Reva Aggarwal is a second-year economics and criminology student running uncontested for vice-president equity of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU).
Aggarwal holds a number of leadership positions at U of T, such as a St. Michael’s College mentor and a house council co-president for her residence. She said that these experiences have allowed her to build relationships with students to create and increase engagement.
“Being an international student, being a student of colour, being a woman, I know what it’s like to feel like you have to push harder than everyone else.” Aggarwal believes inequities contribute to poor mental health and that there isn’t an equal platform for everyone.
Aggarwal plans to reduce COVID-19-based inequities. Bringing to light that students in different household situations and time zones might have different needs, she calls for professors to increase leniency and office hours and to host asynchronous or even extra classes.
Looking toward the long term, Aggarwal would like to gather specific feedback on issues that students face through surveys, anonymous suggestion boxes, regular workshops, and discussion panels.
The voting period for UTSU elections will run from March 17–21.
