Rea Chatterjee for VP Equity & Sustainability
Hi, I’m Rea Chatterjee and I am running with the SFU Progressives as the VP Equity and Sustainability. I am a Psychology major with a joint-minor in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and Counselling and Human Development. 

As a first generation, queer woman of colour, who grew up in a low-income household, I have felt the effects of social and institutional barriers first-hand. This lived experience guides my work. I believe that all students, especially those from marginalised communities, must feel welcome, safe, and heard.

In order to accomplish this, SFU and the SFSS must acknowledge, address and act upon the historical and ongoing legacy of oppression against marginalized communities including BIPOC, queer, disabled, neurodivergent, lower-caste and low-income students. 

I am grateful to Ucwalmicw SFU professor Kicya7 who shared Opaskwayak Cree Professor Dr. Shawn Wilson’s teachings on “Right Action”- that “Wisdom is Knowledge in Action.” This has guided my advocacy work and has taught me that we must act.

Building on my experience with leading an interfaith group that delivered 25,000+ meals to houseless folks in Whalley, co-founder of my highschool's first mental health club, a Friends of Simon tutor, and organizer with SFU350, I will build an accessible movement where students across faculties, and affiliations come together to put knowledge into action.


TL;DR:
I will work to build an equitable, intersectional and justice-centred university where students belong and will not be ignored.

Uphold Climate Justice, Collaboration, and Action
  • Support an intersectional climate justice movement that confronts the ongoing history of colonial systems, centres Indigenous students, activists, and the Host Nations whose unceded and stolen land where SFU is situated
  • Work with SFU350 in keeping the university accountable to their climate action commitments
  • Take action against the TMX Pipeline Expansion project, supporting solidarity efforts of Indigenous land defenders

Increase Equitable and Intersectional Support for Students
  • Build upon previous wins such as the Black Faculty Cluster Hiring, and establish bursaries for BIPOC and low-income students
  • Equip marginalized students accessing SFU health and counselling with advocates as they go through the processes of receiving adequate care 
  • Work with SFU, Equity Seeking and Community groups to expand EDI initiatives
  • Lead the Equity and Sustainability Committee to improve training on campuses, and lead the BIPOC Committee in supporting Black, Indigenous and racialized advocacy across campuses

Make the Student Movement Accessible to All
  • Create an accessible and sustainable student movement that is centred in rest, joy, and community
  • Eliminate accessibility barriers for students to join the student movement by supplying financial support for educational resources, platforms, and workshops 
  • Amplify and collaborate with student campaigns across all constituency groups, DSUs, and faculties on campus


The current VPES Marie Haddad has made incredible progress, but there is much more to do. Join me and the SFU Progressives in centering equity and justice and defending student power on campus. 

Please remember to vote on February 15-17 through SFU Mail! Pledge to vote at www.bit.ly/vote-rea.

Website: https://reachatterjee.carrd.co
Email: rea_chatterjee@sfu.ca
FB: facebook.com/Rea4VPES
IG:  @Rea4VPES
​Team Website: bit.ly/SFUProgressives