Candidate Profiles

Jack Ross-Pilkington

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Major: ILR

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

If I’m elected to serve as your representative, I hope to uphold three values: accessibility, inclusion and dedication. Dedication: I pledge to dedicate a significant amount of time to working with the student assembly. Inclusion: I will work to ensure that the voices of Women, the LGBT+ community, the Latinix community, the Black community, the Disabled community, the Undocumented community, and all marginalized groups are heard. Accessibility: I will be open to hearing your voice and working to solve your problems at all times. If I am elected, I will be accessible through Email, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and in person. I look forward to meeting and working with each and every one of you!

Marco A. Peralta-Ochoa

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Biology and Society

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

After four weeks on this campus, I have formed and overheard opinions of first year students, regarding things they wish were different at Cornell University. As a gay, Hispanic, first generation student from Southern California, I have begun to understand some struggles of the college life. I soon realized that the environment in which we live, plays a key role in not just surviving, but thriving here at Cornell. Personally, I have noticed the need for students to feel comfortable in speaking out about what the think, believe, feel, want, and need. Moreover, there is an urgency for not just first years, but for the entire Cornell student body to act towards what it wants to see changed. I have also been introduced to opinions regarding the current Student Association body, specifically the wide held belief that it has failed to move towards the changes that students hope to see. If elected as one of your first-year representatives, I plan on acting on the needs of the first-year population and the Cornell body at large, instead of solely continuing to voice the need for change, and I will work to be part of a Student Association that fulfills its duties to the students by which it was elected.

Richard Kanghyun Cho

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Government

Graduation: Fall 2021

Candidate Statement:

WHO AM I? I’m diligent, friendly, trustworthy, and smart. I work, have fun when I can, and frankly I’m like any other young adult transitioning into college. Take a second to reflect. This doesn’t describe me, it describes us. I hope to get to know all of you and your story, but I’ll start first. I’m Richard! I’m currently studying Government in A&S and I’m from SoCal. I’m passionate about meeting new people, helping others through civic engagement, and seeing results from my actions. Because of my humble background, I don’t take things for granted - I persist, I speak up, I debate, and I represent. It’s what I do. And now, I want to bring that passion to Cornell. REACH. We need to come together as a community and connect, bridge gaps, and communicate our ideas RESOLVE. We can work out our differences and put aside our pride to resolve problems under one body RESULTS. Voicing opinions is one thing, following through is another. I will promote activism, turn activism into resolutions, and turn resolutions into action Richard. The student that will represent you in the Assembly properly. These 3 R’s are what I will bring to the SA as your Freshman Representative. Contact me at rc663@cornell.edu or add me on FB! #Vote4Cho

Dillon Hitesh Anadkat

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Government

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Residence Halls - I want to improve the facilities in the Residence Halls. For example, I would like for there to be a Games Room and a TV Room in each Hall - I also want to have more activities for North Campus. For example, I will liaise with Cornell Dining to try to arrange barbecues for each Residence Hall every Sunday (during the sunny months!). - I would like for there to be basic free coffee machines at the entrance of each Residence Hall The Student Assembly currently has nearly $7 million in it's pot- let's spend that on North Campus! Dining - I want to work with RPCC to see if they could open up for either breakfast or lunch, so as to give Freshman a greater choice - I will lobby Cornell Dining to allow us to use swipes at more venues on Central Campus - I will ask the RPCC and Appel Centre to increase the size of their menus, with an emphasis on healthy living I have a lot of High School experience in sitting on various committees like the Student Assembly, through which I carried out many similar things. Trust experience- don't make America's mistake! Cornell is a great school, and North Campus is a great living area. Let us build on this to make it even better!

Osai Egharevba

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Engineering

Major: CS

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hello Class of 2021! My name is Osai Egharevba and I’m from New York City. I like to play video games, develop computer programs and watch Law and Order on my spare time. My platform consists of three parts: Free speech for all, improvements to Cornell Dining and fixing Student Center. The ability to have meaningful and fulfilling discussion about controversial issues is important because it allows us to understand each other and become better individuals. We must counter division and discourse with the greatest tool of democracy: free speech. Secondly, I want to improve Cornell Dining by giving students more options on Central Campus than Okenshields. You should be able to select up to $12 worth of items at Trillium and pay for it with a meal swipe, allowing you to get better food without going on a hike to West Campus. Finally, if elected, I will create a Student Center Task Force within the Technology Committee consisting of engineers to examine the current state of Student Center (which is barely usable, by the way) and develop ways to improve the infrastructure, layout and design of Student Center because no one is excited to use Student Center and some are more likely to win the lottery than to get a good pre-enroll.

Marco A. Peralta-Ochoa

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Biology and Society

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Jaewon Sim

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Biology

Graduation: Fall 2021

Candidate Statement:

I committed to Cornell because of the core values of this institution: “any person, any study”. But recent alarming events have revealed that discrimination, and violence against minorities are on-going issues that require immediate attention. I have lived in 4 different countries – Indonesia, China, Korea, and US – and attended 9 different schools. Coming from a multicultural background myself, I believe diversity is one of the best strengths of the Cornell community. Cornell must be a safe space for all, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender identity, and economic status. I will work for stronger policies against hate speeches, increased support for minority groups, and educational programs to systematically reduce discrimination. A major part of creating an inclusive campus involves reducing student financial burden. Tuition is expensive enough, but Cornell’s small fees can quickly add up, especially for students from a lower-income background. I will work for free printing for all undergrads and free printers in undergrad dorms, lower textbook prices through support for programs like the Lending Library, and lower food prices at cafes, dining halls and vending machines. See my full letter on JaewonSim.com.

Timothy James Hunt III

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Physics

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

For those of you who wish to know about me: I am from near Northern Virginia near DC, I am a prospective physics major with hopes to go to law school, and I am very interested in politics both at the local and national level. For those of you who wish to know my qualifications: I have been an eagle scout since the age of 14, I competed in speech and debate for 4 years in high school where I gave speeches on politics and economics as well as participating in a mock congress, and I have leadership experience in JROTC where I was an officer on the battalion level. For those of you who wish to know how I would help you: I believe that Cornell should be a place of learning, but that it should also be a place where we can have fun. I would advocate for easier and cheaper access to printing for students, a banning of grade deflation, and any other issues that you had. I believe that as student representative it is my duty to accurately represent you, the students who elected me, which is why if elected I would make sure to make myself available to you by scheduling weekly times where you could come and talk to me about anything which I would then use to vote in a manner that best helped you or work to fix whatever issue you had.

Ahmed El Sammak

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Government

Graduation: Fall 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hello fellow Cornellians. As we embark on this new chapter of our lives we will be experiencing many changes. Whether it be gaining independence from our parents, developing better (or worse) study habits or making new friends, we are all going through this chapter together. In this transition there will be many opportunities for us to change the status quo and to improve our future 4 years, and one of these include the student assembly. In order to run a successful campaign, my foundation will rely on you, the students. All of my platforms stem from your complaints and your ideas. I've heard from a number of students already about various issues from athletes not being able to eat after practice because of early dining hall closings to the lack of new exercise machines at the Helen Newman Fitness Center. I can not promise to fix every single issue you have or to get all of these changes completed instantly, but I can definitely assure you that your voice will be heard if you elect me and I will do everything in my power to bring about the change you deserve. You have the right to make a difference, use it and vote! Remember, if you love Big Red, vote for Ahmed!

Rishab "Shabba" Bhandari

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: A.E.M. and Information Science

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

My name is Rishab 'Shabba' Bhandari. I am from Princeton, New Jersey and plan on majoring in Information Science in CALS. You might recognize me from your classes, campaign poster or even the meme page. So, you must be wondering why you should vote for me? Well, my platform is simple: 1. FREE PRINTING >>> Based on our tuition, it is absurd we have to pay extra to print our educational materials. 2. TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN STAFF and STUDENTS >>> Professors, Staff and Students are all on different pages which is not good for any productive community. 3. MORE INTERESTING and ENGAGING CLASS EVENTS >>> More interesting class events can help make our student class more unified. 4. WARMER WEATHER >>> Easy fix. No place should be this cold this fast. 5. CHOCOLATE FROZEN YOGURT >>> Strawberry and Vanilla are not acceptable. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at rb725@cornell.edu. I am always open to suggestions to make our school even better. Go Big Red!

Andrew "Flandy" Wong

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: School of Hotel Administration

Major: SHA

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Dear Fellow Classmates, Hi all! My name is Andrew Wong and I am running for Freshman Representative. To tell you a little about myself, I am a very charismatic, funny, outgoing, and enthusiastic person. As Yeezy once said, “I can’t let these people play me, name one genius that ain’t crazy.” I try to lighten up the atmosphere at school, spreading joy and happiness all around. This isn’t the first time that I have been in this position. During high school, I was the Senior Class Vice President, organizing events such as homecoming, prom, and spirit week. With the same passion as I had a year ago, I still strive to continue my role. I want to increase student involvement in undergraduate affairs and streamline the communication process between students and their representatives. Specifically I will implement frequent surveys, polls, and open forums for safe communication. F R E E T H I N G S. You love them, I love them. I will advocate for more free t-shirts, hats, you name it! I won’t forget, B E T T E R toilet paper!

Michael Pocress

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Human Ecology

Major: Policy Analysis and Management

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

As a Policy Analysis and Management Major in the College of Human Ecology, I am interested in public service and government. During my time in high school, I have played an active role in student government by serving in various elected positions since my freshman year; as a result, I learned much about debate, communication, and cooperation. However, the most valuable aspect of government I learned was how to properly create and implement an agenda. Running for Freshman Representative of Cornell University's Class of 2021, I am planing to apply my knowledge and prior experience in student government. I know that serving in Cornell's Student Assembly will provide an effective medium for me to propose several agendas that will benefit the Class of 2021 and Cornell as a whole. Some of my key policies and legislative ideas I will work to accomplish include: (1) Extending the dinning hall hours at eateries like RPCC and Appel. (2) Creating a student run program that matches buyers and sellers of textbooks, to save students more money. (3) Organizing more free community activities like game nights and BBQs. As the Freshman Representative for the Class of 2021 these proposed agendas can all be accomplished and more.

Nicole Krisztinicz

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Biochemistry

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hi! My name is Nicole Krisztinicz and I am a freshman from Washington D.C. I am here hoping to be one of your First-Year Representatives in the Student Assembly because I love Cornell and I want to be involved in making our next four years the best of our lives. I think the best way for me to work for our class is to talk with all of you and to advocate for what you think is important. So here are a few facts about me to help you to get to know me a little better: 1. I am majoring in biochemistry (and maybe economics!) 2. I was the only girl on an all-boys water polo team in high school 3. I love traveling and exploring new cultures 4. I was involved with my high school Student Government, spending 2 years as Treasurer so I will be comfortable dealing with money and with the Cornell administration 5. I am Hun-rish - my dad is from Hungary and my mom is Irish (which is where I get my red hair) 6. My favorite James Bond is Pierce Brosnan <3 7. I am obsessed with any and all types of food found on the Asian Continent so hit me up if you want to talk about what I can do for you as your First-Year Student Assembly Representative over some RPCC Dim Sum (or any Asian food tbh).

Sam Brickman

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Computer Science

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hello Class of 2021! My name is Sam Brickman and I am campaigning to be one of your representatives on the Student Assembly. I am from Westchester, New York and in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Computer Science. In high school, I played varsity football and tennis, sang acapella, and participated in my school's science research program. I want serve on the Assembly to fight for real, achievable change that will actually make noticeable differences in our everyday lives. How many times have you been thirsty at night but didn’t deem trekking all the way to the water fountain on the first floor worth it? Have difficulty finding options in the dining halls that conform to your diet? Little things that will improve the lives of freshmen such as increased water fountains in residence halls, healthier options in the dining halls, TCAT schedules with more clarity, and improved WIFI are all what we as freshmen actually care about, and it’s about time the university recognizes this. If elected, I vow to be open and transparent. I will always be prompt to respond to concerns and will take action accordingly. A people person, I will always your friend before a representative. Thank you and I hope you make the right choice!

Joanna LaTorre

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Dyson- Applied Economics and Management

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Captured by its community, history, & beauty, I knew Cornell was my future home the moment I stepped on campus. Hello Cornellians! I’m Joanna LaTorre, a Floridian and Dyson Applied Economics & Management student- a major unrepresented by current Student Assembly (SA) members. After only a month, I’m excited to embark on the next 4 years with you, explore campus opportunities, make positive impacts, gain 15 lbs of calf muscle, & get frostbite this winter. I genuinely assure you that I’ll dedicate my energy to SA, avoiding empty promises. What’s in it for you? I advocate increases in the following: safety, transparency from SA, library hours, sustainability, social justice, support of athletics & performances, freshmen involvement, & integration of your ideas. I’ll also ensure that student activity fees are allocated justly. My qualifications include being high school Student Body President, Future Business Leaders of America State VP & chapter founder, & a 2-year government intern. So while I know how to bring ideas to life, I also realize the importance of SA’s impact on your personal experience at Cornell. Questions? Ideas? Want to chat? Talk to me or email me at jl2624@cornell.edu! Positive change is coming- vote for it!

Joanna "Jojo" Cheng

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Environmental and Sustainability Sciences + International Agriculture and Rural Development

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

YOYO my name is Jojo and I am running for Freshman Rep for the Class of 2021! I am from Plainview, LI, NY. I am majoring in ESS (Environmental and Sustainability Sciences) and IARD (International Agriculture and Rural Development). I run the class Instagram page and am an admin of the official Class of 2021 Facebook group. During orientation week, I worked with The Cornell Store and Cornell's Orientation Team on social media campaigns. I am easily reachable, a great listener and will work adamantly in strengthening the individual and collective voices of our class. We have already experienced the Freshman Housing Crisis of 2017, the flood of flyers and chalk outside of Balch, the plague that every freshman seems to have and taking the wrong TCAT and ending up in Scranton, PA. BUT we still have so much more to look forward to! I can’t wait to lose our voices by cheering at our first Homecoming game, throwing fish on the ice at the Cornell-Harvard hockey game, sledding down Libe Slope during a snowstorm, turning our faces blue from screaming at midnight before the first finals and so much more! So, go go vote for Jojo and let’s make this year even more legen... wait for it... DAIRY bar :)

Jenna Winocur

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Development Sociology

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hello Class of 2021! My name is Jenna Winocur, I’m from Denver, Colorado, I’m a DSoc Major in CALS, and I’m looking to represent YOU! I have taken on leadership positions in FBLA, DECA, business startups, and non-profits. Just like all of you, I felt an instant connection to Cornell. Everyday I am inspired by my classmates and your achievements and passions. It would be an honor to serve as your representative! Some of my goals include… A blog in order to hear directly from you! A blog would ensure transparency and provide personal, accessible communication. to see real, tangible differences in available opportunities for marginalized communities. Advocating your thoughts in campus-wide initiatives that affect us all, including environmental sustainability projects and general safety. Listening to, and resolving freshman-specific problems. We’re all in this together Class of 2021! For example, extending Gannett hours and availability. Although, I think most of us are beginning to overcome that freshman plague... Communicating estimated wait times for lines in the cafeterias. This has the potential to increase meal efficiency and allow students to more effectively manage their time. Vote Jenna Winocur as your Freshman Rep!

Jacob H Spiegel

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Major: ILR

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

Hey class of ZOZI! I'm Jacob Spiegel, and I would like to urge you all to vote for me for First Year Representative. Just like many of you, I arrived here at Cornell nearly a month ago, and throughout that time I've been noticing all the amazing things Cornell has to offer. RPCC brunch and the beautiful Bingalee Dingalee are a few, but recently I've been looking for ways I can give back on campus. Hundreds of thousands of students have made the trek from North to Central over the years. One of my goals of college is not to just pass through a bystander during my time, but to make a lasting, positive impact in the campus community, especially for my class. As a First-Year Representative, I want to make life for freshmen as good as possible. I want to reduce the amount of time students spend getting to places, for instance via a shuttle from North to Central in the mornings. I also want to reduce costs for students however I can, making everything from laundry to Bear Necessities cheaper. When I heard of student assembly, I knew that this is the way I can make these changes and more become a reality. I would like to end with a haiku: Here working for you, Vote Spiegel for the people, Refrigerator.

Foster Karmon

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Dual-Major: Communication and Applied Economics and Management

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

My name is Foster Karmon, and I will be graduating from Cornell in the Spring of 2021, with a dual-major in Communication, and Applied Economics and Management. I have diverse and longstanding leadership experience, ranging from my role as captain of my wrestling team, to a leader for my schools PAL's Program. Here at Cornell, I currently hold a position on the Hall Council for the Townhouse Community. As your Freshman representative, I will collaborate with Cornell’s Alumni network to continue expanding internship opportunities for students during their Freshman summer. There is no reason to wait on exploring your areas of interest, learning applicable knowledge, and creating priceless connections. Pursuing an Ivy league degree comes with it’s share of stress, and we need to expand the outlets for managing this stress. I will regularly make myself available to any and every student or faculty member who wants to reach out and discuss their vision for the future of Cornell University. I can be reached at fk254@cornell.edu to schedule a meeting. We come from different backgrounds, yet we are here together with a common mission, working for a future that is brilliant and fulfilling.

Savanna R Lim

Freshman Representative At-Large

College/School: College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Major: Urban and Regional Studies

Graduation: Spring 2021

Candidate Statement:

My name is Savanna Lim and I want to empower your voice (and get coffee with you!) as freshman representative. I wish to protect and uphold the statement "any person, any study" and ensure our community remains one that is inclusive and welcoming. Specifically, I hope to work with current SA members to implement a "No Hate Speech" policy that all students will adhere to. In addition, I hope to work on ensuring the safety of students walking through campus at night by adding more lights on the Arts Quad (we're not exactly our best selves while walking back from Collegetown at 3am). I am also passionate about The Dining Hall Experience™, an experience we can all identify with. Food is an integral part of who I am; I will always be on the lookout to improve our dining life, including increasing veggie options! Lastly, I am running because I am actually VERY passionate about being an advocate. I've been advocating all my life (I have 2 younger siblings), have served as Student Council President of my high school, and actively tweet at elected officials. I promise to listen to you and uphold your wishes and values. In solidarity, Savanna Lim #VoteLimToWin

Ian Wallace

LGBTQ+ Liaison At-Large -ELECTED!

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Near Eastern Studies

Graduation: Spring 2020

Candidate Statement:

Hello, I am Ian Wallace, I am a sophomore running for LGBTQ+ Liaison. Since arriving at Cornell, I have found a welcome home in the university LGBT community. I owe the community for the person I’ve grown to be. I want to make sure that the university is doing everything to promote inclusivity of all students, and hold them accountable when they are not. As LGBTQ+ Liaison, I will advocate for inclusivity initiatives, and for ethnic and minority programs, such as new inclusive program housing. For all Cornellians, I will advocate for broader housing options, including an expansion of upperclassmen housing, so that everyone can choose to live within close proximity to campus. I humbly look forward to serving you all to the best of my ability.

Alex Chowdhury

Transfer Representative - RUNNING UNOPPOSED

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

Graduation: Spring 2020

Candidate Statement:

Hello Cornell! My name is Alex Chowdhury and I’m running for Transfer Rep to the Student Assembly. I’m a sophomore in ILR and I transferred from DePaul University. I want to be your transfer rep because I know that our journey through Cornell is different from those who have been here since their freshman year. We come into Cornell with a different knowledge set. As transfer students, we have a different experience in the “college lifestyle” and thus need (or not need) different accommodations. My biggest promise to you as a transfer student is that your voice will be heard. Oftentimes, since we aren’t a big percentage of the student body, our needs are overlooked. I’ll make sure in the Student Assembly that our needs are not only heard but dealt with as well. Since we come from all over we are built up of diverse backgrounds including race, religion, gender and thus transfers are a fundamental part of Cornell’s guiding vision of “Any Person, Any Study”. My promise to you is three things Listen, Look, and React. I’ll listen to any Cornell student regardless of opinion, I’ll look for any needs the student body needs and I will react to it. Too often, governing bodies expect voices to come to them, I promise to come to you.