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Office of the Assemblies

Student Assembly Candidate Profiles - Spring 2019 Election

Kirubeal Wondimu

Major: ILR w/ minor in Economics

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: ktw36

Candidate for the position of: First Generation Student Representative At-Large

Candidate Statement: Hello, Cornellians! My name is Kirubeal Wondimu, and I am running to continue serving as your first-generation student representative. When I ran just a few weeks ago, I had three Major goals:

  1. To foster a stronger sense of community among first-generation students by hosting annual events where first-generation students may meet one another.
  2. To compile Cornell's most important resources on one easily accessible platform to make it easier for first-generation students to navigate said resources.
  3. To reduce the student contribution fee which disproportionately affects first-generation students and low-income students alike.

I am proud to say that in my short time in office, I have already made great progress toward achieving these goals. I have used my platform as the first-generation student liaison to reach out to meaningful student organizations and college administrators who are committed to improving the lives of first-generation students like you and me.
If re-elected, I promise to do everything in my power to alleviate the daily burdens faced by first-generation Cornell students, so please vote for me to continue serving as your first-generation student liaison! #Proud2BeFirstGen

Joseph Tauzin

Major: Mathematics

College/School: College of Arts & Sciences

Net ID: jwt92

Candidate for the position of: First Generation Student Representative At-Large

Candidate Statement: Hi! My name is Joseph Tauzin, I’m from Dallas, and am currently on track to become a math Major in the College of Arts and Sciences. I’m the son of two amazing parents who sacrificed their time and energy to make sure I had the opportunity that wasn’t afforded to them; a college education. I am running for the privilege to represent first generation students at Cornell! The transition to any College, let alone Cornell, is difficult for each student. Being a first generation, the transition was particularly jarring. I hope to use the platform of Student Assembly to advocate for Cornell sponsored initiatives to help ease the burden on all incoming students. I believe that taking proactive steps such as the creating of a more streamlined set of instructions for freshman orientation, bettering the communication between Cornell and their students and offering specific training for Orientation leaders on how to best help adjust first generation students, can advance our university and make Cornell feel more like home to more people. While I’m running to represent first gens, EVERY student’s voice deserves to be heard and acted upon! Anyone will always feel welcomed voicing to me any concerns or ideas for campus improvement. #VoteJoe!

 

Bryan Weintraub

Major: Hotel Administration

College/School: School of Hotel Administration

Net ID: baw245

Candidate for the position of: School of Hotel Administration Representative

Candidate Statement: Hi! I'm Bryan—if you consider Statler your second home on campus, then I'm probably your Student Assembly representative. I'm running for re-election this year, and I would greatly appreciate your vote. If you have any questions regarding my past work on the Assembly, my candidacy, or my plans for the future, don't hesitate to reach out to me via email (baw245@cornell.edu) or Facebook Messenger. I'm always eager to meet more Hotelies!

 

Jazmin Miller

Major: Hotel and Restaurant Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Leadership

College/School: School of Hotel Administration

Net ID: jam926

Candidate for the position of: School of Hotel Administration Representative

Candidate Statement: Hello, my name is Jazmin Miller and I am from Corning, New York. I believe the Hotel Representative seat fits me perfectly because I am energetic, joyous, engaged, supportive, and dedicated. I embrace the Hotelie spirit and encourage others to do so also. As the Hotel Representative, I will advocate for lower snack, salad, and smoothie prices at Mac's and Terrace and strive to improve the transfer student process. It is time to step forward, out of our comfort zones, and give a voice to our dreams. Each day is an advancement into the future. Take it, seize it, enjoy it.

 

Will Silverman

Major: Industrial & Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: wks42

Candidate for the position of: School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative

Candidate Statement: Hello, fellow ILRies! My name is Will Silverman, and I am running to serve as your next ILR student representative! As a sophomore transfer student from a large state school, I recognize the variety of issues that impugn universities’ ability to not only function but succeed. With that said, as a candidate for ILR Student Representative, my campaign revolves around one core theme: transparency. 
With the transition to a new dean, debate amongst ILR students and organizations has exemplified the disappointment we feel about progressing away from now-former Dean Hallock’s tenure. This means I will require that the ILR School have a new, student-endorsed proceedings that consists of initially deciding on clear, reasonable demands from the ILR student body, informing the selection committee of this decision, and requiring that they only hire a dean who encompasses that requirement.
As not only a member of the ILR School but one interested in a career in labor policy or labor relations, I am serious about respecting the School’s history and continuing its success. I know that with my goals in mind, I can effectively represent the School of Industrial & Labor Relations while solidifying a proactive, engaging future.

 

Michael Stefanko

Major: Industrial & Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: mjs626

Candidate for the position of: School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative

Candidate Statement: Hi! My name is Michael Stefanko, and I am running again for the Student Assembly to continue doing work on the part of the student body! There are a few things I started this last year...

  • Free tampons, pads, and condoms for all students to be implemented at the end of this semester.
  • Funding for free winter coats for low-income students, completed at the end of the Spring semester
  • A day called Cornell Heroes' Day that celebrates Cornell's amazing bystanders that decide to take action.

Last semester, I ran on Moving Cornell Forward. As your ILR Rep., I would like to Move ILR Forward the same as I did the University. Here's my plan for how I want to create solutions for ILR problems...

  • Making sure the transfer population feels comfortable inside of the school, that significant changes in faculty continue to run smoothly, and that the school remains competitive in the job market.
  • I will advocate for the organizations that make ILR: MILRSO, SHRM, ILR Sports Business Society, The Women's Caucus, and more. I will collaborate with our school-specific student government to make sure we tackle ILR issues together.
  • I promise to continue advocating for every ILR student. I will be there as a resource to you to Move ILR Forward.

 

Polina Solovyeva

Major: Industrial & Labor Relation

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: ps938

Candidate for the position of: School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative

Candidate Statement: Hi ILR! My name is Polina Solovyeva and I’m a sophomore running to be your Representative. As an active voice among the transfer group, in the ILR Dean Search Forum, and a Co-Founder of an undergraduate labor relations think-tank, the Undergraduate Labor Institute, I’ve become very dedicated toward advancing our community. As a Representative, I promise to:

  • Improve the Student Experience -- I plan to increase accessibility to career development opportunities across campus to fit your interests. I will also create a newsletter that will promote awareness of external campus affairs for our student body.
  • Promote Transparency & Communication -- By hosting open forums, I plan to increase our communication with the ILR administration. It’s important that students have a voice in the direction of our school’s development.
  • Increase Accessibility to Resources -- For a school that loves to read, books can be costly! By working with the Financial Aid Review Committee, I plan to pass initiatives that will alleviate these financial burdens.

The ILR community is representative of diverse interests, so it’s important that ALL voices are heard on the Student Assembly. I hope to serve as your collective voice.

 

Ben Wyman

Major: Animal Science - Pre-Vet

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Net ID: bmw228

Candidate for the position of: Minority Students Liaison At-Large

Candidate Statement:Hello! I am a sophomore running for the minority student liaison position. With this position I will be able to further the voice of minority students studying here at Cornell. My unique background helps me stand out for this position. My American father and Pakistani mother adopted me as a child from India and I have grown up heavily influenced by these vastly different experiences. I am from Maine, where I felt isolated due to few other people sharing the same cultural identity as me, something that many minorities can relate to. If elected I will continue work collecting concerns from the student body and help implement policies reflecting those views, to make a better Cornell. We will have equal voice for ANY person in ANY study.

 

Kwasi Baryeh

Major: Economics/Info Science

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: kab389

Candidate for the position of: Minority Students Liaison At-Large

Candidate Statement: Hi everyone! You all may or may not remember me. I’m Kwasi, a freshman in A&S.
I want to talk about my heritage and background. Some of you may know that I’m Ghanaian-American. I have a strong immigrant identity, as my family moved from Ghana to the US for economic opportunity and prosperity.
Some of you also know that I have lived the Majority of my life in a rural and historic town. Gettysburg formed my youth and taught me how to live and love people who don’t look like me or don’t think the same way as me.
That’s why I chose to run once in the race for freshman rep. That’s why I chose to be deeply involved with the black community and the local Ithaca community. I want to try to use whatever talents I have to serve the community. I hope that my experience and background allows me to speak for ALL Cornellians, no matter color nor creed.
GO CRAZY FOR KWASI!
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER!

 

Moriah Adeghe

Major: Policy Analysis and Management

College/School: College of Human Ecology

Net ID: ma838

Candidate for the position of: Minority Students Liaison At-Large

Candidate Statement: I was recently elected to the Student Assembly as one of the Minority Student Liaisons. Since that election was about a month ago, much of my Candidate Statement remains the same, as I want to continue working on the initiatives that I have in progress. My main focus right now is food insecurity and how it effects low income students on campus. As I have been working with administrators, I want to continue having conversations about how we can expand the Swipe Out Hunger program, to be able to help more students. One of my ideas for an expansion would be to allow for regular weekly meal swipes to be donated at the end of the week, instead of just the current system that allows for one guest swipe to be donated per student, per semester. I also want to start a program that would allow for regular meal swipes to be used as quest swipes, instead of just having 4 or 8 guest swipes per semester, being able to use any of your meal swipes to swipe someone in to a dining hall. I also want to continue working on having free laundry in all on campus residence halls, because laundry prices can put an unnecessary burden on low-income students. I hope that in the upcoming term, I will be able to make significant progress on my initiatives.

 

Colin Benedict

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: crb272

Candidate for the position of: Minority Students Liaison At-Large

Candidate Statement: She:kon sewakwekon, Ari͑wisaks ionkia’ts Wakathahionni, Ahkwesahsne nikiteron.
Hello everyone, my name is Ariwisaks. My name means He Who Seeks Knowledge. I am Wolf clan. My English name is Colin Benedict. I am Kanienkehaha Mohawk from the Akwesasne Mohawk territory. I am a former co-chair of Native American and Indigenous Students At Cornell.
You do not need to hear that I am looking to promote diversity and inclusion on campus, increase equity, etc - that is given with this position. The main reason I am running is to advocate for Indigenous students who have been historically underrepresented at Cornell. Despite our presence on Indigenous lands, there is no official land acknowledgement. In this position I plan to campaign for the institution of an official land acknowledgement and the flying of the Haudenosaunee flag on Indigenous Peoples Day to reinforce this. 
While one person cannot possibly represent all minorities, I will draw my knowledge and from my community and my experiences as an Indigenous person, and use this perspective to strive for the betterment of all Cornellians.

 

Joe Anderson

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: jsa94

Candidate for the position of: President

Candidate Statement: Hi! I'm Joe Anderson, a junior in ILR running for President of the Student Assembly. As the current Executive Vice President, I hope to continue my work! My platform consists of five pillars.

  1. An Open Assembly: I will ensure representative accountability, transparency on progress of initiatives, and establish Assembly members as trustworthy points of contact
  2. Fair Funding for Student Organizations: Organizations shouldn’t have to lose budgets due to a missed signature, and so I want to reform SAFC to make it a more empathetic and simplistic process
  3. Improving Cornell Health: Cornell Health should value students’ voices, that’s why I want to create a feedback venue that would allow students to be heard and see what actions Cornell Health took to improve the quality of care
  4. Expanding Financial Accessibility: I want to create funds for students to use towards a food pantry and other expenses not covered by financial aid. I also want to make sure that financial aid covers the Student Health Plan costs
  5. Holding Cornell Accountable: I will hold Cornell accountable to reforming the campus code and make sure that Cornell is on track to fulfill carbon neutrality by 2035
    Feel free to reach out at jsa94@cornell.edu!

 

Trevor Davis

Major: Government

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: tdd37

Candidate for the position of: President

Candidate Statement: Hi, my name is Trevor Davis, and I’m running for SA because I believe I need a strong addition to my resume. I knew I wanted to run for SA ever since I got an email from Goldman last Tuesday starting with “After careful consideration.” Those three words made me who I am today—a man on a mission to get elected to a Cornell office that will make Morgan Stanley at least give me an interview. Do me a solid, Cornell. Besides having an empty space on my resume, I believe I have many qualifications for the internship this will get me, and also SA president too, I guess.

Look guys, if you could do this for me and get me this position, I’ll do my best to pay it back to you all. To start, I’d totally have given one of you a ride to Wegmans on Saturday, but Brad and his girlfriend are both coming and I don't have any more seats in the car. 

As a member of CU Nooz, Cornell’s most trusted news source, you know I’ll always tell the truth. Other candidates will tell you they're for the students, but we all know they're trying to spruce up their resumes. I’m just being honest about it. Please consider voting for me. I really need this.

 

John Dominguez

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: jmd532

Candidate for the position of: President

Candidate Statement: Hello Cornell, my name is John Dominguez, I’m a junior in the ILR School, and I currently serve as the ILR Representative to the Student Assembly. I’m the middle child in my family from Arlington, Virginia. Although I spent my freshman year at Boston College, I transferred to Cornell my sophomore year, and I’ve developed a passion for Cornell and making a better college experience for my peers.

On the Assembly, I’ve been able to take direct action to make tangible impacts for the student experience. Examples include partnering with RPCC to make pool tables free instead of $1.25/fifteen minutes and working with the SA Taskforce on NetPrint reform to make printing free on campus. As an Assembly member, I consider myself as someone who is focused on direct action with material results, and I hope to continue my work as President of the Assembly.

Moving forward, I plan on transitioning out of archaic OrgSync to a more user-friendly platform and set up systems to make it easier for clubs to get the funding that they need. Moreover, I want to expand the staff support for students with disabilities with a priority on career services.

Hope you join me and Dunk with Dominguez during this March Madness season!

 

Cat Huang

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: cgh66

Candidate for the position of: Executive Vice President

Candidate Statement: Hi everyone! My name is Cat Huang and I am running for Executive Vice President. I currently serve as the Transfer Rep and Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. I hope you will allow me to continue the work I have been doing to improve our Cornell experiences in three areas:

  1. Affordability – If elected as EVP, I will institutionalize projects I have already begun. These include creating a grant system for off-campus housing payments and low-income student needs, as well as providing winter clothing free of charge.
  2. Housing – Housing is a big issue at Cornell and one that I want to tackle. I will continue to put pressure on the administration to implement housing policy changes that will improve the lottery system, pricing of on campus housing, and guarantee housing for transfer students.
  3. Diversity and Inclusion – I will continue to advocate for minority voices by expanding outreach to multicultural student organizations. I will push for a transparent financial structure that better supports multicultural student organizations.

You can read more about my mission and the work I’ve done at http://strongwithhuang.strikingly.com/ . Vote for a more economically and culturally inclusive Cornell. Vote Cat for EVP.

 

Uche Chukwukere

Major: Chemistry/Psychology

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: ukc3

Candidate for the position of: Executive Vice President

Candidate Statement: What’s good Y’all? It’s ya boy Uche Chukwukere and I’m a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Chemistry and Psychology. I’m the current LGBTQ+ Liaison At Large for the Student Assembly and I want to be your new Executive Vice President. This is my platform:

  1. Academic Reform: I want to make academics accessible and representative of all students by expanding and supporting ethnic studies programs and the LGBTQ+ programs.
  2. Inclusivity/Diversity: Inclusivity and Diversity expands far beyond race and gender. I want to expand the University’s definition of diversity and inclusion and create equal spaces for any student.
  3. Accessibility/Accountability/Transparency: The Student Assembly needs to be restructured. We need seats for more minority students and students with disabilities and more transparent goals on the Assembly.
  4. Health: With the rise of awareness around mental health and physical health on campus, we need satellite locations for Cornell Health.
  5. Student Safety: An increased awareness of sexual violence calls for an increased response. I want to create student forums with the Chief of Police and work with Tri-Council and fight harder for our safety.

I’m just an email away at ukc3@cornell.edu

 

Nick Matolka

Major: Biological Sciences

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Net ID: nsm55

Candidate for the position of: Executive Vice President

Candidate Statement: Hello! My name is Nick Matolka and I’m running for Executive Vice President! As Executive Vice President, I have three goals:

  1. Examine the Pre-Professional Climate at Cornell – Cornell is primarily a pre-professional school, one that can have a toxic environment and can drift away from the core foundations that come with receiving a higher education. As EVP, I want to assemble a task force of a diverse pool of student voices to meet with department chairs and administration to start examining what can be done to create a healthier environment on campus.
  2. Healthcare-Cornell Health needs more student input. As EVP, I want to ensure that students are able to take an active approach in making necessary systemic healthcare changes at CH.
  3. Textbook Accessibility–Textbooks are expensive and sometimes unnecessary. Rather than continuing to financially burden students, I want to ensure that Cornell is making use of its $34,000 in OER funds. As EVP, I will continue my dialogue with faculty and administrators to ensure that professors are being financially conscientious of their students.

I would be honored to serve as EVP, and I will ensure that we're working towards a more accountable, accessible, and healthier future.

 

Uncontested Races:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative

Jacob Feit

Major: Environmental Sustainability Sciences (Environmental Policy/Governance Concentration)

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Net ID: jjf228

Candidate Statement: Jacob Feit’s passion for public service began through his work as a New York State Assembly Intern and expanded as the Assistant Political Scheduler, Briefing Coordinator, Speechwriter, and Special Assistant to NYS Assemblyman/DNC Vice Chair Blake. Through these life-changing experiences, he has understood how to put constituents first and push for progress in government. As an ESS Major seeking a concentration in Policy and Governance, his voice in the Student Assembly will be used to increase the T-CAT system’s efficiency in terms of energy and travel patterns for students. Further, Jacob will push for an increase in community-based sustainability initiatives and seek to enhance the collaborative work amongst CALS students through revamping common workspaces. If elected, Jacob Feit will incorporate the myriad of diverse voices of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences into his agenda: promoting growth rooted in CALS.

 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative

Lucas Smith

Major: Agricultural Sciences

College/School: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Net ID: ls678

Candidate Statement: Representing CALS is an incredible opportunity to serve as the voice for a diverse segment of the student body spanning more than 20 Majors and 30 minors. The key to being a successful representative begins with communication and connection. Both of these attributes are something I can bring to the table if elected your CALS representative to the Student Assembly.
As an Agricultural Sciences Major, I have become familiar with classes ranging from Plant Science to Animal Science to Communication. This has allowed me to interact with students from countless backgrounds and interests. I pride myself in having an expansive network of connections within CALS and beyond which has allowed me to hear the concerns that stand most prominent with the student body.

One of the concerns I hope to bring to the attention of administrators is the integration of the different websites available for accessing course and enrollment information and the development of intuitive app interfaces.

Additionally, the environmental sustainability measures currently taken by the University need reassessment to ensure Cornell stays both beautiful and functional for years to come.
If elected I will work diligently to continue CALS reputation of excellence.

 

 

College of Arts and Sciences Representative

Gavin Martin

Major: Government

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: gcm58

Candidate Statement: Hello! My name is Gavin Martin and I am running for A&S Representative. I am currently a sophomore Government Major in the College of Arts & Science. I want to make positive targeted change on campus that not only improves our own College, but the University as a whole.

By crafting resolutions that acknowledge the indigenous land we are on, critiquing equity while promoting diversity, and advocating for Cornell’s divestment from fossil fuels—we can create a community that better reflects the values held by students.

 

College of Arts and Sciences Representative

Julian Kroll

Major: Government and Economics

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: jmk459

Candidate Statement: My name is Julian Kroll and I’d like to be one of the 2019-2020 Arts and Sciences Representatives. Having spent nearly three years in A&S studying Government and Economics with a minor in Biology, I have a lot of experience with the college’s faculty and students. Though I’ve had a very positive overall experience in A&S, I think that there are some areas where we could do better. For example, I’d like to see what improvements could be made to the Career Services office. As graduation approaches and job searches become more focused, the lack of easily accessible alumni networking and resume/cover letter workshopping can become problematic. I’m interested to see what changes could be made to assist A&S students through
their job and internship searches. I’m also interested in looking into initiatives aimed at minimizing Cornell’s environmental impact and improving student work-life balance. Outside of my experience with the College of Arts and Sciences, I stay engaged with happenings across campus through involvement in the Undergraduate Law and Society Review, the Cornell Daily Sun, and a social fraternity. Additionally, I currently serve on the Student Assembly as the Parliamentarian and Chief of Staff to the President.

 

 

College of Engineering Representative

Osai Egharevba

Major: Computer Science

College/School: College of Engineering

Net ID: oe34

Candidate Statement:

Hello everyone, my name is Osai Egharevba and I am a sophomore Computer Science Major. I currently serve on the academic policy and dining committees. My platform consists of three parts: increased academic transparency, better dining options during finals and improving Cornell Health. For academic transparency, I would like to make course evaluations and median grades public so that students have a sense about the quality of a particular course. For dining options during finals, having Okenshields open until 11pm or so will allow students to receive access to hot food with a meal swipe. Finally, for Cornell Health, advocacy for more mental health professionals and adding Sunday hours can help students to get the support they need on their own schedule. Thank you very much.

 

College of Engineering Representative

Jakob Youngblood

Major: Civil Engineering

College/School: College of Engineering

Net ID: jy667

Candidate Statement: Hello! I'm Jakob and I would like to be your representative to the SA from the College of Engineering. As a junior in Civil Engineering, I know that we engineers are not the most engaged with the rest of the campus, but I would like to help to change that. Firstly, as any representative should, I would want to listen to concerns that specifically engineers have, such as highly selective project teams or poorly scheduled exams, and work to address them. Secondly, as engineers we have a large role to play in building a sustainable world, recognizing Cornell's green credentials I would like to build on that legacy and to push the university to continue to be a global leader in environmental sustainability.

 

 

College of Human Ecology Representative

Masa Haddad

Major: Policy Analysis and Management

College/School: College of Human Ecology

Net ID: mh2432

Candidate Statement: Hello! My name is Masa Haddad, and I’m a sophomore transfer from Amman, Jordan. I am running for the Human Ecology Representative Position because I want to see a college that genuinely listens to students’ voices. As HumEc Rep, I want to ensure that we can affect constructive change and empower our Student Assembly to represent the views that our students believe.

My main goals on the assembly will be to:

  1. Support all students through adequate funding; easier access to books at low costs; make buildings more accessible.
  2. Enhance access to mental health; create a program that combines all the mental health resources on campus, making it easier for students to find help when needed.
  3. Ensure all students can easily access the SA by lowering the many barriers to entry.

The Student Assembly is an incredible platform to support students. Through the SA we can make tangible impacts on students lives, ranging from getting better resources provided to students fighting for a better education and college experience. As HumEc Rep, the bare minimum is listening to our student community. What matters is knowing how to convert those voices into tangible results.

Vote to make your voices heard, vote for Masa!

 

 

Undesignated Representative At-Large

Valentina Xu

Major: Hotel Administration

College/School: School of Hotel Administration

Net ID: jx63

Candidate Statement: Hi! My name is Valentina Xu and I am running to be reelected as an Undesignated Representative on Student Assembly to bring more positive changes on campus for all. As a Freshman Representative this year, I spearheaded efforts to lower Bear Necessities’ medicine price, extend EARS mental health office hours during finals week, and work on Central Campus late-night dining options.
As an Undesignated Representative next year, I have 3 goals:

  1. Free laundry & LaundryView App: I will work to streamline the laundry process through stimulating mobile notification services and discussing reduced laundry costs.
  2. Convert unused meal swipes to BRBs: each week, all unused meal swipes (~$16 each) go to waste, I will ask the administration for transferability from unused swipes for BRBs.
  3. Gym membership refunded after 50 uses: I want to bring back this past policy this model opens gym access for everyone and incentivizes students to exercise more.

Thank you so much for your consideration. You have a vote that will shape Cornell’s future student life. Be a pal and vote for Val!

 

Undesignated Representative At-Large

John Clancy

Major: Industrial Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: jac646

Candidate Statement: Hi, my name is John Clancy and I am running for the position of Student Assembly Undesignated Representative At-Large because I want to be a direct link between all undergraduate students and the administration. I have three main goals that I will pursue if I am elected for this position:

  1. Greater access to Cornell Health, which includes:
    1. Quicker access to mental health services
    2. Medical care options directly on North and West Campus
  2. Expanding Central Campus dining:
    1. Meal swipes at Trillium
    2. Weekend hours for a few Central Campus dining facilities
  3. Strengthening the student voice on campus:
    1. Create a petitioning system that can reflect the undergraduate voice on certain issues. (ex. An official version of a Change.org petition that could accurately reflect the number of registered undergraduates supporting an issue)
    2. Encouraging more transparency and promotion of the specific plans Cornell has to reach its 2035 carbon-neutrality vision.

Along with these goals, I promise to be an active listener and advocate for all. I am currently a member of both the Student Assembly Infrastructure and Environmental Committees and my time with both groups has given me first-hand experience with the inner workings of SA. Thank you!

 

International Students Liaison At-Large

Aaron Li

Major: Government / History

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: yl654

Candidate Statement: Hi! My name is Aaron Li, and I am looking to be your next International Students Representative! For the past few years, I have been working in SA Health & Wellness Committee and International Student Union, and I hope to create a Cornell community where all international students feel comfortable, inclusive and confident. My platform focuses on three main aspects:

  1. MENTAL HEALTH: International students need adequate mental health resources. While hiring international counselors could be expensive and impractical, I will work with Cornell EARS to set up more peer-led multilingual and multicultural counseling programs.
  2. CAREER DEVELOPMENT: International students face more uncertainty and difficulty in their search for internships and jobs. I will work with the Office of Global Learning to employ personnel who can provide helpful career consulting to international students.
  3. ACCOUNTABILITY: International Students Liaison should be held accountable for the greater international community. I will actively reach out to student organizations and hold office hour to collect feedback and suggestions from the community.

I hope I can have your support to represent the larger community. Vote for Aaron and #jointhefamiLI!

 

Women’s Issues Liaison At-Large

Indigo Pavlov

Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

College/School: School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Net ID: iap29

Candidate Statement: Hi! I’m Indigo Pavlov, and I’m running for Women’s Representative! In the fall, I was elected Freshman Representative and have dedicated my work since then to optimizing the student-campus experience, increasing transparency and accountability, and advocating for students.

During my first term on the Student Assembly, I was internally elected chair of the Financial Aid Review Committee, through which I work to improve equity on campus by creating and publicizing resources for students in financial need, such as the Students Helping Students Fund and the Summer Experience Grant.

I am also one of two undergraduate students on the Campus Planning Committee, on which I help to advise the President on campus developments that are beneficial to both students and the environment.

I would love another term to continue my work from this year while additionally focusing on women’s issues. As Women’s Representative, I will continue the current representative’s work on the Free the Tampon Project, which strives to update all tampon dispensaries across campus and make tampons, a basic sanitary product, free and easily accessible. I will also work with women’s groups to support feminist movements on campus and make women’s voices heard.

 

Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly

Renelle Mensah

Major: Government (Major), Arabic (minor), French (minor)

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Net ID: rm933

Candidate Statement:

Hi friends! My name is Renelle Mensah and I am a student in the College of Arts and Sciences.

As your Undergrad Rep to the University Assembly, my three primary goals are as follows:

  1. Expand university-provided bus pass beyond 1st year: The severity of Ithaca winters and size of campus provide additional stress for both abled and limited-mobility students. It essential that students are safe and comfortable when traveling around campus, best addressed by university-wide access to the TCAT which constantly circulates campus.
  2. Increase on-campus mental health services: The university expects a lot from students, and in return, students deserve a support system to navigate the demands of campus life. Wait times to see a Cornell Health professional and the cost per visit must be reduced so that “Any Person…Any Study” can ring true.
  3. Accelerate timetable for carbon-neutrality: The current Climate Action Plan aims to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2035, however the full effects of climate change will hit within the next 10 years. Cornell must act swiftly to more promptly achieve neutrality and truly earn its standing as the greenest Ivy League.

Thank you!
      Gracias!
          Merci !
              ! شكراً

 

Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly

Shane Lobo

Major: Applied and Engineering Physics

College/School: College of Engineering

Net ID: snl35

Candidate Statement: Hi, my name is Shane Neil Lobo and I am running for Undergraduate Representative for the University Assembly. I am a sophomore Majoring in Applied and Engineering Physics and minoring in Materials Science. I am also an Air Force ROTC Cadet.

A key tell of any successful organization is if it seeks out feedback. As the Undergraduate Representative, I would actively seek out ideas and suggestions from the undergraduate population. My outgoing personality and involvement in many diverse communities at Cornell position me to serve this position well; I want to hear your story.

I am a strong supporter of ideas promoting student happiness through mental health initiatives; spiritual health through the installation of more prayer safe havens, besides Anabel Taylor Hall and Sage Chapel, for students of various religions (Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, etc.); and intellectual scholarship through increased opportunities in favor of discourse and the sharing of unique ideas.