Hi All,

My name is Mitchell Gale, I am in my 4/5th year of Computing Science, and I am the current President of the Computing Science Student Society. The President plays an important role in the society, acting as spokesperson for the society to companies, faculty, and staff within SFU. It also plays an important role in working with and planning events with other executives, this includes large events like the Silicon Valley trip and hackathons.

I have put a lot of work, time and energy into the Computing Science Student society over the past three years. I hope I can continue to put my work, time and energy into the society to further improve it. This executive team has done great work over the past year, I hope to further the efforts to have a larger impact on student experience here at SFU. I would be starting off this position on a Co-op, but I have been President while also on Co-op and I have been able to manage it without compromising my ability to complete my responsibilities.

Over the past year I’ve been involved in many discussions with the Department of Computing Science. I was involved in discussion regarding the recently announced Computing Science concentration tables/paths, adding additional ethics discussion into courses, taking student questions to the Director of Computing Science and reporting the answers and more. I have given talks in various CMPT 105w classes about the CSSS, talking about what we do, who we are, why we exist to help spread awareness. I ran the Fall Hacks hackathon, the technical interview workshop and git workshop along with helping run/plan many of our other events.

Some of the larger events I hope to run as President:

• Continue running a Fall and Spring hackathon (Fall Hacks and Mountain Madness).
• Plan, organize and run an interview workshop in Fall where students can come, have short interviews with recruiters for practice and get valuable feedback.
• Help run a programming competition where students compete to develop solutions to problems.
• Run a workshop where each students get a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller to help teach them development for the board.
• Work with the new (proposed position (hopefully passed on April 4th)) new executive position, Director of Educational Events to run events like alumni nights, town halls with professors, technical interview workshops, resume workshops, git workshops and more!

We used to run annual trips to Silicon Valley for students, I hope to bring that back as it has been several years without running one because of Covid-19. This trip was highly rated as a great educational experience by many who attended, so it will be a great thing to bring back. You may have noticed that the Computing Science Undergraduate Student Society award wasn’t often in the past two semesters, that was because we were involved in changes regarding administration and increasing the number/amount of awards given out. I look forward to helping with the awards process in coming semesters.

Being an executive is a lot of work, I plan to use my years of experience to help transition new executives into their roles to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. If I am not elected, I will still work hard to ensure a clean transition.

Thank you to all the executives I have gotten the chance to work with over the past year, it has been a wonderful experience. I wish the best to all the others seeking election.

Good luck on your final exams/projects.

Best,

Mitchell Gale

Hello everyone,

My name is Oliver Xie. I am a 4th year Computing Science student; a former First Year Representative for the CSSS (2019-2020); a CS Peer Tutor (2020-now); and a FAS HIVE Leader (2021-2022). In all of these roles, I have worked hard to help my fellow students succeed and thrive, whether by helping CSSS events run smoothly, by guiding students when they are stuck with their assignments, or by orienting incoming SFU students with the support and resources they need.

As the First Year Representative I completed grant request forms; ran a first-year social (LAN party); helped run Mountain Madness 2020; and am planning the upcoming Project Showcase. As a CS Peer Tutor, I helped students understand their first and second-year CMPT course material better. As a HIVE Leader, I provided vital learning materials and ran virtual info sessions and game sessions for first-year and transfer students. I have a 3-year proven track record of getting stuff done; as your CSSS President, I have the experience and the grit to deliver on your needs.

I am a USES scholarship student and will be interning at Amazon this summer. I understand that many of you have similar aspirations: to launch your career in software to develop the infrastructure and services the world runs on. That is why I am running for President: I am well along my journey but I have a duty to make all of us stronger by transferring knowledge, creating opportunities for success, and finding ways to know each other better.

Here are some new initiatives that I strive to implement as President:

• I will start a formal mentorship program for all students as a trial in the summer and expanding in September. All of us benefit from sharing our positive and negative experiences and integrating advice from others. We will pair mentors/mentees based on your goals and where you are in your journey: I only ask for 1h every week or every other week.
• Run panel discussions once a month. These will be targeted toward topics to help you succeed: productivity tools, Q&A with SFU alumni, Q&A with current co-op students, etc.
• Work with the Director of Archives and the Director of Educational Events to make an archive of SFU resources and external learning resources (such as books, online courses, blogs, or other websites) accessible to all students.

I'd like to thank the previous executives of the CSSS who have diligently run events, coordinated strategic initiatives, and contributed their free time for our benefit. I plan to maintain the following:

• Both CSSS annual hackathons: Mountain Madness (spring) and Fall Hacks.
• Hoodie and merchandise sales.
• Regular advocacy with the School of Computing Science for your concerns regarding courses and instruction.
• Continue to empower the Events Committee to deliver events for you: esports tournaments, technical workshops, and social outings.

For those of you who haven't seen me yet, drop by the common room where I'll be staying longer to make sure you have access to our exam bank. I'm also around at our Board Games Nights so try and beat me at some games there. Or say hi to me on the CSSS Discord where I've been helping out with course questions and resume feedback.

By the way, I have a car, access to a Costco membership, and the wiliness necessary to solve any situation in a pinch.

With a wealth of experience and a comprehensive vision that serves you, I am the ideal candidate to be the next President of the Computing Science Student Society. Feel free to message me on Discord (Liversticks#7734) or email me (oxie@sfu.ca) if you have any questions.

Let's do this together!

Oliver Xie

Hello everyone, my name is Justin Yan, a third year CS major here at SFU, and I am running for the position of Vice President. I am the current Assistant Director of Events for the society and was previously an Exec-at-Large in the Spring 2020 semester. As ADoE, I have hosted a mixture of virtual games nights (sometimes together with the other FAS DSU’s) as well as in-person ones, of which the latter had high turnouts. In October, I also assisted in the planning and running of multiple Halloween collaboration events with other DSU’s and clubs. Additionally, I assumed responsibility of chairing the Events Committee as of two weeks ago, when the current Director of Events stepped down.

In addition to my past contributions to the society, I also have extensive leadership and mentorship experience that I can apply towards the upkeeping of the CSSS:

• I am currently the Communications Director for the Cognitive Science Student Society, and I have held the position for 4 semesters now. My duties include sending email campaigns and discord announcements to advertise general meetings and events, as well as assisting the other Execs in event planning.

• I have taken on the role of a leader in multiple different settings, including being a Frosh Mentor at Frosh Week in both 2020 and 2021, leading first year students in various Frosh Activities. I have also been a mentor for TechConnect in both of those years, hosting workshops and check-ins with students of the cohort throughout the respective fall semesters, as well as promoting social interaction and friendships between my mentees. Fun fact: a few of my 2020 mentees went on to become SSSS execs, and 2 of my 2021 mentees are CSSS execs!

• I have worked almost 2 years as a Faculty of Applied Sciences Student Ambassador, meeting with prospective Applied Sciences students and speaking at webinars and workshops, which helps me improve my communication and public speaking skills. My ability to relay information to others was further exercised as a CS Peer Tutor, a position which I have served from Fall 2020 to Summer 2021.
  
  

Some of the things I intend to accomplish as Vice President of the Computing Science Student Society include:

• Ensuring that general meetings are chaired to the best of my ability, utilizing the public speaking skills that I have acquired over my time at SFU,

• Helping to foster a happy and healthy community within the CSSS and our common room,

• Ensuring cooperation within the new exec team and providing help to other execs shall anyone become over-encumbered by their duties,

• Continuing to work with the Events Execs and Events Committee by contributing ideas and handling administrative tasks to ensure events go smoothly, and

• Alongside the next President, represent the interests of, and be the voice of the CSSS by advocating on behalf of the student body.
  
  

Thank you for taking the time to read my speech, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the semester!

Sincerely,
Justin Yan

Hi everyone,

I'm Gabe and I'm just finishing up my 3rd year of a Computing Science Major. I've been with the CSSS since before the before the pandemic, joining lots of events and frequenting the commonroom, and I'm likely to be here for another few years at the least. I also made the random background thing on the commonroom computer (until both google changed and ccsearch went down ;-;).

As Treasurer, I would make sure to keep clean records of our finances and make sure no money goes missing, using my impressive spreadsheet skills. This would involve managing money for all kinds of events, and giving regular finacial reports to our members. I'm currently the president of the Game Dev Club here at SFU, so I have non-zero experience working with money and events.

I also pledge to re-write the random background utility with a new backend!

Thanks for considering me,

Gabe Stang

Hello everyone, my name is Truman Bui. I’m a fifth year MACM student who enjoys long walks on the beach, intimate conversations, and forgetting "+ C" after solving indefinite integrals. I am legally married to the CSSS Coca Cola Machine, so I have an established relationship. For this coming election I am running to be your next **Director of Resources**.

As Director of Resources, I will ensure that:

• The coke machine is always stocked
• When available: there will be more variety in the coke machine.
• The common room supplies remain stocked and readily available

I have a Costco membership to supply large quantities of cheap supplies for the CSSS.

The repeated lock-downs have been hard for everyone, and I’d like to ensure that people that decide to come back to school can have as an enjoyable a time on campus as possible, that includes, working towards making SFU's social life more enjoyable and fresh. That's why this term I would like to try and help push for new furniture for our common room, including new couches and coffee tables, as well as a modded Minecraft server-- if possible.

I have previous experience as an Exec at Large and Director of Resources.

During my previous terms, I’ve brought in

• A new microwave.
• A communal desktop.
• New furniture and decor.
• A lounge table near the door.
• A new cabinet and replaced all locks.
• A Seasonal Mystery Column.
• (Advocated for and gotten the CSSS) updated community photos and board games.
• A Suggestion Box.
• Disposable Cups.

Hello CSSS members,

My name is Jasper Song, and I am a first-year CS student. I have been one of the First-Year Representatives for the past two semesters, and I am running for the position of the Director of Events.

I have met many friendly people through CSSS events that I would not have otherwise, and I am eternally grateful to the execs who organized those events. Thus, I want to become more involved with the community and contribute to the best of my ability.

I have experience with organizing school events, both as one of the First-Year Reps, and as an exec of my high school's Literature Club, which held weekly meetings. My fellow FYR and I organized several first-year events (ex: an in-person LAN party), and I believe these experiences taught me many things about event organization.

Should I be elected, I will dedicate myself fully to the position and try my best to organize fulfilling events for CS students. For instance:

• Off-campus events
• Streaming parties
• LAN parties/game nights
• Following a Bob Ross tutorial

I am receptive to any and all feedback, and I am more than happy to adjust my approach according to responses of event attendees. I will approach this role and its responsbilities with enthusiasm.

Thank you for reading my speech!

Yours truly,
Jasper Song

Hello CSSS members,

My name is Jasper Song, and I am a first-year CS student. I have been one of the First-Year Representatives for the past two semesters, and I am running for the position of the Assistant Director of Events.

I have met many friendly people through CSSS events that I would not have otherwise, and I am eternally grateful to the execs who organized those events. Thus, I want to become more involved with the community and contribute to the best of my ability.

I have experience with organizing school events, both as one of the First-Year Reps, and as an exec of my high school's Literature Club, which held weekly meetings. My fellow FYR and I organized several first-year events (ex: an in-person LAN party), and I believe these experiences taught me many things about event organization.

Should I be elected, I will dedicate myself fully to the position and try my best to organize fulfilling events for CS students. For instance:

• Off-campus events
• Streaming parties
• LAN parties/game nights
• Following a Bob Ross tutorial

I am receptive to any and all feedback, and I am more than happy to adjust my approach according to responses of event attendees. I will approach this role and its responsbilities with enthusiasm.

Thank you for reading my speech!

Yours truly,
Jasper Song

Hello all,

My name is Jared Murphy, and I'm running to become your next DoA. I'm a Langara transfer student, currently on co-op with the Federal government.

I know I'd be a great fit for this role. I know how to create beautiful documents, edit beautiful documents, and write beautiful documents (yes, I was nominated for a Peakie by The Peak this year). Being a professional document creator, including writing endless Confluence for my current co-op makes me the best choice for DoA this upcoming year.

My goal this year, and a promise you can count on from me is that I will archive all of the fascinating activites the CSSS gets up to.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jared Murphy

Hello Everyone!

I'm Gilbert! I graduated in 2020 with a degree in criminology and am currently pursuing a second degree in computer science. Over half of my first degree was spent engaged in the CSSS mostly through the commonroom. In doing so, I found a place of belonging even though I came from a different major. Now that I will be pursuing a degree in computer science, I would like to give back as the DoA.

I appreciate everyone that took the time to read my speech.

Best of luck to everyone on their finals and for the rest of the semester.

Regards,

Gilbert Wong