Since Ilya Sheyman graduated from McGill in 2006, he’s returned to his home state to run for Congress as a Democrat in Illinois’s 10th district. The district, which encompasses the northern suburbs of Chicago, elected Republican Robert Dold in 2010.  An immigrant from the former Soviet Union, the 25-year-old Sheyman just meets the minimum age requirement to run for Congressional office. Below, in an exclusive interview with the Tribune, Sheyman discusses unemployment, small-scale fundraising, and studying American history from abroad. 

What motivated you to become involved in politics?

While at McGill I studied history and political science, and when I came back home to Illinois I started right away working at improving the quality of public schools in my home area. So I started organizing in education and spent the last year and a half in healthcare and just realized that my experience in this district, working on the priorities of residents here was exactly what I thought Congress was lacking.

You support several progressive ideals, but could you name a few that are most important to you? 

I think the biggest challenge we have right now is that unemployment is through the roof. In my district alone, it’s between eight per cent and 19 per cent unemployment, so in some areas, literally one in five people are unemployed. So I think the biggest change we should make in Washington is to stop focusing on what we can cut and start focusing on putting people back to work. That means that we have to pass the federal jobs bill, we need to invest in good paying jobs, building roads, rebuilding schools and hospitals, and really building a clean energy economy so that we can bring manufacturing back as well. That’s very different from what’s going on in Congress right now, where they’re focused on cutting core social programs. 

How would you describe your district’s political orientation? 

The last four of the six elections were decided by just a couple of percentage points. That’s a reflection of the fact that this is a pretty well-educated, pretty independent-minded district that really votes for the candidate and not the party. They want to elect the person who really gets what’s going on and who’s trying to improve people’s lives in the district. So our job is to cross that hurdle and slowly turn the district Democratic  after 30 years. 

What has been your approach to fundraising in this economy? 

I think the challenge you face when you start out and you don’t have a lot of friends who make millions of dollars is we had to go out and raise money five, 10, 20 dollars at a time. So our campaign has eleven thousand individual donors—that’s one of the largest donor efforts of any campaign in the country—and we built it at house parties, where we get together at someone’s home every weekend. Twenty to thirty people show up; they ask questions, they find out what issues are on my mind and they share their concerns and they chip in a few dollars. 

And we collect money over the Internet, where people are contributing just a couple dollars at a time, but altogether it adds up. And I think that model of fundraising ends up with a lot of people invested in the campaign. If they contribute just a few dollars, they’re also willing to knock on doors and make phone calls and do whatever else it will take for us to win. 

Did your time at McGill influence your decision to go into politics? 

I majored in political science and U.S. history. When I was there I got a background in … [w]hat [it] was going to take to serve in Congress. I mostly studied U.S.  foreign relations, so I really got a handle on what a lot of that looks like and the policy-making that happens in Washington. 

While I was there, I spent time interning for a campaign in Vermont for Congressman Peter Welch, so I got to see firsthand what an election looks like, what it takes to run for office and have a lot of the conversations with voters that I’m having now. And while doing that I realized that I really enjoyed listening to voters and figuring out what their priorities are. But it was never part of the plan to run for office until this past year. So it was more of a continuing of following my passion of U.S. history and figuring out how policy is made. 

Did Canada’s relatively liberal political environment influence your own politics?

I think it was useful to get a sense of what the political system was like in Quebec and seeing the healthcare system firsthand. However, I think most of my politics were shaped growing up in the 10th district. The reality is that I was at McGill for two and a half years before I graduated. I loved the experience and I got a great education, but I think most of my politically formative years came from moving to the States as Jewish refugee, growing up in the Chicagoland area and seeing how families can succeed through hard work and the support of our community here. 

Who was your favourite McGill professor? 

I loved Leonard Moore, who taught U.S. history. I think I took five or six of his classes. He painted this picture of U.S. history as being one of progress; it was uneven, but over time, the U.S. kept improving and perfecting itself, internally and externally. At a time when George W. Bush had just been elected for his second term and there was a lot of frustration, anger, and criticism, he just did a great job of putting it into context and showing how the U.S. does move forward and improve because a lot of people put work into making it better. 

What’s your favourite thing to do in Montreal?

Going up to Mont Royal on Sundays. 

This interview has been condensed and edited.

Montreal is finally exhibiting signs of winter. On Thursday morning, just as the sun was starting to rise, I saw a glimmer of white on my window pane and jumped out of bed, only to whack my head on a bookshelf. Once I’d confirmed the presence of freshly fallen snow (and more than flurries) I squealed like that Hawaiian guy on my floor in first year when he saw his first snow. I was equally disappointed to listen to students grumbling about winter on my way to class. To be sure, my heater was hardly a match for this weekend’s bitter temperatures, but winter brings a multitude of pros and cons, all of which must be considered before you ask yourself why you don’t live in Zanzibar. 

Pros

– If the weather gets cold enough, maybe leggings won’t pass as pants anymore.

– Winter gives you a chance to see what designers have done to make winter boots ever so slightly attractive.

– The frigid temperatures keep your beer cold.

– Gives you an excuse to try to make the world’s biggest snowball instead of going to class.

– Seeing people cross country ski to campus makes trudging through the snow bearable.

– Watching the Montreal snow removal is especially fun after playing winter themed drinking games

Cons

– No one likes to wear a coat. And a hat. And a scarf. And gloves. And another hat, because it’s just that cold.

– The endless array of winter themed lattes means I have to wait an extra five minutes while in line at a coffee shop. I do not want a peppermint-gingerbread-eggnog-mocha-latte-with-extra-snowflake-sprinkles-on-top, thank you very much. But the eight people in front of me at Second Cup do.  

– Uggs are the ugliest boots known to man. And they aren’t even winter boots.

– Winter makes you hate your friends who are on exchange, taking scuba classes for credit in Indonesia 

– Sidewalk plows are efficient killing machines in disguise. 

– The cold and snow stall construction so often that campus will never be construction-free.

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Moving to Canada from the United States, though probably the easiest “international” transition anyone could ever make, was surprisingly difficult for me. Moving to Paris from Canada, on the other hand, has been very easy and natural. 

This may be because I am no longer 17, or that I’ve been to Paris before, or that my whole family lives in the vicinity. However, it’s probably due to superior preparation and forward-thinking.

 For those of you thinking about going on exchange who wish to be prepared, I have compiled a checklist to help with your experiences.

1: Having plenty of family or friends in your host country is always useful. This has helped me enormously, from opening a bank account to finding a place to live. Having literally a dozen cousins living, working, or studying in the same city as you is a definite advantage in easing the transition.

2: Have low expectations. The first thing to know about doing an exchange is that McGill won’t offer much assistance. Sure, it’s an accredited institution, which is critical when being accepted into other schools’ exchange programs, and someone will eventually send your transcript after numerous emails from your host institution requesting it to complete your application, but the rest is up to you. This includes finding somewhere to live. If you are going somewhere expensive, crowded, and popular—let’s call it “Paris”—finding an apartment will be exponentially more difficult than it was in Montreal.

3: Plan way ahead of time. Different countries have very different laws and modes of operation. If you thought McGill’s bureaucracy was bad, think again. The French government can take on any administration in a red tape battle any day of the week—except on Sunday, when the entire country is closed. Case in point: you need a French bank account to be able to rent an apartment, and you need an apartment in order to open a French bank account. Approach old North American fallbacks like Craigslist with caution—getting a head start is essential, but knowing your options and what is realistic is equally important. Paris is very old, and square meterage is considerably more expensive there. Any ads promising a furnished apartment in a cool area for under 1000 Euros per month is a scam. Not sure how to spot one? Obvious tip-offs include strangely-worded responses to your requests for more information, and anyone with a back-story (typically along the lines of: “my wife is at present in UK, she will mail you keys, first you must send cheque”).

4: French people are not that nice. Beware of Paris syndrome, a condition common among various foreigners. These tourists have such a hard time reconciling Amelie’s Paris with the grey, dog-turd ridden, sour-faced and mean capital that they require psychological help. Be prepared.

5: Nor are French people that mean. Just stop walking around with your map wide open in front of your face, don’t ask for change for 100 Euros, and at least attempt to speak with Parisians in French. In short, be culturally sensitive and people will meet you halfway. 

Moving to another country is difficult at the outset, but it only requires an open mind, some preparation, and self-awareness. Granted, there are a few surprises that will be difficult to get over; for instance, a baguette is a perfectly acceptable meal, and that French people really do wear berets non-ironically. 

With the recent dump of snow and freezing temperatures, global warming is probably the last thing on the minds of most Montrealers. 

While global warming may sound favourable when it’s -21 degrees celcius outside, for some it’s a daily threat. Each year the Maldives loses three of its inhabited islands to rising sea levels. 

With an average altitude of 1.5 metres above sea level, the Maldives compose the world’s lowest laying country. Located in the Indian Ocean, just off the southern tip of India, it spans 90,000 square kilometres, and it’s made up of some 200 inhabited islands. Other islands are used for tourism, agriculture, or other livelihood purposes. Fourteen of the inhabited islands have already disappeared under the ocean.

The Maldivian capital, Malé, has already taken precautions against the rise in sea level. A three metre high sea wall was constructed to keep the ocean out, costing the country tens of millions of dollars. Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s most dramatic climate change forecast, it’s predicted that if the sea rises by 59 centimetres in the next century, the Maldives will be rendered virtually uninhabitable. 

Out of neccessity, the country has now come up with contingency plans. 

A popular surfing destination, the Maldives has a $600 million tourism industry. It’s saving some of this money to allow it the option of buying land in another country, which will enable citizens to relocate if their homes and islands are in jeopardy. Places under consideration include India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. However, no official talks have occurred yet and Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed said that this is a last resort. Other suggested plans include floating islands and desalination.

In order to raise awareness of the issue, President Nasheed attended and walked the red carpet at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of the documentary, The Island President. The documentary details his struggles as president to save his country from literally disappearing under the ocean. President Nasheed has also pledged to make the Maldives completely carbon neutral by 2020. 

While the fate of the Maldives lies largely out of his hands, he is working hard to do his part for his country. Yet, with the recent difficulties in negotiations between the world’s leading countries in Durban, South Africa this past November, it is hard to predict the future of climate change responses.

It’s difficult for countries like the Maldives to remain optimistic given the circumstances. In a speech given this past September at the London School of Economics, president Nasheed said that “Both developing countries and developed countries have the responsibility [to fight climate change].”

“I understand that we are suffering now … because of the West and all that development,” he said, “but even if they all go to sleep tonight and we go to bed as usual and we go to business as usual, and the developed countries don’t do anything for the rest of our lives, we are still going to die.”

Not shying away from strong assertions, he criticised the current negotiation process, stating, “I don’t think we have the time to nicely go on talking about the issues endlessly and I am told that science suggests that we have a window of about seven years and if we are unable to bring a drastic change in these seven years we will soon meet a tipping point from which it will be very, very difficult to pull back.”

“This is 2011, the science is very, very certain and you can’t be so silly and stupid, countries and leaders have to realize that this is happening.”

In high school, they teach that keeping a balanced budget is simple arithmetic: paycheque in, expenses out. Always leave a little margin between the two to save for a rainy day, and live within your means. 

What a romantic concept.

Most budget FAQs and resources out there aren’t designed for students. Beyond the privileged and lucky few, a student typically faces an unpredictable monthly income that seldom allows for rainy-day savings. We also face big bottom lines, and many surprise money-sinks that pop up when a bill goes unpaid in the forgetful exam season. These circumstances require creative penny-squeezing strategies, especially in the months following the expensive holiday season.

Tip 1: Go cash only. Carrying a plastic card around minimizes the impact of spending, and encourages a “what I don’t know can’t hurt me” attitude about small expenses that quickly build up. Seeing your money leave your hand will curb expenses and ensure that you keep tabs on yourself. 

Tip 2: Assess your accumulating little expenses. Do you buy your java out every morning? Calculate how much you spend per month on coffee and other little things, and see if the investment in a French press and bulk-bought beans (or equivalent) won’t pay for itself in a short period of time. A travel mug will save you pennies and save the environment, too. (Travel mugs are also the only coffee containers allowed in most campus libraries.) Other expenses like breakfasts on the run and snacking and dining out also have a tendency to vaporize rent and bill money pools.

Tip 3: Look for opportunity. If your part-time job isn’t paying enough, consider your skills and see if you can’t pick up a part-part-time job as a freelancer. If you have mad editing skills, possess expert knowledge in an unusual field, or you’re a coding whiz, there may be an opportunity to earn supplementary income without leaving the comfort of your desk. Search for industry job boards online, and keep a running list of companies, big and small, that might benefit from your services.   

Tip 4: Have an emergency exit. If you suspect that one month you might come up really short, it will put you at ease to have a plan in advance. Whether this is asking a relative to electronically transfer you what you need to cover your base expenses, borrowing in cash from a friend, or dipping into a long-protected pool of savings, know what the bank delays will be, and plan in advance before the bill is due. Keep a list of resources, including McGill’s in-course financial aid program, so you know where to turn when the going gets really rough.

Tip 5: Explore new hobbies. Being on a tight budget doesn’t mean sitting at home alone while your friends go clubbing. Montreal has a ton of free and cheap things to do, even when it’s cold enough to literally freeze your nose off.  A quick trip to Google will provide plenty of suggestions, and so will keeping tabs on your campus papers and bulletin boards.

Tip 6: Sell off superfluous things. Have a video game, book, or piece of clothing that’s in good shape that you never use any more? Consider selling it on Craigslist or through a bulletin-board notice. This will give you some pocket money to take the edge off. 

Tip 7: Keep a change jar. Turn out your purse and pockets at the end of every day, and when the jar is full, saunter down to a bank or change machine. In the meantime, that jar of change can be emergency bus fare or a beer money piggybank. Keeping all your change in one spot will make it easy to keep track of and save. 

And finally, go easy on yourself. Remember that many famous people have had periods of bankruptcy and poverty, both in and out of university. Realize that missing a bill or two here and there, while not ideal, isn’t the end of the world. Keep a level head and celebrate your successes.