Student-Elected Trustee Candidates: Spring 2023 Election
Andrew Juan
Personal Statement
As your undergraduate Trustee, my goal is to be able to say that Andrew HAS a plan for that. My campaign is centered around three areas: Health, Access, and Spirit.
Undergrads face a variety of health challenges, both mental and physical, and it should be the Board of Trustees’ (BOT) number one priority when considering the student experience. We cannot learn and thrive at Cornell if our health and well-being are not prioritized. I will urge the BOT to increase funding toward health initiatives, social and emotional well-being, and more widespread health services throughout campus.
Second, the BOT should push administrators to expand and streamline resources. We’ve all gone through the trouble of getting referred to tens of different resources just to get one problem solved, yet sometimes, we can’t find that one specific resource we need! As a result, I am focused on ensuring that students have the ability to find and get the resources they need without being overwhelmed by bureaucracy.
Undergrads face a variety of health challenges, both mental and physical, and it should be the Board of Trustees’ (BOT) number one priority when considering the student experience. We cannot learn and thrive at Cornell if our health and well-being are not prioritized. I will urge the BOT to increase funding toward health initiatives, social and emotional well-being, and more widespread health services throughout campus.
Second, the BOT should push administrators to expand and streamline resources. We’ve all gone through the trouble of getting referred to tens of different resources just to get one problem solved, yet sometimes, we can’t find that one specific resource we need! As a result, I am focused on ensuring that students have the ability to find and get the resources they need without being overwhelmed by bureaucracy.
Finally, the BOT needs to invest in the spirit of Cornell, ensuring a positive social experience and a sense of belonging for all. Through expanded collaboration with student organizations, we can promote a culture of peer belonging. We can also expand support for university-wide events like athletic games, concerts, and inter-club activities. In addition, we can promote integration with the local Ithaca community to foster a sense of belonging within Cornell and Ithaca as a whole.
Relevant Experience
I have served in a variety of university governance positions, advocating for student well-being, health, and safety. My commitment to student advocacy and collaboration with administrators are all deeply relevant to being your undergraduate Trustee.
Currently, I serve as the undergraduate representative to the University Assembly and the chair of the Campus Welfare Committee. On the UA, I have worked with various other representatives to promote public safety and opioid overdose prevention. I also serve on Cornell Health’s Student Well-Being Council and work with its research team to understand Cornell policies’ impact on student well-being. In addition, I serve on the Public Safety Advisory Committee, discussing topics such as non-violent police responses and community safety proposals.
Other additional relevant positions include my service on the Brooks School of Public Policy Dean’s Student Advisory Council and former service on the Student Assembly as a freshman representative.
Other additional relevant positions include my service on the Brooks School of Public Policy Dean’s Student Advisory Council and former service on the Student Assembly as a freshman representative.
Special Interests
As a health care policy major, my special interests are…health care policy! I am driven to promote the health and well-being of my fellow students.
Health is everywhere, and as a student, our health dictates how we experience college. Everything is connected. I am a strong advocate for promoting community and collaboration as a mechanism for promoting health: your health can’t be supported if your community doesn’t offer the support you need during your most challenging moments.
In addition, we must ensure that Cornell prioritizes long-term solutions toward improving student well-being – not just “quick fixes.” It is clear that health is a structural issue on campus, and the BOT needs to invest in strengthening our health resources and initiatives that help address the problems at large. Though our efforts today may not be seen until future classes of Cornellians, we must work on long-term solutions toward improving health, access, and spirit!
Health is everywhere, and as a student, our health dictates how we experience college. Everything is connected. I am a strong advocate for promoting community and collaboration as a mechanism for promoting health: your health can’t be supported if your community doesn’t offer the support you need during your most challenging moments.
In addition, we must ensure that Cornell prioritizes long-term solutions toward improving student well-being – not just “quick fixes.” It is clear that health is a structural issue on campus, and the BOT needs to invest in strengthening our health resources and initiatives that help address the problems at large. Though our efforts today may not be seen until future classes of Cornellians, we must work on long-term solutions toward improving health, access, and spirit!
Audrey Pinard
Personal Statement
I want the Board of Trustees to prioritize sustainability, creating equal opportunities for all groups regardless of identity (ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc.), and provide a safer environment and flow of communication for students to address difficult issues with peers and/or individuals with authority. For sustainability, initially I’d like to work with the winery and viticulture classes to address the excess winery sediment that can be repurposed instead of being put in the landfill. Similarly, I will work with laboratories on campus to minimize or recycle leftover pipette holders. For creating equal opportunities, some organizations on campus are dominated by certain groups of individuals. Diversity is about the inclusivity and coexistence of individuals, and not about different groups of people in the same place unwilling to interact with one another. To help this case, I would work towards forming a group of people from different backgrounds and we would reach out to organizations having issues with their members or elected individuals in their grouping and help to break down barriers to create a more welcoming environment. For providing a safer environment and flow of communication, I would work to help spread more awareness around crime, assault, and stress around school through talks, working with clubs like EARS, and posting visual/physical media so that talking about these difficult subjects becomes more normalized and not scrutinized.
Relevant Experience
Representative of Toni Morrison Hall in 2021. President of Toni Morrison Hall in 2022: actively engaged with people on north campus to address issues of bullying, crimes, theft, etc. Supported minority groups who felt misheard and created opportunities for residents to have fun and education activities in the dorms ranging from boba and book readings, therapeutic exercises, and cultural food/conversation experiences. Business Team Lead for Concrete Canoe 2022/23 Laboratory Researcher for The Giometto Lab 2022/23: collection of pipette holders to be recycled and repurposed Engagement in several clubs and intramural teams on campus Volunteering (Presidio Native Plant Nursery/Princess Project/Street Soccer USA etc.) Work with a recycling plant and several homeless shelters in San Francisco
Special Interests
I enjoy hill-bomb skateboarding, creating sustainable wall garden and painted murals, writing (poetry/songwriting/short stories), collecting and reusing materials, cultivating vegetation gardens for low income houses, working with organizations around campus to host events accessible and available to all students
Bahram Mehretu
Personal Statement
The 3 top priorities that the Board of Trustees should address are food insecurity, housing insecurity, and financial insecurity. In these responsibilities, Cornell has failed its student population. There are students on this campus who are facing difficult questions that most of the student body would disregard as a passing thought. These students are wondering where their next meal is, how they'll be able to afford the high cost of living in Ithaca, how to navigate predatory leasing agencies placing excessive fees students can't pay, and how they'll pay the bursar bills that just keep piling up. Cornell is an institution that is founded on the principle of "any person, any study". This is simply a false promise. Students cannot study when they are hungry, they cannot write an essay when they're stressed about their housing options for next year, they cannot complete a p-set when they're stressed about taking out high-interest loans. Cornell needs to address these needs and create an environment where we can thrive. The Board of Trustees should place its focus on creating a basic needs center. This center would be a hub of resources ranging to financial aid officers that provide alternatives to loans, a private food security depot where students can privately take out food, and resources on affordable housing options around Cornell. We as a student body deserve the right to study without these stresses on us. We need to fight for these changes because we need this change.
Relevant Experience
I have confidence that I can advocate for the student body as the Student Elected Trustee. As an advocate I've served as the executive director of a social justice organization. In this position I organized protests, created state-wide coalitions, created an ordinance and advocated for such legislation in front of public officials, and found ways to address serious problems in effective ways supporting community building and mutual aid. These experiences prepared me for my time here at Cornell and beyond. It was the same quick and effective planning that enabled me to organize protestors in Mississippi back in November. The same advocacy skills I learned as the leader of a social justice organization enabled me to advocate for resolutions in student assembly as Freshman Representative and as an effective member of the Basic Needs Coalition. At Cornell I, along with a wonderful team of organizers at BNC, have helped with the planning of events, food security systems, and advocacy work.
Special Interests
Some of my special interests are music, mutual aid structures, and advocacy. Music has provided me with a way to deal with the stress of being a student on campus. Being able to focus my mind on listening to or playing music has provided me relief from stress. Music has been a way for me to deal with mental health, and has helped me realize the importance of mental health in this environment. Mutual aid structures are something that I enjoy researching. Community-based alternatives that are more sustainable and less stressful than conventional resources have been an interest of mine since sophomore year of high school. I find these systems amazing and as Trustee I hope to implement them at Cornell. Finally, advocacy work is the one thing that has been constant in my goals. Coming to Cornell I wanted to use my education to help others. Since I've been here I continue to educate myself so that I can continue to help others. I work with BNC, BSU, and Student Assembly to advocate.
J.P. Swenson
Personal Statement
The top three priorities for the Board of Trustees to address are accessibility to mental and physical health services, increased communication between the administration and students, and facilitating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. I believe that the biggest problem that plagues students at Cornell is the hardships that occur when attempting to acquire assistance from therapists and doctors from Cornell Health. Oftentimes, it may take over three weeks to schedule an appointment due to the high student demand and lack of doctors. Secondly, there must be increased communication between the administration and students. The administration does prioritize students to an extent, but these sentiments can always be built upon and expanded. I believe that the administration acts to serve all students, and thus students must feel that the administration is approachable and congenial. Finally, Cornell boasts excellent percentages regarding ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity. However, there must be a better effort on behalf of the school to support and interconnect marginalized groups at Cornell. We must build upon the strong diversity at Cornell, with a stronger emphasis on cultivating an inclusive culture and embracing all people.
Relevant Experience
As a freshman, I worked as a student employee at Cornell Bear Necessities on North Campus. I can relate to the strong work culture of students at Cornell, as I balanced extracurricular activities and my work, with the difficult academic course load that many Cornellians endure. This year, as a sophomore, I have served on the Cornell Student Assembly as an undesignated representative at-large. In the Student Assembly, I have learned how shared governance works at Cornell and how to enact change with respect to the needs of the undergraduate student body. As an SA member, we have learned how difficult it is to truly enact meaningful change. However, through my practice of writing resolutions that are put forth directly to Cornell’s administration, I believe that I can continue to successfully enact change through the platform of student-elected Trustee.
Special Interests
Since high school, I always have felt the desire to represent students' needs to the people in charge. I always have had a strong interest in identifying problems and taking the necessary steps to solve those issues in a way that benefits both parties. I also have a strong interest in sports, as I am an avid golfer, soccer, and basketball player. I enjoy going on long nature walks along Beebe Lake, and exploring the beautiful landscape that encompasses the Cornell campus and the surrounding Ithaca area.
Veronica Lewis
Personal Statement
My top three priorities at Cornell include summoning social change through accessibility, equity, and actively listening to the student community. By funding special projects like Bikeshare, we are able to make campus more accessible and ease transportation worries from students and faculty. Carefully listening to the needs of students will also give us ample opportunity to improve the coverage of Cornell's Student Health Plan and expand its service offerings. I will also hold monthly forums to engage students and address their other concerns I may not be immediately aware of. Improving life on campus means making continuous strides towards Ezra Cornell's goal "to do the greatest good." In order to create an inclusive environment, we must welcome tangible changes on our campus.
Relevant Experience
I have served on the Student Assembly for the past academic year, holding the following positions: VP of External Affairs Representative of the School of Hotel Administration Member of the Appropriations Committee Member of the Infrastructure Committee Presently, I also hold these roles in the Cornell community: President, Women Leadership in Hospitality Manager, Cornell Wrestling VP of Marketing, Cornell Finance Club Teaching Assistant, 3 core Nolan courses Each of these roles has helped me to gain ample experience in leadership in the Cornell community. I will always prioritize service to others and advocacy for the best interest of students.
Special Interests
I have a special interest in improving healthcare access on Cornell's campus, with a focus on improving women's healthcare. Currently, Cornell Health does not have an on campus M.D. gynecologist. Anecdotal evidence from the student population details many students traveling as far as Rochester for gynecological care, or having to receive expensive care from doctors outside of their insurance coverage. I would like to make sure all students can receive the care they need within the Student Health Plan so as not to hinder their academic experience.