Forward is one of three slates running in the Rideau River Residence Association’s (RRRA) 2020-21 executive election, scheduled for June 25 and 26. Jaden Slawter is running for RRRA president, Sash Mahara is running for vice-president (administration) and Jenna Smith is running for vice-president (programming).
The Charlatan sat down with the running candidates to discuss their goals and campaign promises ahead of the election.
What previous experience do you have?
Presidential candidate Jaden Slawter was the RRRA vice-president (programming) for 2019-20 and said that this experience will help his team lead in the upcoming academic year.
“My team struggled last year coming into this role without past experience,” Slawter wrote in an email. “Being on exec this year was a great learning curve and with my history in the association, I am more than ready to step into the President position.”
“I know the ins and outs of this association and where the improvement needs to be made,” Slawter wrote, noting that he was also the president of his student council in high school.
Vice-president (administration) candidate Sash Mahara said that he has been involved with multiple philanthropic organizations to raise funds for cancer research and supplies for communities in Nepal. Mahara said he was also a residence fellow last year.
“I saw that there was a huge need for better mental health programs and more opportunities for students’ voices to be heard,” Mahara wrote. “I plan to focus on increasing mental health awareness and accessibility for our community.”
Vice-president (programming) candidate Jenna Smith has also been involved as an event coordinator for local organizations.
“Although I know the feeling of having a great first year in residence, I also know what it feels like to have it taken away from you,” Smith wrote, noting that as a second-year student, her experience with residence is fresh in her mind.
“That is why I am more than ever dedicated to make sure our incoming first-years have a memorable experience regardless of COVID-19 restrictions,” she added.
Why are you running?
Slawter said he wants to continue to engage students in the Carleton community.
“The association needs someone who understands the operations of RRRA and I am more than happy to step up to the role,” he wrote.
Mahara said he hopes to foster a welcome and safe atmosphere for all Carleton community members.
“It was such an incredible experience being able to make a difference in my community [as a residence fellow] and see the connections and growth that I was able to help foster. I wanted to continue to make that difference but on a much larger scale,” he wrote.
Smith said COVID-19 fueled her desire to join RRRA.
“Although my first year was amazing, it was really hard for me to say goodbye to residence when COVID-19 restrictions took place,” Smith wrote. “Having the end of my residence experience taken away from me motivated me even more to want to give back next year by helping our first-year students have a memorable experience.”
What are Forward’s goals for RRRA in 2020-21?
Forward wants to make RRRA more inclusive with diverse programming, including Carleton’s first-ever Pride and a speaker series on anti-Black racism.
The slate also aims to revamp RRRA council and increase communication with students. Last year, RRRA broke two bylaws with the late formation of council committees.
The slate plans on increasing engagement with council by introducing a new platform called ‘RRRAPORT,’ which would feature bi-weekly newsletters.
“This will be [made available] on paper but also through our online platforms so that it’s accessible to students everywhere,” the slate wrote in an emailed statement.
If elected, how would Forward serve residence students in this unprecedented time?
“With a different semester ahead, we plan to ensure that students still get a memorable residence experience,” the slate wrote.
Potential events include online speed dating during Frosh, online trivia, virtual yoga, dance workshops and a Meet The Grads night, where students can network with alumni.
“It is important now, more than ever, that the Carleton community needs to stick together,” the slate wrote. “We will continue to vouch to move RRRA Forward and ensure that our students have a voice.”
The 2020-21 RRRA executive election will take place June 25 and 26 via email, and an All Candidates debate will be held Wednesday at 6:30 pm ET.
Read the Charlatan’s profile of other slates here: Elevate | Action
Featured image provided by Forward slate.
