This year, the fight for Guild President is between just two candidates—Mihir Pareek and Dylan Botica. I interviewed both regarding their vision for Curtin if they win.

Mihir Pareek is an independent candidate. You can read his candidate statement—that this interview revolves around—here.

Grok: In your candidate statement, you outlined that you wish to clarify what can and cannot be achieved by the Guild by asking questions of the University. What would your process be after these questions had been answered? 

Mihir: It is only after fully understanding University’s position on various issues a measured approach to advocating students’ interests is possible. For example, what is the basis for the current parking rates? Is it based on cost recovery or sustainability goals? What is the basis for the free parking only commencing after 4 pm? Why not 2 pm, when the campus itself becomes quiet? In any case, profiting from students is not expected from the University. Parking is just an example. I will approach all student issues by collaboratively developing a clear set of questions for the management. Answers to these questions pave the way for the University to be more accountable. Still, I will not shy away from making well-articulated submissions for change and fighting for them.

 

Grok: You mention no free parking outright in your statement. Does this mean you still intend to make an effort to reduce parking costs? 

Mihir: There is little doubt the current rates of parking are unreasonably high. But what are reasonable rates? This is the question the University needs to answer by presenting facts. Profiting from student parking is not acceptable. I also think extending the free parking hours is reasonable to liven up the campus. The request to reduce parking fees for students who stay on campus for an extended period is also a reasonable demand. Like many other Western Australian universities, this could be implemented by creating a long-term parking permit. My initial intent will be to work with the management to reach common ground on it, always fighting for student rights.

 

Grok: If you were not restricted by the University, what changes would you like to see at Curtin? 

Mihir: Without restrictions, I would work towards reducing student fees for specific disciplines—for example, Humanities courses received an unjustified increase in HECs fees in the last few years. Although I am restricted, I will diligently petition for Humanity course prices to align with other disciplines. I would also want student feedback to be actively considered to improve the learning experience for all students. I will make the University look after the welfare of all its staff and make them fully resourced to meet students’ learning needs. The University should also invest more in student support, especially in strengthening its outreach activities with the industry to create greater internship/placement opportunities. There should be more exchange opportunities for the students to undertake part of their studies elsewhere globally. I want the University to become a fully sustainable ‘town’ in itself.

 

Grok: You’ve listed an impressive range of areas of focus in your candidate statement (e.g., cleanliness, exchange opportunities, inclusivity, scholarships, cost of food, teaching experience, support for lecturers, quality of classes, cost of accommodation, and placements). What policies do you intend to implement to make meaningful changes in these areas?  

Mihir: I think the University needs to adopt an internal and external benchmarking approach. For example, why are the toilets in certain buildings always so clean and converse for others? Why can we not attract as many companies for placement as, for example, Melbourne University? How do we compare with them in investment to placement efforts? A similar approach will be needed for all other items. It is also essential to speak to stakeholders freely and openly. For example, we need to have a process wherein the special needs students/staff/visitors have the opportunity to comment on our inclusivity plans. Reducing the cost of food can be achieved by allowing more food trucks on campus to incentivise competition to drive lower prices for students.

 

Grok: You admit that many promises made by previous Guild nominees have not been fulfilled. With such a large spectrum of issues demanding your attention (as listed in my previous question), how do you intend to follow through where others haven’t? 

Mihir: I think the heartbreak stems from not understanding the issues correctly in the first place. If we make unreasonable demands, they will not be met. So, my approach will be to work with the management on our reasonable demands as benchmarked with comparable universities.

 

Grok: Finally, what would you say are the three main issues in this election to you?

Mihir: (i) Campus experience (including parking); (ii) learning experience; (iii) scholarships.

 

Mihir Pareek’s competition is incumbent Guild President, Dylan Botica—a candidate for Illuminate. You can read his candidate statement here.

Grok: In your candidate statement, you mention you are driven by “fierce advocacy and activism”. Can you elaborate on what you are a keen advocate and activist for? 

Dylan: I’m a fierce advocate for what matters to students on and off campus. I believe students deserve access to free and fully funded higher education. I work with the government, university and the National Union of Students to progress towards this goal. My team have had significant wins in 2022 alone in higher education. It was Illuminate that successfully changed the rules letting International Students have access to graduate healthcare placements. It was Illuminate that has driven the student voice with the new Federal Government towards reversing the Morrison Government cuts to education and research.

On campus, we have led a massive parking campaign that is mobilising students. This led to the first major shift from the University on parking policy. While the 30 day permit options aren’t for everyone. This was a first step in the right direction for those in UniLodge and St Catherine’s who faced a University resistant to change anything about parking. It was Illuminate that delivered students the first parking fine warning. It was Illuminate again that increased this to two warnings per year.

I’m an advocate for student wellbeing and welfare. All students deserve access to a high quality tertiary education. I am leading the fight towards better conditions for students on placement and more paid work integrated learning opportunities. It was my team this year that fought for increased funding for the food pantry. It was also my team that after last year promising to reduce Counselling wait times, successfully made the University reduce wait times from two months to an average of one week.

I also firmly believe that staff working conditions are student learning conditions. That is why an Illuminate Guild values and has enshrined the strongest relationship between the National Tertiary Education Union and the Student Guild. In solidarity, we can work towards better conditions like more paid time to mark assignments and provide feedback. This will result in students getting their assessments back on time and with detailed feedback.

 

Grok: Your opposition for president, Mihir Pareek, has noted that in previous elections there have been big promises from candidates that have not been upheld. How would you respond to this? 

Dylan: Mihir Pareek may believe the Guild should be uninspired and non-aspirational. However, I firmly believe that we can deliver the small and the big. While some promises take longer than a year to implement like our stance that CellOPark has no place on campus. It is Illuminate that consistently delivers on its commitments.

In 2022, Illuminate made Curtin change parking policy, Introduced COVID safety measures on campus including a vaccination mandate, provided more free food and BBQs and made closed captions available on all lectures. We also led the campaign that allowed international students back on campus, reduced counselling wait times through more staff and funding as well as pioneering new feedback systems instead of eVALUate. We ran an independent and effective Federal Election campaign, froze food costs at our outlets during semester one and increased variety of food options across different outlets.

Illuminates’ successes aren’t just from this year, in previous years, Illuminate has:

Blocked the abolishment of lectures and secured the return to in-person learning, achieved automatic extensions for COVID-related difficulties, reduced first-day late assessment penalty from 10 percent to 5 percent and stopped compulsory trimesters. Illuminate implemented Student Consultative Committees, provided two students kitchens, and is introducing a one stop shop for signing up for clubs. We brought in the largest range of halal foods at an Australian university, [and] introduced Reduce Noise Periods at O-Day.

As mentioned, our wins are both large scale and more individualised. This year Illuminate founded a postgraduate mentoring program, opened a dessert and bubble tea outlet, opened graduate nursing programs up to International students and made equity collectives and first year committee more accessible and open. We brought back Tav Parties and Toga, refreshed the Equity Spaces and courtyard, updated the Respectful Relationships Module and are glad to have introduced a second Clubs Officer

We provided food on campus into the night and expanded and improved the Guild initiative food pantry.

Illuminate makes commitments and it sticks to them, some are quick wins and others take time. One [thing] is for certain, an Illuminate Guild upholds its commitments with fierce advocacy and activism. Illuminate works for students, with students.

 

Grok: You mention the changes that have occurred under Illuminate, but many of the team’s attempts to change Curtin (reinstating the second Tuition Free week, fixing parking, etc.) have not yet been resolved. How do you intend to find success in these areas if you are re-elected? 

Dylan: Illuminate is currently running its parking campaign and the University is finally reviewing the academic calendar after the Guild’s consistent demands. It is only Illuminate that commits to fighting on these issues.

 

Grok: You also comment in your statement that you believe in “accessible and open consultation”. How do you intend to keep lines of communication open as president? 

Dylan: As President I immediately increased my consultations with students. I attend student society events every week, I chat to students at the Tav and outlets and I attend classes that students identify have issues. My email is on the Guild website and I always respond to students as a first priority and my door is always open.

For example, a student walked into my office last week after being deadnamed on their student ID, Curtin Connect was unable or refused to help. I printed that student a sticker for a temporary ID cover in my office and set off on amending the Curtin University rules prohibiting preferred names, or in this case, actual names on student IDs.

As [candidate for] President next year I am proud to deliver open consultation times where any student is encouraged to come for a coffee and let me know what change they would like to see at Curtin.

 

Grok: How do you intend to best gauge student opinion on issues, given that the president is “the voice of all enrolled students”? 

Dylan: A good President forms relationships with a broad range of representatives. That means productive working relationship with students from every faculty and equity area, both undergraduate and postgraduate. It means calling my student leader counterparts at our Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai and Mauritius campuses and escalating their concerns. As someone with a background as a club President, I am particularly proud of my focus on connecting with students involved in leadership. I also ensure the Guild is consultative, Illuminate representatives attend Student Consultative Committee meetings, we read through eValuate feedback, email our online students for input on key matters and we stay connected on campus.

I take the role of President seriously and use my experience and student focus to deliver outcomes.

 

Grok: Finally, what would you say are the three main issues in this election to you?

Dylan: I want to bring clubs back to life, and by extension campus. I want to address this by introducing a club-lite registration, cutting red tape with the University, increase grant funding and look forward to a student hub being established in the next year.

I want a greener campus, both with more green spaces but also I want the University to be accountable for its contribution to climate change and investments from fossil fuel interests.

I want Curtin to take student welfare seriously. That doesn’t just mean that counselling is there when you need it, it means students that are paid and valued for their pracs and low cost combo meal deals so students are financially and mentally able to tackle their education.

 

Voting for the Guild election opens on September 19th. According to the Handbook, polls should be set up at “Club HQ and Curtin South (near Mallokup Café) from 10am to 4pm on each polling day”.