Illustration by Soleil de Zwart // AS Review
Note from editor: Candidates submitted their statements for the voter guide, the AS Review made no edits. All photos were taken by AS Review Photographer Joe Addison.
Nicole Ballard
I was honored to serve as an At-Large Senator last year and I want to continue to advocate for student voices this year in CHSS. I want to take my leadership skills and my passion for social justice to advocate for student interests. I am not afraid to stand up to the administration to make real long lasting change. I have a progressive mindset and believe every student should feel safe and welcomed here at Western. Outside of being a student, I work in the REP office where I promote civic engagement. I am passionate about politics, a huge fan of dogs, and probably spend too much time watching The Office. You will never see me stop short of achieving anything I set my mind to. I am resilient, honest, hard-working, and will dedicate my year to serve you.
Ranulfo Molina
Hello student body, My name is Ranulfo Molina. I am a recent graduate from Skagit Valley College, major declared in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and a minor in Education and Social Justice. I am the first openly gay man in my family; because of this aspect, I am driven to support and uplift the LGBTQ plus community. As well as the first to attend college, I want to strive for the amplification of marginalized groups who identify as first-generation scholars and to expose these students to the resources on campus. As a gay latinx scholar, I know the importance of highlighting everyone’s intersectionality. Furthermore, coming from a migrant family, I have seen firsthand the adversities our undocumented community go through on a day to day bases. With this position, I plan to keep the best interest of our undocumented scholars at heart. With AS Student Senate, this leadership position would be a privilege I’ve never had the opportunity to pursue before. I am more than confident that I am the ideal candidate to serve in AS Student Senate, given my life experiences. I’ve built interpersonal communication skills that have allowed me to connect with people from different strands of life. With the opening of the new Multicultural and Ethnic Center, it’s time for Western to acknowledge and invite scholars of color. Allow me to be an agent of change through AS Student Senate so together we can reform a more equitable institution.
Sophie Sceats
My name is Sophie Sceats and I am running to represent the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. I am a junior in the Political Science major. Participating in Model EU twice has helped me gain diplomacy and public speaking skills. My plan is to go to law school and work to impact positive change in our political system.
My focus as a student senator would be to:
- Ensure that the best interests of my constituents are being represented
- Provide increased opportunities for student input on college issues
- Prioritize mental health and environmental initiatives
This is my first quarter at Western, and I love how friendly and welcoming everyone is here. WWU is a great place for me and I want to ensure that it is a great place for everyone else too!