Second Indigenous student elected to GSA after 36 years

Benjamin Kucher, a master’s student in the department of anthropology, was recently elected as vice-president (student life) of the University of Alberta’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSA).

However, this isn’t Kucher’s first stint in student governance. Kucher has served in various student leadership positions since he first started his undergraduate career in 2018. When the vice-president (student life) position opened for re-election, Kucher talked about it and the GSA’s work with his friends.

“We all agreed — well, mainly me — that I would be the best-suited person to run for this position, because of my experience with my undergrad here.” 

Kucher hopes to tackle issues related to financial insecurity, accessibility supports, and student engagement

During his involvement on various student committees, Kucher consulted with administration on the creation of a faculty of arts associate dean (Indigenous relations) position. 

Kucher is also the current president of the Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association (IGSA). In his presidency, Kucher co-created the GSA’s vice-president (Indigenous relations) position, which the GSA will introduce in 2025. 

In his new position, Kucher hopes to continue advocating for enhanced accessibility supports on campus. 

“I’ve noticed that the university defines accommodation in terms of exams, but doesn’t really focus on accessibility,” Kucher said. “I want to see more accessible spaces on campus.” 

In August 2023, the GSA conducted a survey on the financial conditions of U of A graduate students. Of the students who responded, 40.9 per cent said they considered dropping out “to work or save money due to the cost-of-living.” Kucher hopes to tackle issues relating to financial insecurity that impact graduate students.

Furthermore, Kucher wants to “ease the barriers” — both institutional and legislative — that prevent students from receiving support from their supervisors and the U of A.

“I think it’s a big conversation in Alberta with red tape in the government. [There’s] insane bureaucracy here,” Kucher added. “We have to navigate through a handful of forms just to get anything done, so streamlining the process for students is one of the big things.” 

Having Indigenous representation on GSA is “long overdue,” Kucher says

Currently, student engagement is at the top of Kucher’s priority list. According to Kucher, student apathy is apparent in the “low voter turnout” in student elections at the U of A.

“There is power in numbers. We can make a lot of changes to the university if we come together and work on different initiatives.” 

Kucher is the second Indigenous student elected to the GSA, which he thinks is “long overdue.” Additionally, he thinks this will help the GSA stick to its commitment to truth and reconciliation.

The first Indigenous student elected to the GSA was Florence Glanfield, the current vice-provost (Indigenous programming and research). She was elected president in 1987-88. 

“It’s almost a 40 year old gap,” Kucher said. “I think it’s about time.”