
“Trying to establish some really clear policies and make sure that those are available for all students so that they can understand how we operate and that they have the opportunity to contribute to those decisions,” she said. “We are looking to put in a sustainability policy and ethical purchasing policy.
“I’ve heard a lot of students talk about how they don’t necessarily know where the union apparel for things like welcome week comes from.”
Running unopposed in last week’s general election, Johnson secured a third term in the position she’s held since a by-election in fall 2009. Although she was accepted to McGill Law, Johnson chose to come back to St. Thomas University for a fifth and final year to finish what she helped start.
“I felt that a lot of work was sort of started this year, things that were sort of longer term initiatives that we were hoping to bring to students,” Johnston said. “But I feel that I have a responsibility to carry those things through.”
And she plans on working with two new members of the executive to sort out these issues. She calls VP administration the “swing position,” capable of helping out wherever she can.
“What happens is if I don’t have something to do on a particular week I’ll help out on another portfolio. So I’ll help out student life or I’ll help out the education or I’ll help out the president and I technically step in for the president if something else comes up.”
And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
As a member of STU Singers, Students for Sustainability, UNITE and as a former residence advisor and teacher’s assistant, Johnston likes having a lot lot on her plate.
“I mean it’s an incredible amount of work to do these kinds of positions and a lot of it isn’t visible to students so it may not seem like that much but I said that I would start something and I want to finish it,” she said.
“I really like having the opportunity to give back to students because that’s how you get the most out of university is from the people you encounter.”
