“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” – Abraham Lincoln. With the Students’ Union Elections coming to a close, and voting beginning on February 3rd and 4th, it seems extremely fitting to quote good ol’ honest Abe. If you’re anything like myself, every year you go to vote for the candidates running for Board of Directors, that you feel will do the best job, and every year you end up playing a game of Russian Roulette with your ballot.
This is the sad reality that many of us students face because we either do not care enough to vote, or we simply have no idea who to vote for. Candidates running for Students’ Union President naturally gain more publicity in regards to the student population, however those individuals running for Board of Directors, and other positions do not. Fear not friends, because soon all of your questions will be answered! This year Her Campus Laurier had the chance to ask the candidates about themselves, what their platform was all about, and what they would bring to the position! Keep reading to see whose names will be on your ballot this year!
* Note not all candidates commented on this feature *
Shannon Kelly
I am currently a second year business student here at Laurier. I have so many different hobbies and passions, so chances are, you and I probably share at least one! I love getting involved and meeting new people. Here at Laurier I have been very involved. I am currently the Board Secretary for the Students’ Union Board of Directors and I volunteer for Healthy Lifestyles and Go Team. Last year I was the Vice President of Team development for the Golden Speakers Club, part of Hawk Weekend Council and I also played intramural flag football and RAC volleyball.
My platform has three main goals. The first is advocacy. I will advocate for students by holding the president accountable for their actions and ensure that student’s needs are being taken into account in decisions that are made around the board table. My second goal is to increase communication between students and the union. Not many students are entirely aware of what Students’ Union has to offer or the decisions that are made around the board table. If elected I will work to increase communication to increase this understanding. Lastly I want to push for a multi-campus effort. Both Waterloo and Brantford campuses have much to offer each other, we are all Laurier students and should work together as one.
First and foremost, I would bring passion to this position. Serving as the secretary this past year, this board has become my passion and I want to become even more involved. I would also bring knowledge and experience to this role as I have not just been the board secretary, but I have also sat on the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board as a Student Trustee and I have also sat on and been the President of the Youth Theatre Coalition board. I want to be given the chance to show Laurier my passion and all I have to offer!
Matt DeSumma
My name is Matt DeSumma and I am a Law & Society and Human Rights student at Laurier’s Brantford campus. I am seeking re-election for the Students’ Union Board of Directors this campaign season. A few fun facts about me are that I am a huge fan of City and Colour (and all other aspects of Dallas Green’s music) and that I firmly believe that nothing can beat a cold beer and a well-made burrito.
There are many different aspects of my platform that I plan to focus on if I am re-elected to the Board. Similar to my current term, I aim to create a stronger presence of the Board in school functions and medias and to try to mend the communication gap between campuses. Along with that, I would like to further expand on the promotion of the Union’s multi-campus initiatives; take more of a leadership approach with the Board; and also hold the Board more accountable for their actions.
The primary advantage I can bring to this position is my experience. Having already served a term on the Board, I am definitely well-equipped to continue to serve the best interests of the Students’ Union. Aside from that, I would continue to bring my dedication, determination, practicality and authenticity to the role of Director of the Board.
Nick DeSumma
My name is Nick DeSumma and I am a Concurrent Education and Human Rights student at Laurier. I am seeking re-election to the Students’ Union Board of Directors for a third term. A few things about me: I’m a Residence Life Don, I love music, and would love to one day travel the world!
This year I plan on running for Chair of the Board and Chief Governance Officer. My platform revolves largely around that, with goals of increasing marketing and updates for students, increasing feedback and training, and prioritizing communication within the Board.
I would definitely bring my experience to this position, as I have been on the Board for two terms – once as a Director and the current as Vice Chair of the Board. I’m also very personable and open-minded, two qualities that I find are important for this role. I’d be hardworking and dedicated coming into the position, and I hope that my work over the past two years helps show for that!
Tarique Plummer
The name is Plummer, Tarique Plummer and I am one of your candidates for the Wilfrid Laurier University Laurier Students’ Union Board of Directors. I like to think of myself as a humanitarian by heart, an academic in the classroom, an advocate by nature and a cricketer by hobby. I vehemently believe that adaptability, innovativeness, bold leadership capabilities in addition to coherent and cogent processing of decisions are immensely valuable. I am an International student from Jamaica who is currently majoring in Biochemistry & Biotechnology and I believe I have a lot to offer to the Laurier community.
Since I came to this university, I have been greatly involved in campus life and also in the waterloo region in which I volunteer with Life Change Adventures. My platform is fundamentally built not on promises but on my ability to deliver representation at the highest level courtesy of my experience, credibility and mainframe. My three core points as a candidate for the board is fiscal accountability & transparency, enhanced student experience, and a level head. Getting acclaimed to the Senate felt absolutely lovely for I will now be able to bring the academic centered concerns of the Laurier populace to the forefront.
Qualification and competence are imperative. My track record is one which speaks to Leadership, competence and experience. I worked as a Global Engagement Student Ambassador, International Student Ambassador, Residence Education Advisor, Opinion Columnist for the Cord, Radio Journalist for Radio Laurier, Club Governance Coordinator for the Students’ Union, Vice President of Research & Development the Faculty of Science Students Association (FOSSA) and Society of Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) &, Director of the Ontario Science Students’ Association (OSSA) and Vice-President of the Caribbean Students’ Association.
I am confident that I will be able to translate my plethora of experiences into quality representation for the students. I bring to the capacity, unconventional cognitive processing, decisiveness, experience, effective leadership, and lastly, a sense of humour. Again, the name is Plummer, Tarique Plummer and a vote for me is tantamount to a step in the right direction.
Stephanie Bellotto
I’m a third year Political Science Student seeking election to the Board of Directors. I am currently involved with campus clubs such as the Laurier Law Society and Her Campus. I also have experience in policy as I have worked for a lawyer writing affidavits, analyzing documents and providing advice to clients.
As a director, I will monitor the President through Executive Limitations and policy governance, develop the long-term strategic direction of the organization, and engage in critical discussion. I want to ensure greater communication with the student body and I will do this by participating in Board related events and inform members of the affairs of the board. I also want to voice student concerns through accurate feedback mechanisms and be accountable to members.
I plan to bring a holistic approach to the table, while using my past experiences that are relevant towards this position. I look forward to working in a team environment with other directors.
Dana Toameh
“Knowledge in itself is power” is a quote which speaks volumes to potency of information, awareness and understanding. Since my arrival at this illustrious institution, I have made it my duty to become deeply imbedded in the university’s frame work so I can understand it. That then beckons to the question, why? The reason is simple. I strongly desire to understand because I want to contribute significantly. My name is Dana Toameh and I am one of your candidates for the Board of Directors.
Just a bit about me, I am a second year Health Science student with a strong interest in community development. My platform is encompassed by three primary things: transparency, quality advocacy and enhanced student experience. I know I will be able to deliver because I have been greatly involved in Laurier not because of resume building but because I genuinely care. My experience extents from Eye to Eye, the club I was the co-founder in first year to being the VP of finance of the Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA). In between lays my experience as a VP on SURO and member of ERT.
I will do all that is in my means to provide solid representation that all Laurier students deserve. I have seen what it’s like to have substandard representation. Last summer, I went on a humanitarian trip to Ghana and the political representatives were failing the electorate and that somehow reminded me of back home. I want to do better and that will be my mission. Vote Dana Toameh, a new brand of leadership.
Nick Molkoski
My name is Nick Molkoski, I’m a first year BBA from a small town in Niagara called Fonthill. I golf, workout, manage a fantasy football team (2016 league champ) and stream a handful of shows in my spare time. I struggle to cook, sing, dance or play any instruments (sorry ladies). But, I hope to travel in the future whenever/wherever possible and I don’t see myself wanting to live in one place my whole life. I consider myself a fairly easy going person, if you see me around campus say hey!
(Check out my campaign page at facebook.com/votenickmolkoski Follow me on IG @nickmolk (not super artsy, has nothing to do with the campaign, but hey I’ll follow back!) See you at the polls, February 3&4!
After doing research on the Student’s Union and the Board, I decided to focus my platform on outreach to students. I hope to see further outreach to students for feedback and improved publications of the Students’ Union’s and Board’s actions. I want to make it easier for students to educate themselves on issues and actions while getting involved in discussions with the Students’ Union and Board. An example of this direction is the current work done by the Ownership Linkage committee, with the release of their survey a few weeks ago (early January). Their survey reached out to students, was presented in a way that people are interested in reading and asked questions that all student’s could understand and relate to. Overall I want to make it easier for student’s to know what the Board actually does and how those actions along with the the Students’ Union’s effects their experience at Laurier.
I bring a fresh perspective to the role as a first time candidate, and the opportunity to be a long term asset to the Board as a first year student. I have past experience at the board table when I was elected Student Trustee for the District School Board of Niagara, and served as a liaison between the School Board and 36,000 students. Within the role of Student Trustee, I Chaired a Student Senate committee and worked with students from across the region to advocate for mental health in our Board and plan meetings every month. I was also a member of the Ontario Student Trustee Association (OSTA), and got to work with students across Ontario on reviewing policy and enhancing student voice in all school boards. I see many connections between this past experience and the Board of Directors, a main reason I believe I can excel as a Director of the Board. This first year at Laurier, I am the Chair of King Street Residence and sit on the Waterloo Residence Council. Both of these opportunities have allowed me to be involved on campus and hear feedback from students. I ensure Laurier students I will constantly work to be up-to-date on policies and structures of the Student’s union to be an involved Director of the Board.
Genelle Martin
1. My name is Genelle and I am currently in my fourth year here at Laurier studying Honours Political Science with a Management Option. Throughout my four years, I have lived in Willison Hall (twice!) and King Street Residence (KSR), became a copy editor with the Cord, was a Leadership Ambassador at the Centre for Student Life and Engagement (CSLE) formerly the SLC, played on several intramural teams, joined campus clubs and made many friends that I hope to have for a lifetime. In my spare time I love to play soccer, scroll through Pinterest or watch re-runs of the Mindy Project on Netflix.
The basis of my platform circles around first year engagement and continuing to spread Mental Health awareness. Mental Health is so important and I have personally seen the negative affects of lack of attention. It affects so many aspects of someone’s life, including school performance, which means the Students’ Union must continue to make it a priority. Secondly, by focusing on first year engagement and getting students involved earlier, we will likely increase the turnout in elections, while also increasing the passion and connection generated early on for the Students’ Union
What I would bring to this position is transparency and great communication. Being a don these past two years has helped me adapt to many different communication styles and personalities. Every new school year, another set of first year students become a crucial part of both campuses. I want to continue to build from the bottom up, ensuring that every year new Golden Hawks educate themselves on the Students’ Union and all the support and services they offer. Continued effective communication to first year students will grow to become a community of informed students.
Website: http://genelleforbod.weebly.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GenelleforBOD/
Hubert Lee
I am a third year business student and I am currently the coordinator of the First Year Project, a committee under the Programming and Services Department in the Students’ Union. I have focused on the first year experience and student engagement my entire time here at Laurier. I was the sustainability council representative and the first year project executive of my building in my first year, and a Don in Willison in my second year. I have also been a part of the Link, a club under LazSoc, for the past two years. I love planning events, collaborating with others, providing opportunities for first year students. I have always been a people person. I love having conversations with people all around campus even if I hardly know them because I feel that everyone has a story worth listening to. You can find me everyday in one of three places with a coffee from veritas in my hand: the Students’ Union office, the concourse, or the solarium.
The basis of my platform is to based on 3 things. Use my diverse experience to provide a perspective representative of the student body, use my programming experience to create outreach events to students so that they contiue to stay informed about what the Union is up to, and to be accountable for making sure the President follows the Ends policy.
I bring a lot to the table. I am able to think strategically, and often consider many different stakeholders before decisions are made. I often challenge the status quo, and often look for ways to innovate or create more efficient processes. I think that this is important to this position. If directors aren’t forward thinking, or just stick with the status quo, the Union will not operate both effectively and efficiently.
Mynt Marsellus
My name is Mynt and I’m in my fourth year here at Laurier. I’m in Film Studies and Women and Gender Studies and have been heavily involved on campus since House Council in first year. I was a Don in my second year, and since then I spend most of my time between Supplemental Instruction, The Cord, and volunteering with Foot Patrol. Given my program you can probably guess I’m an avid movie buff and I host a weekly radio show on Radio Laurier where I talk about any of the 450 films I watch each year. I spend more time on campus than I’d probably like to admit.
My platform has two foundations – experience and engagement. Last year 24.2% of students voted in the election and to be honest I’m kind of embarrassed by that. I look at everything I did during the election days last term and think of all the people I didn’t stop in the hallways or approach in class to get them to vote. At the same time, this is a problem the union faces in general. Most students don’t think of themselves as “members” of the Students’ Union. I know there are 6 or 7 other descriptors I’d use to describe my Laurier experience, even though most of those are just extensions of being a part of the Union. We need to promote and show the value that the Union gives all students in more concrete and clear ways, and I think my experiences at the school demonstrate why I’m an ideal candidate for this position.
Knowing when to ask the right questions. I had no intention of running for the BoD until very recently and it was only after talking to a number of current board members that I was convinced that I’m in a really privileged position with all the experience I’ve had at Laurier. I’ve seen how budget cuts and supplements affect the different parts of the student experience. I’ve seen how good intentions from the top of the Students’ Union have struggled to come to fruition with the average student. I have experience sitting at corporate board tables and know the responsibilities that I’ll have in the position. The majority of the work of the BoD is holding the President accountable and to do that you have to take a keen interest in how students are engaging with the Union, and have an idea of how the union could do better. I think I have what it takes.
Faraz Iftekharuddin
“My name is Faraz Iftekharuddin, yes a last name you will not miss on the ballot. I am in second year at Laurier, worked with Foot Patrol, I write for The Cord and I have started up the Indian Students’ Association. My background is Indian but I have lived most of my life in the Middle East.
I want to strengthen the connection between the students and their union, one that seems to be relatively weak. I would like to bring positive change to WLUSI by talking to you, hearing your concerns and suggestions by opening up the board itself, not just opening up board meetings.
By doing so, I would like to help shift the students’ union from being a corporate entity to a more representative body, as is the purpose of a union. Consequently, long term policies will be shaped by all the students, not just a select few members who get together in a conference room.
There are already student leaders and club execs for example from Bridging the Gap and others who have got the ball rolling but do not have enough resources or clear access to the student union. I hope to fill in that weak link between the students and the students’ union.
#votebowtie”
Eumin Song
I am a Psychology Student at Wilfrid Laurier University and am seeking election to the Student’s Union Board of Directors. I was always passionate about leadership and was looking for opportunities to exercise that passion. I have already been involved within the Student’ Union with previous volunteer positions such as a First Year Project Executive and an Orientation Week Icebreaker. I am definitely excited about possibly being on the Board of Directors. I can use my skills and experience to better the student experience here at Laurier.
The three pillars of my personal platform are Accountability, Transparency, and Passion. The first pillar is accountability, I will hold the President accountable through executive set limitations and make sure that he/she is fulfilling the presidential role. The second pillar is transparency, I intend to keep two-way communication between the student body and the Board of Directors. The last pillar is passion, I will use my passion for leadership to always strive for the best outcome that supports both the Student’s Union and the Laurier student population
I will bring cohesiveness to the Board of Directors. I strongly feel that my interpersonal skills will aid me greatly in forming a strong bond between the Directors. This will allow for critical discussions and openness among the Directors. I find myself to be strong in being able to make a group of people feel comfortable and open with each other. That is what I can bring if elected as a Director for the Board.
Kevin Jang
Hello, my name is Kevin, and I am a second year Business student! I lived in Kingston, Ontario before I came to study at Laurier, so I am ways away from home. However, I have come to love this place just as much, if not more (I never directly tell that to my mom, she would get visibly upset).
In less than the two years I have been a part of the Golden Hawk community I have been a part of some incredible organizations and clubs. In my first year, I was given the position of Event Coordinator on what at the time was known as the School of Business and Economics Students’ Society (Now, the Lazaridis Students’ Society). In my second year I took on the role of an Ice Breaker for Orientation Week at the Waterloo campus and I also began my job as a Campus Ambassador. I’m a proud dork of anything nerdy, and I love movies. If you ask any of my friends, I’m a total Ross, even though I wish I was Chandler. I am an avid Leafs fan, and will continue to be so until the day I die, and the same goes for being a fan of Laurier!
As mentioned in my platform summary in the Cord, the main qualities of my platform were accountability, transparency, and progression. If students were upset about a certain decision made by the board, it would be an indication that I needed to do better. If 83% of the school was unaware of a change in the budget, there needs to be a change in how I inform the student body of these discrepancies. If prospective students were unimpressed with the environment the Students’ Union has created, then we would need to think more towards growing our school so that future students can be proud of what we have done here.
I’d bring a passion that runs deep inside my veins. I am an incredibly lucky student to have come to such an amazing school, and to have met the incredible people that I have in less than 2 years. If I could explain all of the kind and generous things each and every one of these people have done for me, you would understand why I feel so adamant on giving back to this community. I want to share my admiration for this school. I want to amplify my own love for this school. I want to make sure this school has a foundation that allows future students to discover their passion for Laurier, and this all begins with having an incredible Students’ Union.
Now that you are an informed Golden Hawk on February 3rd and 4th go and execute your right to vote! We wish the best of luck to all candidates!