Brescia’s Guide to the USC Presidential Election
With election season approaching, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate your voting experience as a student at an affiliate. To make it a bit easier, here is your comprehensive guide to making an educated decision when choosing your next USC president once voting opens on February 7, 2023.
For starters, what even is the USC?
Simply put, the USC is a student government body that acts as an advocacy and service base for students across Western and the affiliates.
Things you may access thanks to the USC include: student bus access to the LTC, PurpleCare, The Wave and Spoke, The BookStore, UCC health and dental, Food Support Services, USC clubs, Freethedot, and so much more.
Taking on the role of President is to stand confidently in front of the entire Western community, declaring that the candidate’s leadership and experience will represent students in a way that is productive, engaging, supportive, and accessible.
This year, candidates Nika Bajaj and Sunday Ajak are stepping into the race, presenting their campaign platforms where students can see their hopes for Western reflected and vote for their best candidate.
When asked to provide a statement summarizing their individual goals as potential USC Presidential candidates, here’s what they had to say:
Nika Bajaj:
Hi Brescia,
My name is Nika Bajaj, and I am running to be your next USC President. I came to Western looking for the opportunity to create change. Since hearing the USC mission statement ‘students have the power to change the world’, I have taken every opportunity to get involved and make a positive impact on campus.
Whether it is being a USC councillor, Social Science faculty president, Soph, or Associate Vice President Student Events, the past four years of experience has given me a thorough understanding of the USC. Through these roles, I have created meaningful connections within and beyond the USC bubble that has brought me to a realization that many students feel excluded or apathetic towards our organization.
My campaign aims to take a new approach by presenting both short and long-term solutions to the biggest issues facing students right now. I encourage you to read the full platform at www.votenika.ca to understand how I plan to address student support, safety, student experience as well as housing and affordability.
Affiliates have unique experiences and it is important to me that as President, building greater connections between the main campus and Brescia is prioritized well beyond campaigning. As the affiliate agreement is up for review, I want to prioritize engaging with affiliate students through town halls to ensure your concerns are heard.
Why me? Last year, I co-authored an op-ed ‘Our all-male USC presidential ballot is part of a bigger problem,’. The article discusses an issue we must address in order to see greater diversification amongst future USC Presidential candidates: the prevalence of electoral violence weaponized against candidates who identify as part of a marginalized group — particularly women.
It is in this name that I make my bid for candidacy - I run for myself, but more importantly, for all those who see themselves in me as someone who has not been represented within the USC, nor has felt safe enough to run themselves.
Sunday Ajak:
Hey Brescia!
My name is Sunday! Yes, like the day, and yes, I do have a good friend named Monday. I am a 5th Year Honors Social Justice and Sociology Student at Kings! HBK REPRESENT! I’m currently running in the USC Presidential Elections, and I wanted to tell you a little bit about the things that I am standing for.
My inspiration ties all the way back to first year when I came to Western believing that I could leave this school in a better place than when I first discovered it. I truly saw for the first time that potential for change that can be inspired if just one person stands as a beacon of leadership.
The only thing I want out of this campaign is to inspire students to genuinely care about the USC, especially those who cannot see themselves within it. I want to see students champion themselves into spaces where they never saw themselves before, especially Affiliate students. I simply want to be an example of what can happen when you know who you are and believe in the things that you think Western needs. I know, super idealistic but I truly something I believe in.
I want to completely change that fear affiliates students have while they are going to main campus, being an affiliate myself I always felt othered in a way that I can’t explain but one that I knew was there. It took me years to realize that it came down to the culture that exists around being an affiliate student and being a main campus student. This culture needs to change, and sometimes it just comes down to someone from an affiliate going to main campus and representing the desires of HBK entirely, that is who I want to be.
How to vote:
From February 7-10th, voting will be available online and on main campus. You can sign in online with your student ID and student number to choose whichever candidate you see best fit. Voting will close on February 10th at 8:00 pm, and the winning candidate will be announced on February 13th.
For more on Nika and Sunday, follow their Instagram platforms @votenika and @vote.sunday
Happy voting!!
J. Beecroft