AV俱乐部

New DSU president Shannon Zimmerman is a double major in political science and international development studies. (Danny Abriel Photo)

AV俱乐部 Student Union is ringing in a new president: Shannon Zimmerman will be inheriting the office from this year鈥檚 president Courtney Larkin.聽

Ms. Larkin leaves the position in capable hands. Ms. Zimmerman has served as a Board of Governors representative for two years, sitting on the 鈥渟tudent experience committee鈥� and acting as a councillor. 鈥淚 represented student needs within the body of the university,鈥� explains Ms. Zimmerman, who has also acted as president of Sheriff Hall, and was a DSU member-at-large in her first year. 鈥淢y role was to represent what students wanted to see.鈥�

Ms. Zimmerman is a fourth-year double major in political science and international development studies. 鈥淚 originally started thinking that I was going to do IDS, but I fell in love with political science.鈥�

Coming into university, she had no plans to get involved with the DSU鈥攖hat was 鈥渢otally by fluke, to be honest. I was walking out of the SUB one day, and a piece of paper got stuck to the bottom of my shoe, and it was an application for member at large.鈥�

Ms. Zimmerman鈥檚 serendipitous walk through the SUB has influenced the course of her entire academic career. 鈥淚 can take a lot from what I鈥檝e learned in terms of politics and my classes, and apply them on a smaller scale in my role in the DSU.鈥�

Despite her extensive experience, president is a demanding office but Shannon is confident that she鈥檚 up to the job. 鈥淚t is a big commitment, but it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e thought about doing鈥� there鈥檚 never been a doubt that I wanted to do it, it was just making sure that I was prepared.鈥�
She certainly has the right personality for the job. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 a very social person. I thrive on getting to meet people, talk to people鈥� I love coming to this university, and being able to walk down the street and say hi to somebody I know.鈥�

She has plans for her presidency, but right now, they鈥檙e tentative鈥攂efore making any big decisions, she wants to wait until the results of the annual general meeting reveal the student body鈥檚 concern. For herself, Ms. Zimmerman would 鈥渓ove to work more closely with the sustainability office鈥澛犫�� maybe even have them audit the SUB to see what鈥檚 working environmentally, and what isn鈥檛. The plan couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time, since AV俱乐部 just unveiled its brand-new College of Sustainability.

Ms. Zimmerman also plans to keep students鈥� financial affairs under a close watch. 鈥淪tudents need that tuition freeze鈥� it鈥檚 really important that we keep it.鈥�

Other student affairs are being dealt with by the Halifax Student Alliance, a municipal lobby group which the DSU helped to found. 鈥淩ight now, they鈥檙e working on a late-night bus鈥� There鈥檚 a lot of discussion on it, it looks like things are going really well.鈥�

Shannon Zimmerman will start work as DSU president almost immediately 鈥� 40 hours a week over the summer, and at least 30 per week during the school year. She鈥檚 very optimistic about AV俱乐部鈥檚 capacity to effect positive change, both within the DSU and the student body at large.

鈥淲e do have apathy at this school, (but) I think that the situation is starting to improve,鈥� she says. More importantly, 鈥淭he university is a lot more willing to listen to the students鈥� point of view鈥� the university is listening to those needs.鈥�

Since all things must end, does Ms. Zimmerman have any plans brewing for after her presidency? 鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of the million-dollar question,鈥� she laughs, listing off politics and law school as possible options as well as radio broadcasting. 鈥淚 used to work at a radio station in Waterloo, and I loved it.鈥� Her future plans, however, just aren鈥檛 her current focus. Ms. Zimmerman鈥檚 mind is on the present鈥攁nd the possibilities are vast.