Chestnut Residence Council 

The Chestnut Residence Council (CRC) is a student governing body comprised of Chestnut residents. They are your peers that have been elected into their roles usually by the previous year’s community through a general election. The CRC plans social events for the community such as an annual Semi Formal and athletic intramurals. It also coordinates the purchasing of things like instruments, video and board games, and other equipment used for fun programming. Lastly, they act as a representative for Chestnut students on various committees that make decisions related to building operations. CRC holds regular meetings that are open to all students where anyone can ask questions, see the budget, and share ideas for programming.

CRC Elections

Voting

Polls are open September 24th, 2021 at 12:00 PM through to September 30th, 2021 at 12:00 PM.

To vote, go to: voting.utoronto.ca

Login with your UTORid and password. You can then vote in the election titled ‘Chestnut Residence Council (CRC) 2021-2022 Executive Election’. If you do not see this option or find that you are unable to vote, please send an email to our Residence Life Coordinator, Jessie Torchia at: jessie.torchia@utoronto.ca and be sure to include your UTORid and a description of the issue.

Unsure who to vote for?

Candidate Meet & Greet

Learn more about the candidates running for a position with the 2021-22 Chestnut Residence Council by joining us at this official virtual meet and greet on Friday, September 24th!

This event will take place virtually from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Zoom: bit.ly/3CrvFRJ
Meeting ID: 827 6848 1505
Passcode: fHmf0c

Join the CRC!

As a member of the Chestnut Residence Council, you will:

• Acts as the student decision-making body representing the residents of Chestnut Residence
• Support social and athletic activities for all members of the Chestnut Residence community
• Encourage inter-floor unity
• Liaise with the Residence Life Office in matters concerning residents
• Keep residents informed of issues and events pertaining to the Residence and University community
• Follow policies and procedures as defined in the Council’s Policies and Procedures Manual

Interested?

Send a 250-300 statement to chestnut.life@utoronto.ca by September 22, 2021 at 11:59pm.

This statement should answer the following:

• What position are you running for?
• Why you are running?
• What makes you a good candidate?
• Any goals you have for the year?

Questions? Reach out to chestnut.life@utoronto.ca

Positions Available:

President

• Coordinate and over all Council activities and facilitate communication between Council members.
• Schedule Council and Executive meetings, and chair Executive meetings.
• Oversee fulfillment of office hours with the assistance of VP Communications
• Organize at least one Council retreat per year.
• Act as a signing authority for Council funds.
• Provide support and guidance to the Executive and Floor Representatives.
• Act as liaison between the Residence Office and the Council.
• Chair the Hiring Committee and oversee the hiring of the Speaker and Secretary.
• Ensure all council members meet their duties and responsibilities and if not, follow procedures defined in Article 15 of the CRC Constitution in regard to neglect of duties and removal from office.
• Sit on the Residence Affairs committee and relay relevant information at council meetings.
• Attend the semi-annual board meeting or designate an Executive member to attend in his/her stead.

VP Finance

• Manage the Council’s financial accounts and maintain accurate records of all Council expenditures.
• Prepare and present to Council the annual Budget at the beginning of the fall term but no later than October 30th. 3. Provide regular updates on the Council’s finances at Council meetings.
• Act as a signing authority for Council funds.
• Make all arrangements for the audit of the Council’s finances to the internal auditor of the University by the end of the school year.
• Perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.
• Chair the Finance Commission

VP Internal

• Act as a liaison between Chestnut Tree staff and residents.
• Maintain CRC equipment including, but not limited to the Urban ping pong table, the Urban pool table, music room equipment, etc.
• Sit on the Residence Affairs committee and relay relevant information at council meetings.
• Chair the Internal Commission.

VP Communications

• Promote and communicate Council events throughout the Residence.
• Coordinate residence-wide email lists and be responsible for assisting the Residence Office issue periodic newsletters to residents.
• Oversee and approve advertising by residents and external student election campaign candidates within the residence.
• Oversee Council’s bulletin boards and promote events on social media and other outlets.
• Maintain and oversee the operation of the Council Office, in cooperation with the President.
• Chair the Communications Commission.

VP Social*

• Organize residence-wide social events and promote residence spirit.
• Chair the Semi-Formal committee to facilitate and organize the annual semi-formal.
• Ensure all social coordinators meet their duties and responsibilities and if not, inform the President of said violations.
• Act as a signing authority for Council funds.
• Chair the Social Commission.

VP Athletics*

• Promote physical activity and fitness within the Residence.
• Organize and register Chestnut Residence male, female and co-ed sports teams in intramural competition.
• Represent Chestnut Residence at the male, female and co-ed intramural sports councils at UofT.
• Organize Residence sporting events, activities and trips.
• Chair the Athletics Commission.

VP External*

• Promote charitable acts and organize charity drives within the Residence.
• Provide information about student volunteer opportunities.
• Educate residents about the various holidays and traditions celebrated by their follow residents, in coordination with the Residence Office.
• Assist coordination between the Council and the Students’ Administrative Council (SAC), college student governments, faculty student organizations, and the University administration.
• Act as a liaison between Council and Chestnut Residence recognized student clubs.
• Act as a liaison between Chestnut Residence recognized student clubs and SAC and University of Toronto recognized student clubs.
• Assist students seeking to establish new clubs, and to clubs seeking recognition.
• Act as the liaison between the Council and the University and outside community.
• Chair the External Commission

*Joint Requirements of VP Social, VP External, VP Athletics

• Must organize two small programs a semester or one large program a semester whereas programs, small programs and large programs are defined as follows:
  • Program: an event that falls within the respective Executive’s role, promotes community engagement, provides ample opportunity for members of the Executive’s commission to help plan the event and learn from the experience, and provides ample opportunity for the respective Executive to gain leadership experience
    • Small Program: A program that requires 8 to 25 hours of planning, preparation, and execution
    • Large Program: A program that requires more than 25 hours of planning, preparation, and execution (e.g. Semi-Formal)

Election process under way for 2021-22 CRC candidates

Meet your 2020 – 21 Residence Council 

President

Alice Xu

Hello there, welcome to Chestnut! My name is Alice, and I am in my third year studying Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience. I am a domestic student from the town of Richmond Hill (somewhere north of Toronto). I chose UofT because I wanted to live in the city and attend a world-renowned school. My favourite thing about Toronto is the diverse food options and bustling atmosphere.

My favourite thing about Chestnut is the location: close to NPS, the Eaton Center, as well as the Harbourfront. As president, I chair all council meetings, act as a liaison between the CRC and the Residence Life Office, and support the VPs. I look forward to exploring new avenues to build community in this unprecedented year.

VP External

Jack Lewandowski

Hey Chestnut! I’m Jack Lewandowski, an international student from Detroit, Michigan. I am in my first year of study, planning to major in mathematics. I chose University of Toronto because I wanted to be closer to my family who live in the Toronto area. Also, I have been living in the US for 16 years and wanted to get away from home and meet new people! My favorite thing about Toronto is St. Lawrence Market, I make a habit to go there every Saturday morning. My favorite thing about chestnut is the 27th floor. I can’t study in my room so it great to have the 27th floor so accessible for a quiet place to study with a great view! My role in the CRC is VP of external, I plan events with a focus around community service and I am the representative on the council for the clubs in the building. This year I hope to get some groups together to get out into the city and help make a difference.

VP Communcations

Jenna Borden

Hi there! My name is Jenna. I am a first-year domestic student from Newmarket, Ontario, studying math, drama, and education. UofT is number one in Canada for math, as well as education, and it is also number one in Canada just in general. As an aspiring math teacher, it only made perfect sense for me to come here. What I love most about being in Toronto is that there is always something to do (Covid permitting). As someone who gets bored easily, I love that there are so many places to keep me intrigued and entertained. My favourite thing about Chestnut by far has got to be all the amenities, especially the music rooms. I am a singer-songwriter, so it is great to have a place to be able to work on my music. As VP Communications, I am responsible for creating all posters, as well as managing our Instagram platform (@chestnutrescouncil). I am really excited to be able to help bring people together this year through CRC events. I know we could all really use some social engagement!

VP Athletics

Cole Stotland

Hi everyone, my name is Cole Stotland. I am a first-year student studying industrial engineering. I grew up in Vaughan, a suburb of Toronto, so after getting accepted into the University of Toronto it became an easy choice for me! The mix of a good education and living in a fun vibrant city was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Toronto truly has so much to offer. Although this may sound like a pastime at this point, it has an exciting night life, an enthusiastic fan base for sports, and is truly a beautiful city come spring and summer. For everyone who’s first year it is here, I hope you get to experience all this sooner rather than later! Chestnut itself is great as well. For me, having the opportunity to live with other engineers has been extremely valuable in order to learn alongside my peers, and Chestnut also has a great community of people. I am the VP Athletics, making me responsible for planning athletic based events. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is making it exceptionally difficult to plan engaging athletic events. My goal through the year is to encourage the residence to stay active in order to stay physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy. Looking forward to a great year!

VP Social

Ellie Zhang

Hello Chestnut residents! My name is Ellie Zhang, and I am your VP social. I am currently in my first year of the Kinesiology program as a domestic student. I chose to study at UofT because I have always wanted to be a part of the city life, and Toronto is also quite close to home. My favourite thing about Toronto would probably be the variety of dance studios, since I am a dancer and choreographer who aspires to become deeply involved within the dance community. My favourite thing about our Chestnut residence would have to be the dining hall, because I am a huge foodie and will literally eat everything. As your VP social, my main objective is to bring our residents together through fun and safe interactive activities. The one goal I will strive to accomplish is to have every single resident on Chestnut build at least one long term friendship through our events!

VP Internal

Emma Robins

Hi, I’m Emma Robins, your VP Internal for CRC 2020/21! I am 1st year Humanities student from Grande Prairie, Alberta. I chose the University of Toronto because of its higher level of and focus on academia. I chose Chestnut because of its welcome atmosphere and combination of various colleges and faculties. My favourite thing of both Toronto and Chestnut is all the new people I’ve gotten to meet and the brand-new start in a new province! My role as VP Internal is to oversee the upkeep and standards of student spaces and experiences, as well as acting as a liaison between students and Chestnut staff. This year I’m hoping to do my best to keep a cheerful and entertaining atmosphere in all our student spaces, and to help give as many Chestnut experiences as I can within COVID restrictions.

VP Finance

Vanessa Ndirangu

My name is Vanessa Ndirangu and I am a second-year student doing an Economics and Political Science double-major but also looking to also pursue my love for tech through a Computer Science minor. Before moving to Toronto, I lived in Nairobi, Kenya, which often leads people to question how I moved from the ever-dazzling weather to the penetrating cold in Toronto. I chose UofT as it presented me with the kind of research, mentorship, and financial aid opportunities that I desired. On top of that, with some of my closest friends and relatives being in Toronto, I could not give up the opportunity to strengthen those bonds even as I build new ones. So far in my time at UofT, what I have come to appreciate the most is the community. I have come to learn of so many clubs and groups. I have been able to find “my people” for just about anything, and those social groups have helped me to feel connected to UofT despite being UofZoom. Part of that connection comes from living in Chestnut. Besides the friends at Chestnut, I love the convenience of the proximity to Nathan Phillips Square and Eaton Center.

For more information, contact chestnut.life@utoronto.ca or the.chestnut.residence.council@gmail.com