Voting in the AS Elections is open from Monday, May 23 to Friday, May 27! Read about the candidates below and be sure to watch our exclusive candidate Q&A as well.
Science and Engineering
HENRY MANZA
I am a freshman here at Western and I am hoping to bring some new ideas into the Senate. I have had experience in several leadership roles in my past jobs and I am hoping to bring those skills to this position. As a part of the Senate I want to try and promote awareness about what the Senate does and give people who wouldn’t normally have one, a voice in it. As a math major I am running for a seat in the Department of Science and Engineering, but I want to encourage everyone here at Western to take part and make themselves heard on issues that directly affect them.
JUSTIN MCGLONE
Hello fellow students and friends of Western, my name is Justin McGlone, and I am one of the current CSE student senators rerunning to continue to advocate for your needs to the staff and administration here at our university. As I have sought my best to do this quarter in representing the needs of all student, particularly with those that have historically been overlooked. This is not an endeavor that I can undertake alone as I need help from all of you to get to accomplish this. For this upcoming school year I want to be able to work more with the student body at large to get a better sense of what your needs are and continue to make strides in working towards a more inclusive and equatable future at Western.
BENTON SMITH
My name is Benton Smith, a plastics and Composites Engineering major. I’m interested in running for this position with the hopes of improving the quality of life and education of my peers.
MIRIAM GOLD
Hi I’m Miriam! I am one of the current senators running for my second year to continue working for all the students of WWU! After working in this position for a year I feel inspired to keep working to make the College of Science and Engineering as inviting and equitable as possible. I have grown very attached to this work and especially look forward to continuing work on my biggest project, to get ethics courses built in to all CSE majors. If reelected, I would be able to take all that I have learned from this year and jump straight into work in the fall without the usual roadblocks. I learned a lot from mistakes I made this year and will be a better senator next year for these experiences. I want to learn from students what would improve their lives at Western and use my position to take administration to task over student needs. One of my top priorities is to work together with the broadest coalition we can build to finally Shred The Contract with Aramark and establish our own dining system. I would be so grateful for the opportunity to work as senator for another year.
Graduate
KATEY QUEEN
Katey Queen (she/her/hers) candidate for AS Graduate Student Senator. I would like to improve the graduate student experience as your legislative representative. As graduate students, we find ourselves in a unique standing as early academics and leaders in our field of study. I understand the complicated balance we try to maintain and the demands of our positions. My previous leadership endeavors in academia and the workplace have successfully improved the day-to-day, changed broad policy issues, and supported underrepresented individuals and groups. On a personal note, I’ve fought the health care and insurance industry for 15 years advocating for better care for my endometriosis. Long story short, I won. I’m an NSF Graduate Research Fellow studying aquatic ecology. I have a goldendoodle and two black cats. The last two years have put additional stress on graduate students that have demonstrated how essential and integral we are to the functionality of WWU. The new challenges and changes to learning, teaching, collaboration, and socialization require campus-wide attention as we emerge from a period that continues to test our strength and mental health. Making up less than 10% of the student body and even less of the WWU community, we are still critically vital and deserve a representative with experience, perseverance, and resiliency. I would be honored to represent the graduate student body. Vote for Katey Queen!
JAIMIE BAXTER
As I wrap up my first year at Western, I feel poised and energized to represent incoming and returning graduate students in the ASWWU Senate. I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Environmental Studies and my work broadly involves ensuring equity and inclusivity in the decision-making processes of landscape conservation decisions on a national scale. In my first year here at Western, I was a half-time TA for the Graduate School and tasked with coordinating professional development opportunities (e.g., scholarships and grant writing) and advocating on behalf of graduate students through the Graduate Student Advocacy Council. Starting this past winter quarter, I began a half-time TA position with the Research and Writing Studio as a Graduate Studio Assistant. Both experiences provided me with opportunities to meet and learn from a wide range of graduate students from departments outside of my home department. I am interested in running for ASWWU Senate because I believe I understand the needs and opportunities to support graduate students more holistically and equitably. If elected, I would work diligently with campus organizations and departments, such as the Disability and those involved with Accessibility Center and Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, to strive for a more supportive and inclusive graduate experience for all.
Humanities and Social Sciences
YASMIN LAMAS FLORES
Greetings and salutations. My name is Yasmin Lamas Flores, I’m currently a first year student here at Western. I will be majoring in Psychology and Minoring in Sociology. I am running for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences officer position. Throughout this year, I was a part of the Latinx Student Union as their Freshman Representative on their board. Having this experience I have come across some of my peers who are examples of great leadership. By talking and working with these people I have gotten really good communication, problem solving, and organization skills which I believe have made me into the leader I am today. If elected I will commit myself to encourage the input and opinions of students in college. Especially those in our ESC community. Something that is always really important is the way the Associated Students team communicates with their student body. I believe I’m someone that can guarantee the inclusivity for peers that want help to make their voices heard and needs met.
SOFIA LARRONDO
Hi Western! My name is Sofia Larrondo, and I will be senior in the 2022-2023 academic year. I am Political Sciences and Economics major, and I am minoring in Law, Diversity and Justice, Communications, and Human Rights! I As the Latinx Student Union activities coordinator and one of the current Student Senators for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), this past year has been insightful and has provided me with the necessary experience, and the leadership skills to accomplish more in the next school year. Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year I have mainly focused on making the Student Senate more accessible for students to navigate; I have pushed for decolonization of the curriculum in CHSS departments; and I have been working to make BIPOC voices heard within the college. Next year I want to continue and prioritize the decolonization of the curriculum, and also focus on the protection and providing the tools for undocumented students at Western. I also want to continue expanding the accessibility and build a trustworthy relationship between CHSS senators and students in the college. I am looking forward to continuing to represent CHSS students and fight for their needs and wants!
ZARAH AHMED
I am Zarah Ahmed! I am involved with South Asian Student Association and the Muslim Student Association on campus, and have some experience within the AS, especially as part of the ESC Executive Board. My interest in this position is primarily curiosity and garnering experience, to see just how much I can help and make my fellow student’s school lives better in the long run. I was not entirely motivated to be active in college my freshman year, so when I was finally up for it, COVID hit, which impacted me, but everyone around me. This opportunity will allow me to reach out to others so they can attend college comfortably.
BRADY MARSHALL
Hello WWU. I am running for Student Senate in order to help increase visibility and participation in the humanities at this university. As a future senior for the 2022-2023 term, my hope is to leave Western a better place than when I transferred here in the fall of last year. To me, Western is two things: opportunity and community. If I get your vote, we’ll expand on those and more. I want to hear from you personally and know what you all want to change or stay the same, which is why I’m including my email in this statement marshab6@wwu.edu. This school deserves a better class of senator, and I’m going to give it to them (variation of a Joker quote from The Dark Knight, I’m not trying to diss any past senators who’ve done their job with excellence).
Environment
PIERCE BOCK
Hi, my name is Pierce Bock! I am running for Senator for the college of the environment to reclaim student power and bring equitable spaces into our university. Undergraduate workers deserve living wages and extra compensation when put into vulnerable positions (COVID-19 pandemic). If elected, I will work to instate a university wide minimum wage of $20 an hour, establish $4 extra hazard pay, and exempt student workers from fees. Finally, I will work to fulfil all BSO demands including instating a self-operated dining system and diversifying authors in our curriculum. As a senator for the College of the Environment, I have secured $2,000 in funding to install BIPOC art on campus, a project I will continue into next year. I have also advocated for accessibility to canyon lake community forest, and more bike lanes which I will also continue into next year. For earth week, I organized activities including collaborating with the NSEA to plant over 700 willow trees! Outside of campus, I am building affordable student housing as the executive director of the first ever student Community Land Trust. I have experience working with my community to get things done, and a history of putting students first.
SEAN HAKALA
The students of WWU deserve a dining system that works for them, rather than for capital and the prison industrial complex. That is why as a senator I will support the movement for self-operated dining, so we can remove ourselves from the mess of the “Big 3” food services corporations Aramark, Sodexo, and Compass Group. The student workers of WWU deserve better pay and conditions, as well as protection from unfair labor practices. That is why I would support and push for the unionization of student workers, so that students working on campus can demand pay that can cover the ever-rising cost of living in Bellingham. The bike riders of WWU deserve better protection against theft of their mode of transportation. That is why as a senator I will work to improve the existing bike registry program to be more like the University of Northern Colorado’s. The new and improved registration program would provide students a high-quality u-lock and a campus registration sticker to further improve protection against theft through both physical and legal measures.
Woodring
HAILEY HARTFORD
My name is Hailey Hartford, and I am running for the ASWWU Student Senate Woodring position. I am a Sophomore who applied to the Special Education Major for Fall Quarter of 2022. I believe I am qualified for this position because I have a strong work ethic, have great leadership abilities, and work as an incredibly adaptable individual. I have experience collaborating with others along with leading students in a classroom setting. I would like to be on this board because I am very passionate about being a voice for Western students in AS events on-campus. Additionally, I am passionate about working with both Elementary Education and Special Education and would love to be a voice for all students. If I am elected, I will listen to the wants and needs of all students and work to meet their demands. In addition to this, I want to make Western an inclusive school with a diverse array of ideas. Thank you.
LILY DUONG
Hello! My name is Lily Duong and I’m running for the Woodring College of Education Student Senator position. I’m currently a peer mentor for the Woodring Diversity, Recruitment & Retention Office where I provide resources for prospective students and freshman part of the Future Woodring Scholars pathway program. I’m an Elementary Education – Language, Literacy, and Cultural Studies major and I love working with students from all backgrounds. I’m interested in running for Student Senate because I want to continue to expand my reach by getting more involved on campus. If elected, I promise to do my best to represent and reflect the voices and needs of our student body.
Business and Economics
SOFIA TRUJILLO
My name is Sofia Trujillo and I’m running for Student Senate for the College of Business and Economics. I’m a Management Information Systems and a Communication Studies major. I’m active in my community at Western being part of the woman’s rugby team, the Communication Studies club, and Lavender Menaces. I’m passionate about helping people and I regularly volunteer at the Bellingham Food Bank to help fight food insecurity in Whatcom county. I am a dedicated, hard working, and driven individual that is ready to work for the students at Western Washington University.
DACEY DURBIN
My name is Dacey Durbin, I am pursuing my undergraduate degree in Politics/Philosophy/Econ, with a minor in Communication Studies, and I hope to serve as a member of the ASWWU Student Senate for the College of Business and Economics. I have held many leadership positions including acting as an officer of Western’s first satirical newspaper, The Back, being a Project HEAL fundraiser/social media ambassador, as well as acting as one of six Washington State Thespian Officers from 2019 to 2020. College is a scary time for most students, and I hope to maintain and improve Western’s standards for a safe, diverse, and inclusive campus. I feel confident in speaking up about important and difficult conversations, I am passionate about student advocacy, and I hope to be someone anyone can come to with an issue if they feel uncomfortable sharing themselves.
Fine and Performing Arts
MEAGAN BROWN
I am passionate about supporting and growing the student and local performing arts community. If elected, I would be a strong advocate for the upkeep and improvement of Old Main Theatre, the primary venue for student run performances.
Fairhaven
TED TOPPER
Greetings! My name is Ted and it is my great honor to announce my candidacy to represent you, the Fairhaven community, within the AS Senate. It is my wish to use the position to continue programs enacted for you, such as the Fairhaven Forum and the Preschool Games, as well as better facilitate communications between our little coterie and the Fairhaven administration. I look forward to serving you.
QUINCY INGALLS
I’m Quincy! I’m running for re-election to serve you as your Student Senator. I’m proud to learn at Fairhaven College in my home, the Pacific Northwest. Our biome contains multitudes of diverse communities and ecosystems, just like Fairhaven – it’s hard to imagine living or learning anywhere else! I’m astounded at how diverse, accepting, and vibrant our students, professors, and staff are, with classes that reflect our community. My study areas include ecology, psychology, and general activism. I enjoy snow, video games, cats, and talking to you! As your student senator for Winter and Spring quarter, I have been working on many projects to improve life at WWU. I have been committed to completing the Black Student Organization’s demands. My other projects include creating a microaggression reporting system, a Fairhaven College Canvas page, and spreading Indigenous art inside and outside our College! Vote for me so I can continue my work and continue serving you!
At Large
GABE WONG
I’m Gabe Wong (He/Him) a first-year, and I’m running for an At-Large Senate seat. I decided to give this a shot because I want student voices heard and university politics interest me. After being at Western for almost a year, I’ve come to recognize the important role of the AS Senate in ensuring student voices are heard. That is, Western administration keeps its most regular contact to the student body through the Senate and the Executive board. My goal is to ensure that the student community at-large is being well represented. I especially want to listen to the voices of marginalized students. That means doing everything I can to meet BSO demands. Working towards a dining system that works for all students, regardless of dietary or financial restrictions. Listening to those students to whom Coronavirus continues to pose a serious risk. And, working to ensure mental health services are available to everyone, even those who can’t afford a referral. Especially as we continue to emerge from the most isolating two years of our lives. I hope you’ll trust me to be one of your senators. If you have any questions please email me at wongg4@wwu.edu.
CALVIN CHRISTOPH
Hello WWU students, I am Calvin Christoph, and I am running for one of the At-Large, or undeclared major Student Senate positions for this coming school year of 2022/2023. I am qualified for this position because I am an earnest and dedicated student, an experienced leader and a cooperative team member. I have been politically active as long as I have been able to, serving as a state senate page and voting with consideration and proper research. I have worked as a wildland firefighter and learned skills of leadership and teamwork on the fireline, and I have worked in the Fairhaven cafeteria here on campus, learning about the interests of student employees and the Fairhaven community. I am attending Western Washington University with the intention of majoring in environmental policy, and following graduation I aim to work in environmental law. In my time here as a Student Senator, I will represent the needs of all students, and continue to contribute to WWU’s collective efforts towards sustainability.
LIAM PRATT
Hello! My name is Liam, I’m a sophomore here at Western, and I hope to make this campus a better place by serving on the AS Student Senate. In highschool, I was the founder and president of the first ever outdoors club. The goal of that organization was to take students who never had the opportunity to be immersed in the outdoors and get them hiking, kayaking, and any other outdoors activity free of charge. After graduating, I spent my freshman year at a small school in the Bronx, NY. While there, I honed my leadership abilities by participating in community organizing and service events focused on improving the campus community, as well as getting the local Throgs Neck neighborhood involved with on-campus research activities. After transferring to Western, a friend and I founded the Students for Climate Action club. In addition to club duties, I serve as Fairhaven’s VP of Community Engagement, and play intramural soccer. If elected to the student senate, I plan on focusing my time and effort on creating programs for the student body to better build a sense of community after having it be virtually wiped out by the pandemic.
DAVID NESSA
Hey, my name is David, a geography major and honors college student, and as an At-Large Senator I plan on bringing our problems to the table. I will listen to the student body through social media such as WWU Voice and make sure that our policy makers hear what we have to say. There is an overwhelming lack of allowances made to the students that let them dictate what goes on at this school. I will pay particular attention to issues of inclusion, improving student power, getting rid of Aramark, and opening up the Canyon Lake Community Forest for student and community uses. https://www.change.org/p/canyon-lake-community-forest-public-access. Moreover, I hope I can help push the university to punish/fire professors that commit wrongdoing. Do I have your vote? If not, that’s chill! 🙂