Staff Endorsements

Every year, the GauntletStudents’ Union election supplement contains a list of endorsements for candidates. While we take pride in the work we do on this supplement, please don’t take it as gospel — do your research on candidates by reading their platforms online, engaging with them during the campaign period and attending forums. Our section editors endorsed contested candidates running to be elected officials, along with their respective faculty representative(s). These students will represent you over the next year. Vote for candidates whose platforms you believe in. Voting runs from March 7 at 9 a.m. to March 9 at 4 p.m. and can be done online through your myUofC Student Centre or at polling stations located at the MacEwan Student Centre, Science Theatres and the TFDL. The un-official results will be announced on March 9 at 5:30 p.m. Keep an eye out for our social media as we update who the winners are.

Sophia Lopez Editor-in-Chief

President:

Shaziah Jinnah Morsette’s platform addresses issues students are currently facing, with planned-out solutions. While both candidates have experience working in the SU, I still think Morsette’s platform is far more specific and realistic. Aside from fighting tuition increases, I think she did a good job of listening to student concerns such as trying to regulate due dates over term breaks, so I’d like to see her in the president position.

VP External:

Mateusz Salmassi has proven over just a short period of time in the SU that he is capable of making change. While also having prior experience in FASA, Salmassi has demonstrated his leadership skills through planned protests and determination to give students a voice, which he plans to continue doing if re-elected. I think he would do an excellent job in this role, and I especially like his focus on ensuring that both domestic and international students are getting their needs met.

VP Student Life:

This was a difficult choice, as both candidates are clearly passionate about making change. While a few of Ermia Rezaei-Afsah’s platform points would make a difference, such as advocating for cheaper parking and more affordable housing, I think Rachel Cabalteja’s ideas are much more attainable. Cabalteja’s platform focuses a lot more on internal issues, which is what the position aims to target, so for that reason I think she would be successful in this position.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

Both candidates are rather vague in terms of their goals, but if it would have to be one of them, Taimur Akhtar would be better suited for this position. He has a unique point on working towards providing more sexual violence support and resources for students, so it’ll be interesting to see how that’s executed.

Faculty of Arts Representatives:

Muntaha Aamir and Siraaj Shah are both very passionate students seeking to support arts students. With both of them having experience in the SU, they both have achievable goals — Aamir with focusing on campus safety and Shah with creating more study spaces on campus.

Julieanne Acosta News Editor

President:

While both candidates have served on the SU in the past, Shaziah Jinnah Morsette has a platform that is hard to beat. Her platform points are well-thought out and she has shown her ability to be a reliable advocate for students.

VP External:

Mateusz Salmassi is the candidate for this role. Given his previous experience in FASA and having held this position since the by-election, Salmassi has continuously shown that he is capable of advocating on behalf of the community for the betterment of students.

VP Student Life:

Though Ermia Rezaei-Afsah’s point on affordable parking is interesting, Rachel Cabalteja has a strong leadership background that will only serve to benefit students. Through this, I believe she has the experience to implement her goals and work towards improving the campus community altogether.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

While neither candidate offers a truly compelling platform, Taimur Akhtar does bring up an important point on funding for sexual violence support and resources — though he does not entirely explain how he plans to do so — that lacks in Arafatul Mamur’s platform.

Faculty of Arts Representatives:

Siraaj Shah and Muntaha Aamir are both reliable candidates for the role as the two have already served on the SU and have proven themselves to be dedicated to students. With their experience and their platform points, the Faculty of Arts will be in good hands.

Eula Mengullo

President:

Shaziah Jinnah Morsette has demonstrated her willingness and capacity to fiercely advocate for students during the tuition hike rally in January. With her past experience working with expert committees as vice-president academic, she has the potential to be an efficient and reliable leader that can represent the various needs of a diverse student population.

VP External: Having served as vice-president external since the by-election last semester, Mateusz Salmassi has already proven his dedication and capacity to advocate for student concerns as demonstrated in his leadership during the January rally against tuition hikes. With his prolific experience, he is a credible candidate that can advocate for both international and domestic student needs.

VP Student Life:

Rachel Cabalteja is an experienced and enthusiastic candidate for vice-president student life. Her platform points are tangible and she has the valuable experience to execute them from her previous term as the Faculty of Arts representative and other student leadership positions.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

Taimur Akhtar is a confident candidate and has a detailed approach to how he will execute his initiatives. His platform point on improving campus security and providing sexual violence support are things that should be prioritized more within the campus community.

Faculty of Arts Representatives:

Muntaha Aamir is a reliable candidate for the Faculty of Arts representative as she has acquired valuable experience from her former role as the Student-at-Large representative on the Board of Governors. Her experience within the SU speaks to her capability to consult with students and advocate for their concerns. Siraaj Shah is another credible candidate for the Faculty of Arts representative. Given the housing crisis that affected many students last September, his professional experience in real estate would benefit him in achieving concrete results on his goal of helping students access affordable housing.

Sheroog Kubur Arts

& Science Editor

President:

I am endorsing Shaziah Jinnah Morsette because her commitment to pushing back against tuition hikes includes attainable and clear goals that show a dedication to the cause. This and the push for more transparent dialogue between the U of C and its students make her a candidate that will advocate for the student body.

VP External:

Due to a conflict of interest, I will be abstaining from an endorsement in this race.

VP Student Life:

I am endorsing Rachel Cabalteja because the need for high-quality and accessible mental health services is necessary for students and Cabalteja’s platform prioritizes that. The current mental health services available on campus are lacking especially regarding accessibility, and I appreciate a candidate who puts that at the forefront of her platform.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

I am endorsing Taimur Akhtar because I support his goal to advocate for funding for sexual violence support on campus as it is something that could be prioritized more.

Your Faculty of Arts Representatives:

I am endorsing Muntaha Aamir because of her proposal for the use of Quality Money grants to go towards medical resources, and her goals of enhancing student well-being and safety for Faculty of Arts students is commendable. I appreciate a representative who is able to define a neglected gap in funding for certain services and is willing to use Quality Money to fill this gap.

Rodrigo Verney Sports & Lifestyle Editor

President:

For SU president I am endorsing Shaziah Jinnah Morsette because of her strong resolutions and plans for the future of the student community. Her points are concrete and her past contributions to the SU give us ample reason to believe she is more than capable of achieving her goals.

VP External:

Mateusz Salmassi has shown commitment and leadership when serving last semester and was a centrepiece in the January rally against tuition hikes. He has a strong mindset and the experience to solidify himself as the strongest candidate.

VP Student Life: Rachel Cabalteja is the candidate I will be endorsing in this election, given that she has a defined strategy with credible and convincing points. At the same time, she has had plenty of experience and knowledge to effectively put her views into action.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

Taimur Akhtar is the representative I will be endorsing for his goals of enhancing transparency among the student body.

Faculty of Science Representatives:

I am endorsing Erica Peng as a Faculty of Science representative due to her palpable resolutions and her vision. Change has to come with action and Peng embodies that. Having an open mind and defined goals can impact the faculty in a constructive and immediate way.

Ava Zardynezhad Opinions & Humour Editor

President:

Shaziah Jinnah Morsette has the leadership experience and the platform to make a difference. Her platform is a strong and convincing one, with clear, thoughtful goals.

VP External:

Mateusz Salmassi has proven himself time and time again over the past year. I think he would be the best candidate for this position.

VP Student Life:

Ermia Rezaei-Afsah has an interesting platform with many action items I would definitely love to see implemented on campus, but my vote lies with Rachel Cabalteja. Cabalteja’s platform is a well-informed one, with immediate, achievable goals.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large: With predecessors such as the likes of Frank Finley, this position is a tough one to endorse. Though both platforms running for this position are appropriately vague and generalized in proper political spirit, Taimur Akhtar seems to have a stronger platform. His dedication to accountability and advocacy, especially in the context of sexual violence on campus, makes his campaign a more promising one.

Aymen Sherwani Voices Editor

President:

I’m abstaining from endorsing this race due to a conflict of interest.

VP External:

It’s hard to ignore the hard work Mateusz Salmassi has done this past year in the fight against tuition increases, international students’ rights and the privatization of the U of C bookstore. His platform is specific, straight to the point and clearly well-thought-out — re-electing him into office is a no-brainer.

VP Student Life:

My endorsement goes to Ermia Rezai-Afsah because I support his goal of creating affordable parking spaces and the re-establishment of a Post-Alcohol Support Space. Although some measures that Afsah is proposing are already in place, while others seem a little unattainable — such as trying to establish a special bus route to affordable grocery stores — I like the “shoot for the moon, if you miss, you’ll land among the stars” type of approach. With such an exhaustive and specific platform, something ought to eventually get done.

Board of Governors — Student-at-Large:

While I am curious as to which “advanced metrics” he is referring to with respect to tuition fee increases, Taimur Akhtar’s goal for further transparency and accountability towards the student body is one that I can stand behind as well as his desire to increase funding for sexual violence support on campus.

Faculty of Arts Representatives:

I am endorsing Muntaha Aamir because, although her platform isn’t as ambitious as her contender’s platform, she is realistic and very specific with how she plans on executing her platform points — from support for students fleeing abusive home environments to exactly how EDI can be ingrained within the student body. It is also very commendable that, in a time where the cost of living is higher than ever, Aamir is proposing to allocate funding where it is needed most — right back at the student body.