The Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG) councillor election concluded with 11 more councillors than last year, demonstrating students’ increased engagement in the organization. 

The only contested seat resulted in a tie between the two candidates running to represent the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program. 

Second-year students Francesca Lepore and Anthony Valenti each received 37 votes and 11 voters abstained. CASG will hold an in-council vote during their first meeting on Oct. 14 to elect the BGInS councillor. 

CASG president Jennifer Ramnarine attributed the sole contested seat to the fact that many councillors are well-known and respected by staff and students for representing their programs. 

“We typically have a student representative per program who that program trusts to fill that seat and this is why councillors are returning every year,” she said.

While there was only one contested seat, election results showed student engagement rose considerably from the previous year. The number of councillors increased from 45 councillors last year to 56 this year, bringing the total number of voting members in CASG council to 71 out of a possible 85. 

Ramnarine said she was impressed by the turnout and increased engagement this year. 

Vice president (internal) Dakota Livingston said she believes that the increase in filled seats is due to CASG’s successful efforts in building relationships with academic societies on campus over the summer. 

Ramnarine added that CASG has seen increased attention and student involvement overall due to their successes over the pandemic, which include the passing of the compassionate grading measure and an increase in relief bursary funds.

This year’s council election marked the organization’s second fully virtual election in a row. Ramnarine said although CASG had to adapt to the shift to online elections through methods such as increased social media presence, the new format has removed barriers. It is now easier for CASG to reach students, especially given the quick election process. 

“Through this virtual method, students can still continue to be informed,” Ramnarine said. “Which is even better because now we’re making sure that we’re also reaching international students and people who aren’t currently on campus.” 

There are 15 vacant seats on council and Ramnarine said she expects these seats to be filled throughout the year as CASG executives reach out to academic societies at Carleton and vice versa. 

“Even if we have just one more program represented in our council and our decision-making than we did before, that’s a success,” she said. 

In the event that an eligible student—any student in good academic standing and enrolled in the program that they wish to represent—approaches CASG about a vacant spot in council, an in-council vote would take place rather than an open election with students in their respective program.

Looking forward, Ramnarine and Livingston expressed hope that future elections will remain respectful, cordial and professional as student engagement with the organization continues to grow. 

 

CASG Councillors 2021/22


1. Faculty of Public Affairs


  • Stefanie Burch (Communications Undergraduate Student Society)
  • Emma Rajala (Criminology and criminal justice)
  • Carley Pompa (Carleton University Criminology and Criminal Justice Society)
  • Seun Aduwo (Economics)
  • Amy Hinchey (BGInS Students’ Society) 
  • Will Smith (Journalism)
  • Miranda Caley (Carleton University Journalism Society)
  • Keana Cavero (Law and legal studies)
  • Pablo Mhanna (Carleton Law and Legal Studies Society)
  • Maddy McKinney (Media production & design)
  • David Coaker (Political science)
  • Ally Krueger Kischak (Carleton Political Science Society)
  • Davin Caratao (Public affairs and policy management)
  • Ben Beiles (Public Affairs & Policy Management Students’ Society)
  • Meika Clarke (Bachelor of Social Work Student Society)
Contested seat:
  • Global and international studies
Vacant seats:
  • African studies
  • European and Russian studies
  • Social work

 


Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.

 

2. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences


  • Christie Charles (Child studies)
  • Tyson Scott (Cognitive science)
  • Mel MacRae (English)
  • Sarah Muscolini (Carleton University Student French Association)
  • Caedyn Bouwman (Greek/Roman studies)
  • Nicholas Surges (History)
  • Nigel Klemencic-Puglisevich (CU History Undergraduate Society)
  • Amrita LaRose (Human rights)
  • Jessica Bertoni (Carleton University Human Rights Society)
  • Sean Maguire (Humanities)
  • Emily Madole (Psychology)
  • Cary Diaz (Psychology Society of Carleton University)
  • Kevin Caswell (Sociology)
Vacant seats:
  • Anthropology
  • Applied linguistics
  • Canadian studies
  • Environmental studies
  • French
  • Geography
  • Geomatics
  • Linguistics
  • Music/film studies/art history
  • Philosophy
  • Women/gender studies

 


Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.

 

3. Sprott School of Business


  • Yash Gandhi (Commerce)
Vacant seats:
  • International business (x2), Commerce

 


Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.

 

4. Faculty of Engineering and Design (appointed by the Carleton Student Engineering Society)


  • Shaun Seneviratne (Aerospace)
  • Nishi Prajapati (Architectural conservation and sustainability engineering) 
  • Logan Young (Biomedical and electrical engineering)
  • Daniel Revelle (Civil engineering)
  • Saad Khan (Communication engineering)
  • Matt Reid (Computer systems engineering)
  • Robin Feeney (Electrical engineering)
  • Bailey Lenihan (Engineering physics)
  • Jayton McCracken (Software engineering)
  • Akeel Samji (Sustainable and renewable energy councillor – stream A)
  • Finlay Biggar (Sustainable and renewable energy – stream B)

 


Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.

 

5. Faculty of Science (appointed by the Carleton Science Student Society)


  • Madena Sherzad (Biology)
  • Sahar Hermani (Biology)
  • Hayeon Lee (Chemistry and biochemistry)
  • Irbaz Rehman (Chemistry and biochemistry)
  • Rumeysa Dos (Chemistry and biochemistry)
  • Anjali Patel (Computer science) 
  • Elsa Faisal (Computer science)
  • Nathaniel Chan (Earth science)
  • Lynn Kadami (Environmental science)
  • Mandi Highfield (Health sciences)
  • Ashley Brunelle (Health sciences)
  • Giselle Beckford (Mathematics and statistics)
  • Alicia Davies (Neuroscience)
  • Aishwarya Upadhyayulla (Neuroscience)

 


Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.