By Gabrielle Liu – Editor-in-Chief

Several candidates vie for six positions in the SRC’s fall elections. Voting opens on Sept. 19, Tuesday morning, and closes on Wednesday at midnight at busrc.simplyvoting.com. 

Irmah Alao, running for the ethnic diversity representative, welcomes more cultural diversity and inclusion in SRC events. The second-year student from Benin stated that she’s heard complaints about the limited music at events. She imagines a diversity day where students can showcase their culture and traditional food in the SUB. Alao told The Campus that she wishes to empower students to start more cultural clubs and that she looks forward to working with SRC to increase funding for such clubs.

Karen Dymond, SRC’s secretary-general, emphasizes that both the ethnic diversity and the equity representative allow the SRC to view issues through an equity lens. She recalls how a past representative said that the SUB lobby was not a very private place for students to talk to representatives about private or traumatic issues. Sophia Stacey, SRC
president, notes the representative’s role in EDI Fund decisions.

Monica Beyere, a first-year representative candidate, highlights that she’s served in student government since elementary school. She speaks about the challenge of effective communication. If students message her to express interest in an event, she considers sending reminders through Instagram and Snapchat the day of so they remember to attend. “I am not a shy person,” she says about her commitment to advocate for first-years.

Roser Rise also aspires for the first-year position. Born in Barcelona and a Sherbrooke resident for many years, she served as student government president in previous schooling. While she does not have specific projects in mind, she emphasizes that she wants to be “the bridge between the [first-year] student body and the Board”. “I am not representing myself,” she emphasizes.

The first-year representative is an important voice on the BSR as they are “facing different experiences than upper-year reps”, says Stacey. Both Stacey and Dymond noted that representatives often advance to other positions in the SRC.

Fiona Gaombalet, a second-year student from France with roots in Central Africa, eyes the international student representative position. She envisions a day, week, or month of cultural awareness, similar to Black History Month. “My job is to let people be comfortable and express themselves,” she adds. Addressing recent media portrayals about international students, she emphasizes that “they bring more value to the country”, citing how many stay for higher studies and future work.

The international student representative helps the SRC contextualize decisions through the lens of someone coming into a new university, country and culture, says Dymond. She desires deeper collaboration between the representative and the International Student Office. The Campus reached out to Ehson Khashi, who is also running for international student representative, but they were unfortunately not available for interview by publication. 

Speaking of the general councilor positions, Stacey says that “last year they really excelled”. She mentions how Olivia Woods, the current vice-president of student life, began a menstrual equity project as general councilor last year. Students will vote for two councilors in this election.

Sasha Kardos-Machado, a fourth-year student, served as general councilor last Winter. “It was a really engaging and rewarding experience”, she said. If elected, she shares that her main project would be creating an experiential learning map. She hopes to collaborate with student senators and the Experiential Learning Office to build it.

Taylor Morgan, a second-year classical studies student, knew he wanted to volunteer more in the Bishop’s community. It wasn’t until he met SRC executives during O-Week that he began considering volunteering for the Board. He expressed his interest in the supportive role the councilor plays in existing projects. “I love to help where I’m needed.”

The on-campus representative is involved in multiple committees including the residence student life committee, which organizes events like Gait Gatsby and Sexpalooza. Dymond adds that their presence on campus means they can bring up potential issues related to infrastructure. Sarah Jewett, a second-year student, is running for the role. Jewett was not available for interview by publication, but their campaign page on Instagram mentions intent to create safe and calmer spaces on campus. 

Voting takes place online at busrc.simplyvoting.com. Students should log in with their BU login info to vote. 

Future elections run in February 2024 for executive positions and in March 2024 for senators and representatives. Dymond also invites students to attend the SRC’s first annual general meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The first 50 attendees will get a free drink ticket at the Gait’s quiet bar afterwards. If you pay student fees to the SRC, you are considered an SRC member and can therefore vote.

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican