GSS Vice President Candidate Statements Fall 2023- Election Manifesto

My Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am Abu Bony Amin, 3rd year PhD Student in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMass Amherst and a current member of Dean Advisory Committee at College of Engineering. I am running for the Vice President position of GSS for Fall 2023. To obtain your support I am submitting my detailed goals for next one year:

I will advocate for tuition fee waivers for all incoming Master's students, regardless of RA/TA positions in their starting semester, due to the growing annual intake.
I will propose innovative partnerships between the university and state-funded public housing authorities to address student rent financial challenges. Moreover, I will draw the attention of the university to maintain consistent rental rates throughout the year for key housing units in Amherst like Colonial Village, Boulders, Presidential, Crestview Apartments etc. with the possibility of university subsidies for any additional costs.
As a Dean Advisory Committee Member, I'm willing to serve as a liaison between the student community and department head and the Dean on academic matters. I'd like to address the inconvenience of early morning classes for students commuting from Northampton and Springfield. Additionally, I'm eager to collaborate directly with alumni to increase internship, co-op and job opportunities.
I am committed to the elimination of any excessive fees, such as service and engineering fees, that go beyond the core tuition charges. My objective is to streamline the fee structure, ensuring that students are not burdened with additional and unnecessary financial obligations, thereby promoting greater financial transparency and fairness in the cost of education.
I will dedicate myself to fostering a strong connection with fellow students and encourage regular meetings to actively seek and welcome their feedback. By maintaining an open and accessible line of communication, I aim to engage with students effectively and bring their valuable insights and concerns to the attention of the administration, ensuring that their voices are heard and acted upon.
I advocate for the implementation of paid vacation policies that recognize and respect the diverse religious and cultural traditions of our student body. Specifically, I propose that students should be granted paid leave for significant occasions such as Eid ul Adha, Eid ul Fitr, Diwali, Durga Puja (Navami and Bijaya Dashami), Chinese New Year, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. These cultural and religious holidays hold great importance for various members of our community, and offering paid time off would demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the well-being of our students.
As an aware and regular GEO bargaining session participant, I will actively collaborate with unions to address a range of pressing issues. These include advocating for salary increments, ensuring effective management of housing rent, and championing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within our university community.
I am strongly advocating for the university to expand its commitment to supporting students, particularly those with families, by increasing the availability of basic needs resources, such as the Student Care Supply Closet. It is crucial that we prioritize the welfare of students who face the additional challenges of family responsibilities, and by enhancing these resources, we can provide essential supplies that are often overlooked. This initiative will not only alleviate the financial burden for these students but also contribute to a more inclusive and supportive university environment.
I will work on enhancing student support by increasing the Meal Plan Assistance Fund on a need-based approach. My goal is to secure a minimum of 10 free meals per semester for eligible students, alleviating their financial burdens and ensuring that they have access to an essential diet.