COMMUTER COMMISSIONER

Maarib Kirmani Haseeb

The winter semester is off to an amazing start! Let’s get into it.

Pancake brunches so far have been great! Though we had a bit of a rocky start, we have settled into the routine once again. We have also started to collaborate with other UofT student groups including CommuKNITy, Students for Collective Resistance Vic, VOICES, and have more planned.

My main project this semester has been Commuter Appreciation Week, a five-day collaboration with different colleges across UofT. As of right now, we have participation from New College, St. Mikes, Innis, and Woodsworth college. We have many events planned such as origami and clay painting, PRESTO ticket giveaway, community mural painting, and a Beavertail’s truck on Friday afternoon to end it all off. The other colleges are planning on hosting a gift card bean bag toss giveaway, movie night, and more.

Our wonderful duos are killing it once again this semester! Here’s what they’ve been up to and some programming they have planned:

• Administrative (Michelle and Jacob) - Update announcements on the whiteboard in the Commuter Lounge, track pancake inventory, record meeting minutes and share highlights with team

• Advocacy (Leeanne and Zaiboon) - Winter programming survey (January), welcome back Victoria College sweatshirt giveaway (January), self-care giveaway with Commuter Dons (February)

• PRESTO ticket giveaway (March, Commuter AW), April giveaway (TBD), Snacks and Ladders multicultural snacks and game night with the Events Duo (March)

• Collaborations (Jiwoo and Aimee) - Board games cafe with Cat’s Eye (February)

• Community Mural Painting with VUSAC Arts and Culture Commission (March, Commuter AW), UofT mental health groups collab (April)

• Communications (Tiffany and Alishba) - Design beautiful graphics for our Instagram, organized Commuter e-Valentines, winter photo contest

• Events (Anne and Spencer) - Vision board making (January)

• Origami and clay painting (March, Commuter AW), Snacks and ladders with advocacy duo (March)

• First-Year Execs and Councillor (Jacob, Armiti, Alexa, and Juhyung) - Vinyl paint night in March

In March, Emilie and I will be hosting the second “Spring Bloom: Build a Bouquet” event. We are also looking into hosting self-defense workshops with the 519 in March depending on their availability. Outside of my work on VOCA, I sat on the Orientation Executive team hiring panel and attended the Cat’s Eye Advisory Board meeting.

It’s hard to believe that my time on VUSAC this year is coming to an end. I am excited for the upcoming March elections and helping the incoming Commissioner transition into the role in April and May. I have had an amazing experience working with others on council to create excellent programming and advocating for students’ needs.