Senator profile: Jim Pulfer

Since his election to senate in 2012, he has come to see it as the connecting thread between the U of S and the public across the province. The goal, he said, is for senate to inform each group about the other's interests.

"It's supposed to be the window on the community, and the community's window on the university. It's a two-way street," Pulfer said.

Senate is a governing body made up of representatives from the U of S both past and current, including students, past and current chancellors, the university president, vice-presidents, deans, elected members of our alumni representing areas across Saskatchewan and around the world, representatives of organizations with a connection to the university such as professional governing bodies, and the minister and deputy minister of advanced education.

Pulfer sits on senate as the elected representative for district 13. His region, made up solely of the city of Saskatoon, has the largest population of the 14 areas that embody senate.

Now in his second term, Pulfer has come to see senate’s greatest strength as its ability to create an active role for the greater community that surrounds the U of S, both locally and provincially.

“I feel that Saskatoon is quite happy about how things are going,” he said. “But like all things in democracy, if you become complacent and nobody is taking an active part—bringing good ideas and discussing them between each other— then we miss out on a real opportunity to be the cradle of new policy.

“That’s where I see the senate playing a vital role, is in that discussion.”

Senate election is open now and continues until June 16. All alumni are invited to vote at usask.ca/senate-election.