Daniel Ripoll — a fourth-year student studying political science and philosophy — told The Varsity that the main focus of his campaign is improving public transit for students. He’s served as the VP external relations for the UTM Mock Trial Club and the Filipino Student Association at UTM. 

If elected, Ripoll plans to lobby MiWay to increase the number of buses running the 44 route — which runs from UTM to Meadowvale Town Centre — and the 26 route — which runs from Kipling to the South Common Mall — and push the city to build bike and ride-sharing options students can use to get to campus. He also pledged to lobby the Brampton transit service to get more buses for the 199 route — which travels between Brampton and UTM. He also wants to investigate the lack of GoBus services at UTM.

“I’m a commuter myself, and I think a lot of students get to campus by commuting, so they really need the support,” he said.

Ripoll also told The Varsity that he wants to improve the UTMSU’s relationships with other student unions and the provincial and municipal governments. He said this would allow them to work collectively and improve the quality of the student experience at U of T.

Elijah (Eli) Miller-Buza — a second-year student double majoring in peace, conflict, justice studies and geography — serves as an executive member of Enactus, a student group aimed at using business for social and environmental change. He also worked on Munk One’s Case Competition event. 

Miller-Buza’s campaign focuses fall under the acronym HATS: housing, accessibility, transit, and safety. 

In terms of housing, he wants to lobby the government to support universities in building more housing and provide further support to students who don’t live in residences. 

Simran Kaur Rattanpal — a third-year double majoring in political science and history of religions — wrote in an email to The Varsity that she wants to “help students get the best out of their university experience.” She’s participated in the UTM Pre-Law Organization, the Political Science Association, and the Historical Studies Society, which, she writes, provided her with opportunities to connect with professionals and UTM administrators.

In an interview with The Varsity, Sidra Ahsan — a fifth-year student majoring in biology for health science and minoring in creative writing and French studies — highlighted her experience researching university policies as a student support associate at the UTMSU. She said that this research has provided her insight into the challenges students face, such as academic isolation.

If elected, Ahsan aims to establish an Academic and Career Mentorship Program to connect students with alumni and experts in their fields of interest. She also plans to collaborate with the Career Centre to organize professional networking nights and financial literacy workshops, particularly for students from programs like arts that often don’t typically receive that type of support.

Majo Romero wrote in an email to The Varsity that she wants students “to have a better opportunity [to succeed]” than she’s had in her three years at UTM. A third-year student studying psychology and digital enterprise management, Romero served as the event director for the Latin American Student Association, where she planned and organized events that catered to the student community. Romero’s campaign focuses on advocating for U of T to move the CR/NCR deadline to after students receive their final grades. She also hopes to change exam deferral policies so that when a student defers an exam after someone they know dies, they no longer have to provide proof of death documentation. In addition, she wishes to push for more scholarships geared toward international students who would not otherwise be able to afford UTM tuition.

Romero aims to “create more options for students to get academic job opportunities” by collaborating with the Career Centre to develop new programs, and partner with local businesses to offer internships and create mentorship programs where students can get advice from professionals in the fields that interest them.

To encourage students’ confidence that UTMSU is “finally making tangible, meaningful progress,” Romero said she would listen to students and floated the idea of “reforming how the elections are held” to make it easier for any student to run.

Philip Anyang (EmpowerUTM)

Philip Anyang — a third-year student studying economics and political science — told The Varsity that he wants to see initiatives on campus where “people feel more included, feel more supported, and [that] make campus a much safer and inclusive place for students.”

He currently serves as an outreach and marketing assistant at the UTM Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office and previously worked with the university’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force to advocate for inclusive policies within academic units. 

Anyang pledged that, if elected, he would work to create a dedicated space within the UTMSU’s racialized students’ lounge where students can “connect with peers and strengthen their community.” 

Anyang also wants to host more equity-related events, workshops, and cultural celebrations throughout the year and to create a calendar displaying equity events on campus. He also hopes to establish a fund to provide campus groups with more financial support that they need to host events. 

Anyang highlighted accessibility as a huge issue on the UTM campus. He expressed disappointment in U of T’s “inaction” in promoting and supporting students with disabilities. To combat this issue, Anyang said he would create an accessibility team that would identify areas where students’ needs may not be met.

Layla Zarroug (ForUTM)

Layla Zarroug — a third-year double major in political science and psychology — wrote in an email to The Varsity that she would use her position as VP equity “as a platform to create equal opportunities for everyone.”

Zarroug was the head of her high school’s first Black Student Association in Dubai. Her campaign emphasizes ensuring women’s safety by implementing an anonymous UTM-specific sexual harassment and assault hotline where people can seek help, and by advocating for the university to implement mandatory courses on consent and increase the number of emergency towers on campus

Zarroug also aims to advocate for the university to provide more diverse food options representing various cultures, writing that “the lack of halal, vegan and ethnic foods [at UTM] are astonishing.”

As a Sudanese immigrant with experience living in different countries, Zarroug wrote that she understands the importance of community. She plans to revitalize campus spaces like the Blind Duck, which she hopes to keep open on weekends. She also wants to introduce live music and host themed nights at the pub so students can socialize and bond.

Zarroug aims to support students affected by international events by advocating for the university to implement “more accessible extensions” and lift a policy that requires students to provide proof of death documentation when requesting an exam deferment when someone they are close to dies.