Harvey takes the lead at UBC

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When Kristen Harvey speaks, you can't help but listen. The compelling 20-year-old is an arresting blend of youthful zest and seasoned poise. As the very first female Aboriginal president of the University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society, Harvey has big shoes to fill, and she isn't at all intimidated.

"It's difficult to say for sure whether I'm the first-ever Aboriginal AMS president because in the past, people didn't publicize their First Nations background," said Harvey, who is proud of her heritage-Harvey's father is Okanagan from the Upper Nicola Band and her mother is Chilcotin from the Anaham band.

Harvey said her parents' strong will and the hard work they exhibited while starting their own business rubbed off on her and her two sisters.

"When you have such determination and ambition, it's not only good for you but those close to you," said Harvey. "They have pushed me academically and personally. I couldn't have been half as successful without their encouragement."

Currently a third-year arts student, Harvey strongly believes that higher education should remain accessible both financially and academically.

Even before the Liberal government's recent decision to deregulate university tuition, Harvey has been working with students and university officials to minimize its impact on students. An important part of her election platform was abolishing differential tuition among faculties and making scholarships and bursaries more accessible to students.

Balancing the students' need for affordable education and the hard reality of funding shortage, Harvey recently appealed to the UBC Board of Governors to review the efficiency of the university, suggesting that if there's money to be saved in administration, students ought not to be subsidizing it. She wants every extra dime coming out of the students' pockets to go to improving the quality of their education.

Academically, Harvey agrees that entrance to university should be merit-based but not without proper representation of different cultures and social backgrounds.

"I'm in favor of creating enrolment targets on the university level," said Harvey. In [the mid 1990s], UBC set the goal of 1,000 Aboriginal students by the year 2000. The target was never reached, and while Aboriginal student enrolment continues to rise in post secondary institutions across Canada ... "I don't think it's as high as it should be."

Harvey said there are many elements in place at UBC, including the First Nations House of Learning, that make Aboriginal students feel at home. "But what's more important is to advocate to [Aboriginal] high school students that post-secondary education is valuable, and a viable option," she said.

"First Nations teenagers need more role models and successful Aboriginal people need to be more visible so the younger generation can look up to them and believe they can achieve great things."

Harvey may already be a role model herself. She was elected president of the Totem Park Residence in her freshman year and went on to be the AMS vice-president of External Affairs prior to being elected president earlier this year.

As for being president, "it's a validation of my work as VP External," Harvey said. "For me personally, being the only female candidate-and winning-is very significant because we still live in a world where women are second-guessed in their ability to lead."

Harvey thinks her ability to clearly communicate her ideas was key to a successful campaign. Now she plans to use those same skills to facilitate regular dialogues between Aboriginal students and the student society, and to better represent their concerns.

As for herself, she'll begin majoring in political science this fall and is entertaining the idea of law school after that.

"Right now I'm having a great experience being an advocate for students, and leading a student government that is diverse in both its people and services," said Harvey.

"I'm only 20 and to e ultimately responsible for a $9 million budget, that's pretty incredible," she said.