Candidates for the University of Toronto Student’s Union (UTSU) Board of Directors were announced last week, with 49 candidates vying for 23 positions representing Arts & Science, Engineering, Innis College, Kinesiology, St. Michael’s College, New College, Professional, Trinity College, University College, Victoria, and Woodsworth.
The majority of candidates are running as part of Brighter UofT or Change UofT, while five are running as independents.
ANGELO GIO MATEO
Slate: Brighter
- Lobby to reform the university’s policies on sexual violence
- Improve commuter experience on campus
- Bringing accountability and transparency to the UTSU
TUO LI
Slate: Change
- Advocate for international student representation on the governing council
- Lobby for drop-in hours for mental health services
- Make Trinity more aware of the services and advocacy that UTSU can provide
RYAN HUME
Slate: Brighter
- Create and promote consistent drop-in events at the UC Commuter Service Centre that include resident students
- Raise awareness of mental health and sexual violence support services
LERA NWINEH
Slate: Change
- Work with the UC Literary and Athletic Society and the UC Residence Council to ensure proper representation and bring real change
DAMAN SINGH
Slate: Brighter
- Create more college specific resources for mental-health
- Create an inclusive space for commuter students
MADINA SIDDIQUI
Slate: Change
- Host more university wide community-building events
- Improve services and policies for survivors of sexual violence
RAJA ABDO
Slate: Brighter
- See greater cohesion between commuters and residents at the college
- Bridge these groups to create a stronger community
DAOUII (ADAM) ABOUCHERE
Slate: Change
- Lobby for a GTA-wide UPASS
- Advocate for professional advancement for marginalized students through alumni mentorship
- Improve UofT and UTSU communication with commuter students
PRIYA KAUR
Slate: Brighter
- Committed to working against sexual violence
- Building an inclusive community by encouraging initiatives such as Being Black at U of T and U of T Thrive
DANIELLE SARDELLA
Slate: Change
- Expand accessibility and mental health services on campus
JESSICA AFONSO
Slate: Brighter
- Launch student run and administered mental health services support network at SMC
- Create more work-study positions within the college
LAKISHA LEDCHUMANAN
Slate: Change
- Lobby for free event space for clubs
- Improve mental health services on campus, and promote those services more to students
MELANIE CHEDDI
Slate: Independent
- Get SMC students more involved with UTSU
- Improve communication between UTSU and students
CHRISTINA BADIOLA
Slate: Brighter
- Regulate TTC fairs for students
- Improve commuter spaces at Woodsworth Make it easier for students to get involved in the Woodsworth community
ACKAH BLAY
Slate: Change
- Advocate for the repeal of the 2 ID Student Metropass System Improve information accessibility for students
- Communicate better with students
MATT CELESTIAL
Slate: Change
- Connect students to professional advancement, community resources and alumni
- Address student rights as workers and interns engage students in equity based leadership
NATHAN GIBSON
Slate: Brighter
- Ensure that the UTSU executive hears the voice of all students
- Make U of T students feel part of a community
PAVAN SINGH
Slate: Change
- Advocate for more affordable and healthy food options on campus
- Reduce stigma and increase supports for mental health services
- Unite clubs to foster a strong sense of community
CAILYN STEWART
Slate: Brighter
- Be the voice that fully captures the student body
- Make sure representation does not fall short
AUNI ASHAN
Slate: Independent
- Advocate and increase resources for mental health
- Raise awareness of sexual-violence related issues
ROBERT FAN
Slate: Change
- Increase career development opportunities
- Advocate for greater club funding and open-budgeting
VICTOR LEE
Slate: Change
- Advocate for better health care for international students
- Lobby for more mental health support for students
ZAYNEB RAGHEI
Slate: Brighter
- Maintain a strong relationship between the UTSU and Victoria College
- Advocate greater accommodation and accessibility for commuters
- Improve awareness of all the services UTSU offers to students
STEVE WARNER
Slate: Brighter
- Update support systems for mental health and sexual assault victims
- Promote more Victoria College run events
- Ensure that the the new Board of Direcotrs structure maintains direct representation for Victoria College students
ANDRE FAST
Slate: Change
- Advocate to eliminate interest on student loans
- Support fossil fuel divestment
- Push to eliminate the TTC Student ID Card
NICOLE THOMPSON
Slate: Brighter
- Be visible and accountable to all Innis students
- Lobby to create a comprehensive sexual violence policy
- Fight for OSAP reform Increase transparency of university resources
ZACHARY BIST
Slate: Brighter
- Engage, critique, and constantly question the decisions of executives
- Improve mental health services by pushing the university to significantly cut CAPS wait times
- Improve UTSU information accessibility
DANNI ZUO
Slate: Change
- Advocate for a snow-day policy
- Create an outreach strategy for international students and an international students week
- Host more university wide events
DOMINICK HAN
Slate: Brighter
- Lobby for a better health plan, lower tuition fees, and increased services for international students
- Ensure that all students have equal access to the benefits student fees pay for
OSMAN ABDALLA
Slate: Change
- Advocate for the elimination of the 2 ID TTC student pass system
- Advocate for a peer-to-peer mentorship program that starts in orientation week
PETER ZHANG
Slate: Brighter
- Promote more mentorship programs for New college students
SASHA HENRY
Slate: Change
- Challenge racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination
- Make club funding faster and more transparent
- Make student and registrar services more accessible
EMILY XU
Slate: Brighter
- Increase accessibility and transparency of UTSU events and services
- Implement cheaper transit accommodations for commuter students
- Connect engineering students to clubs and resources outside of their program
LAUREN HOWE
Slate: Change
- Fight for more student-focused strategies on sexual violence
- Address the transparency and high cost of ancillary fees
- Support students who have difficulties accessing the registrar and filing petitions
JOSHUA CALAFATO
Slate: Brighter
- Is critical of the past relationship between Engineering and the UTSU, by being elected will ensure that the BoD will listen to engineering students
MAX HAO LU
Slate: Change
- Make life simpler and smoother for international students
- Improve communication about computer lab availability
- Make events more accessible
SAARTHAK SAXENA
Slate: Brighter
- Believes that the UTSU does not do enough to represent engineers, is seeking election so that he can change it from the inside
CAROLINE KE LING
Slate: Change
- Lobby for OHIP for international students
- Eliminate exam and tuition deferral fees
- Create a greater connection between engineering and the larger U of T community
NICHOLAS GRANT
Slate: Brighter
- UTAPS applications made more accessible for out of province students
- Propose a referendum on defederation from the Canadian Federation of Students
- Renegotiate the University food contract with Aramark
LAWRENCE ZHANG
Slate: Change
- Bring OHIP (or an equivalent) to international students
- Create stronger bonds between clubs, unions and societies
KHRYSTYNA ZHUK
Slate: Brighter
- Promote a new BoD structure that represents both the colleges and marginalized groups
- Push for more initiatives to handle sexual-assault cases, and better support for those currently in existence
ANASTASIA LOGOTHETI
Slate: Independent
- Hopes to contribute enthusiasm, responsibility, creativity and ideas to the BoD
CELIA WANDIO
Slate: Independent
- Facilitate collaboration among clubs with similar goals
- Push for services and policies for survivors of sexual-violence
- Consult with colleges and clubs to improve UTSU services
NIA-IMARA BARBEROUSSE
Slate: Brighter
- Top priority is to further develop the professional faculties committee
- Focus discussion on pro-faculty specific issues such as mental health, resource accessibility, and regulation of pro-faculty fees
CARLOS FIEL
Slate: Brighter
- Make the UTSU work closer with professional faculties, for example on matters such as stores and food services
- Create transparency on the UTSU by allowing students to know who is working on what, how much it costs, and what the outcomes are
SAM HARRISON
Slate: Change
- Launch a campaign to drop student fees
- Have more fun events
NEIL VAS
Slate: Change
- Advocate for more interfaculty collaboration, more mental health supports for professional students, and more practical opportunities
ERNEST RALPH MANALO
Slate: Change
- Challenge stigmas surrounding mental health issues
- Improve equity support
- Ensure that KPE students have access to UTSU services and campaigns, and that Varsity athletes are supported
RYAN SCHWENGER
Slate: Independent
- Advocate for improved mental health services, specifically integrating those services into frosh week
- Represent KPE’s interests regarding upcoming BoD structural changes
- Work closely with the KPE Undergraduates association to keep students informed of UTSU dealings
Correction (March 23, 2015, 9:24 am): A previous version of this article incorrectly listed Cailyn Stewart as running with Change UofT. In fact, she is running as part of Brighter UofT. The Varsity regrets the error.
