The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) is holding elections for their president and councillors. At the time of publication, voting days and campaigning have been postponed indefinitely.
Carleton students will vote for 31 councillors, six of which will represent students in the faculty of science. Only four candidates are running for the position.
The Charlatan asked each candidate questions about their campaigns.
Alexis St. Pierre
Alexis St. Pierre is a fourth-year neuroscience and mental health student running for re-election as councillor.
Q: Why are you running for CUSA?
A: I felt like I had a lot more to give back to the student body. I want my last year at Carleton to be the best year it can and I feel that contributing to CUSA is the best way I can do that.
Q: Why should students vote for you to represent your faculty?
A: I want to act as a bridge between CUSA and the student body. I believe that I can facilitate clear communication and be transparent about what goes on in CUSA. I’m a good listener and an approachable person. I would like to be an advocate for the student body.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish as a CUSA councillor?
A: I hope to be a contributing member of the council and an asset in other students’ eyes. I want to be there for the student body and give help to others. I’m hoping that all of this will come together to make this a really great year, and I hope that I can be a part of making it a great year for other students as well.
Madena Sherzad
Madena Sherzad is a fourth-year biology student with a concentration in health sciences. She is currently a department of biology representative on the Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG) and a biology representative for the Carleton Science Student Society (CSSS).
Q: Why are you running for CUSA?
A: Right now, I’m serving on CASG and CSSS and Carleton University has given me so much. Being on the CUSA council is a way for me to give back to students.
Q: Why should students vote for you to represent your faculty?
A: I want to be available so students feel comfortable reaching out to me because I had difficulties in my first and second year just getting the resources I needed.
As a student, I want to be the voice for students. I hope they can feel like they can reach out to me and know I will advocate for them positively.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish as a CUSA councillor?
A: I’d like to be a bridge between students and council.
I will also advocate for positive change and I will be active on different CUSA committees.
Patrick Ene
Patrick Ene is a fourth-year computer science student. He is the president of the Carleton University Nigerian Students’ Association, administrative director of the university’s Black Student Alliance and running for re-election as CUSA councillor. He responded to the Charlatan in an email.
Q: Why are you running for CUSA?
A: I believe Carleton students should be represented by those who unequivocally have the best interests of students at heart, such as myself. As someone who has seen the positive effects good advocacy has on the experience of students, I want to be able to contribute to that progress and see our campus and student body reach the heights they are meant to reach.
Q: Why should students vote for you to represent your faculty?
A: As a current councillor and someone who is also active in various spaces on campus, I believe I have the necessary experience to efficiently advocate for the students if voted into this position. My campus experiences have built me into who I am today and I plan on using what I’ve learned from them to give back to the faculty and general student body and improve our community as I’ve been doing.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish as a CUSA councillor?
A: As a councillor, I hope to support equity for marginalized communities in all aspects of campus life. I also want to be able to promote more legroom for mental health accommodations as someone who has had to deal with that myself.
Raven Miller
Raven Miller declined to interview with the Charlatan.
These interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Featured image by Maryam Teima.
