A look at who and what students are voting for
The Mount Allison Students Union (MASU) winter elections for executive positions are in full swing, with voting opening Jan. 29 and closing Jan. 30, with the announcement of the next president and vice-presidents of the MASU being announced on Jan. 31. Candidates began nominations on Jan. 13, before starting their campaign period on Jan. 21 until Jan. 28.
To run, candidates had to submit a nomination package supported by 15 signatures from other students. During their campaign period candidates are given a budget of $100 to allocate on material such as posters, stickers, and other items to give away to promote themselves. Each of the candidates have taken to social media as a part of their campaign strategy to reach a large number of students. Vice-president student life, vice-president university and academic affairs, and vice-president external affairs will all have a competitive race, as there are two candidates running for each position.
For vice-president of university and academic affairs, first-year philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) major Alexander Poplar is in the running. Poplar decided to run for the role because he wants to be in a position “that’s behind the scenes where [he] can help people.” If elected Poplar said he wants to, “listen,” adding besides, “normal office hours, I want to be places like [Gracies], or in the library, or anywhere that I can be publicly accessible, and I want people to know that they can always stop and talk to me all the time.” Listening is not only his plan for if he is elected, but also an integral part of his campaign, as he is, “doing my campaign the same way I plan on doing the role if I get elected. I’ve done more listening than talking during this campaign,” said Poplar.
Second-year commerce student, Baraka Hani said he decided to run for university and academic affairs because it is, “a personal interest, ever since I came to Mount A.” Hani described how he has wanted to “know how the university works, what’s successful with students, how it’s fought with the students, and where students place in terms the university.” If elected, he plans to “make it easy for students to know what is available to them.” This includes academic regulations and how much university life costs.
For vice-president of external affairs, second-year PPE major Ava Horwood and third-year international relations major Will Stott are campaigning for the role. Horwood said she is deciding to run because “this position aligns with my passion for Mt.A and the students here, as well as advocacy on the provincial, federal and municipal level.” If elected, Horwood said she plans to create “stronger relations within the municipality of Tantramar, specifically for university students and the youth in the community.” Speaking of initiatives like, “working with the municipality of Tantramar to establish a youth advisory committee.”
Fellow candidate, Stott, says he initially decided to run since he “feels like we need to do more to have the connection between the town and the students.” If elected he said he plans to connect the students and the town, “and that starts with institutions like a food bank.” Stott also says he plans on securing additional healthcare support for students in this position. He also raised initiatives related to transportation, saying he wants to start initiatives like “transport for aviation students, who don’t have cars,” and better airport shuttle communication for students who fly home during winter and summer break.
For vice-president of student life second-year PPE major Elena Valliquette and second-year commerce and visual and material culture studies major Angus Johnstone are campaigning. Valliquette said she decided to run because she was, “student trustee at my high school for two years,” and “student life reminded me of that position, and I feel that I’m suited for it really well and my personality connected the most with VP of student life.” If elected she said she wants to “represent the different societies and clubs and people in Mount Allison.” Including initiatives such as “Baskets for the Bank,” which is when “the professors play against the basketball teams just for a fun game, and you have to donate to get in and watch.”
Johnstone was unavailable to comment, however, on Instagram Johnstone says he wants to “strengthen non-academic events and campus traditions.”
For the role of president, Kassandra Vail is running unopposed. This has not stopped her from campaigning as she says, “it’s really important that people are still voting for the things that you want to do and are understanding what you want to do with your position.” This position includes “making sure that the MASU remains transparent and accountable.” For Vail, the role of MASU president was always something she desired to work as, even in her first year. Now in her third year, she says “I really wanted to make sure that I got experience that was relevant and made sure that I was qualified enough to be able to support the students in the way that they deserve.”
The campaign period ended on Jan. 28 with students receiving their link to vote to their Mt.A email. When voting, students will fill out a form during the duration of the voting period, starting Jan. 29 and closing Jan. 30, and will select one of the candidates or abstain from voting for that specific role.