Candidate forum graphic. Soleil de Zwart // AS Review
By PJ Heusted
Voting for the Associated Student Executive Board positions began at 12:00 a.m. on May 4 and runs until 4:00 p.m. on May 8.
In preparation for voting, candidates participated in a question and answer forum via Microsoft Teams. This gave students the opportunity to hear more about the candidates positions and ask their own questions. The first forum was held on April 28 and the second forum was held on April 30.
These are some of the statements candidates shared and questions they answered from the two days of forums.
VP for Governmental Affairs
The candidates for VP for governmental affairs are Nicole Ballard, Madi Miller and Seth Stevens.
Nicole Ballard
Ballard highlighted her experience working with the student senate, both as senator at-large and as a senator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and with the Representation and Engagement Programs [REP] office. Ballard emphasized increasing the accessibility of the voting both within the AS and in general elections.
Ballard expressed that she would fight to protect state funding for loans and grants that make Western more accessible to its students in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ballard also spoke on funding an ethnic studies program, building a new mental health building on campus and finding funding from Western as well as the state government for a self operating dining system.
Madi Miller
Miller introduced her focus on increasing awareness about the AS and what it offers. Miller focused heavily on increasing student awareness about the AS and its programs.
Miller also expressed a desire to put gender neutral bathrooms in every building and increase physical accessibility on campus.
Seth Stevens
Stevens focused on his experience working in the private sector through real estate and his hopes to translate those skills to the public sector. Stevens mentioned a number of potential projects including increasing student involvement, supporting Shred the Contract, offering new majors and remodeling buildings that barely meet code.
“I would immediately replace the University’s President with someone who actually cares about the well-being of the students,” Stevens said, in response to forum host and AS Elections Coordinator Ina LaGrandeur’s question about what one specific thing they wish to change about Western.
An anonymous student asked Stevens, “How does removing Sabah from his position fix the institutional problems of WWU when one person could not have caused all those issues?”
Stevens responded that he agrees removing one person from the system won’t fix all of the issues, but translated his experience in the private sector with this as a metaphor of a CEO being necessary for a business to work well.
Ballard used one of her rebuttals to point out that the AS has no power to fire or replace Sabah. She also does not believe this would be an effective way to make positive change.
AS President
The candidates for AS President are Nate Jo and Abdul-Malik Ford.
Nate Jo
Jo said they hope to continue with many ideas that students are already fighting for. They commited themself to transparency, truth and being specific in their promises.
Jo expressed that they have dedicated themself to working for the AS and they wanted to run for this position before even coming to Western. Jo worked for the AS Board their first year on campus and currently serves as the Business Director.
Jo also worked with Queer Trans People of Color and the Ethnic Student Center [ESC] to send students to a conference in Oregon. The conference was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19. Jo also mentioned their work to reduce the AS fee allowance that sent over two million dollars in fees back to students.
Abdul-Malik Ford
Ford acknowledged that this is his second time running for AS President and hopes to advocate for students and hold administration accountable. He is currently a senator for the College of Business and Economics.
Ford shared that he feels that the student body has been misled in the past. He shared that he has made change as both a Resident Advisor [RA] and the president of the Black Student Union, but that this role offers increased scope.
“I am also using this as an opportunity to reclaim a fair opportunity to run for this position because I do not believe that is what happened last year,” Ford said.
This statement was a reference to Ford’s grievance statements alleging AS candidates broke the AS Elections Code in last year’s spring elections. The statements themselves can be found here and information regarding the Board’s decision can be found here.
When candidates were asked about specific work they have done to support students where Ford shared his work sitting on Faculty Senate in an attempt to get the n-word and racist language banned from classrooms. He expressed that the process made him feel dehumanized and disregarded but put himself out there in order to fight.
Ford also expressed a desire to reverse the decision to make an 85% reduction of the AS budget.
VP for Sustainability
The candidates for VP for sustainability are Nora Harren and Jose Ortuzar. Their candidate bios can be found here.
Nora Harren
Harren went over her previous experience interning in the Environmental and Sustainability Programs Office, helping to organize the environmental agenda for lobby days, spending two years as a director in the REP and working for the League of Conservation Voters.
Harren discussed her experience as Board Assistant for Western Lobby Day, Elections Board Chair and a REP director. She cited these as places where she hopes to combine experience in civic advocacy with environmental advocacy.
The main issues Harren hopes to address are: food insecurity, outreach for the Sustainability, Equity and Justice fund, serving as a resource for student groups and reducing Western’s carbon footprint
Jose Ortuzar
Ortuzar introduced the four issues central to his campaign: environmental justice, food sovereignty, lowering Western’s carbon emissions and creating inclusiveness within the environmental movement.
Ortuzar mentioned working in the AS, including serving on the Legislative Action Committee [LAC], and highlighted his time as Environmental Center Coordinator and serving as an energy ambassador.
Ortuzar also discussed topics including looking at Western and the AS’ single-use plastic use and working with Shred the Contract.
The candidates for VP for activities, VP for student services, VP for diversity and Senate Pro-Tempore are all running unopposed.
VP for Activities
Keenan Kaemingk is the only candidate running for the position of VP for activities.
Kaemingk is a transfer student from Whatcom Community College [WCC] who became involved in AS Productions this year and was previously involved in activities at WCC.
Kaemingk emphasized the importance of creating a sense of connection both within AS offices and on campus. He hopes to hold regular meetings with other AS offices, meet with clubs and hold office hours in a variety of places in order to foster a sense of community.
Kaemingk mentioned several times the importance of accessibility, connectivity and support for students.
VP for Student Services
Carson Brock is the only candidate running for the position of VP for student services.
Brock discussed that his experience as an RA gave him the opportunity to connect with students and hoped that as VP for student services he could further connect with students and convey the issues they’re passionate about to administration.
Brock mentioned opportunities for collaboration with the VP for governmental affairs through work with Shred the Contract, and working with the VP for sustainability about increasing recycling and compost in the dorms.
VP for Diversity
Ranulfo Molina is the only candidate running for the position of VP for diversity.
Molina transferred from Skagit Community College and is currently a senator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Molina expressed his desire to practice polyvocality as a way to include a number of voices and perspectives in discussions.
Molina emphasized the importance of being aware of the ways in which we all reinforce institutionalized racism and the anti-blackness within the Multicultural Center [MCC] and ESC. He hopes to continue to support the Students for Ethnic Students and hopes to work with the AS President to create a fund for leadership development within the MCC and ESC.
Senate Pro-Tempore
Sargun Handa is the only candidate running for the position of Senate Pro-Tempore.
Handa shared her experience in public speaking and writing as well as her role as the current Senate Vice-Chair in the AS Student Senate.
Handa expressed a number of issues that she hopes to address including: the failing rates in intro-level math courses among first generation and students of color, creating an Ethnic Studies program, increasing the amount of hours the student senators can work each week, changing the name of Huxley College of the Environment and ensuring that Western follow the law in terms of the credit hour policy.
She cited her current work with the senate and having worked closely with the current Senate Pro-Tempore as ways in which she is prepared and qualified for the role.
During the AS Spring Election, the AS Review provides resources and information to students such as candidate statements, written by the candidates, and candidate forum summaries. These statements and summaries are not indicators of AS Review endorsement of any one candidate.