Student Union election season is here. With a debate held yesterday and a primary held before the spring break, voting is now under way for next year’s Executive Board officers.
At the start, 26 students were campaigning for one of the 12 board positions. The primary narrowed that down somewhat. This year, the race for Treasurer was the only position with enough students running to need a primary. Every other race is either unopposed or was already narrowed down enough for the general election.
While campaigning, candidates reflected on what they had learned and how they could integrate their newfound knowledge into their platforms.
Junior Christian Marroquin, a Treasurer candidate, said, “I have learned that spontaneity is often inevitable, despite the amount of prior preparation, but [being spontaneous] can be a good thing. Allowing yourself to be spontaneous alleviates stress, making you a more relatable individual overall while campaigning.”
Regarding what they learned about managing a social media platform, juniors Rajvi Sharma and Ana Montan, SU President and SU Vice President candidates said, “We have learned what attracts the student body. Certain trends gain more views and likes, which is teaching us what Harrisites want to see.”
Candidates have also communicated their excitement for the election results — also acknowledging how nerve-racking the process can be.
Juniors Alex Yauri and Anastasia Gonidelis, who are also SU President and SU Vice President candidates said, “We mostly feel excited to see the results. In terms of campaigning during the final stretch, we are trying to make captivating content that will grab people’s attention.”
“I feel nervous for the [upcoming] election, but I feel confident that I am able to have a good campaign and have a good platform,” said freshman and Treasurer candidate Lillian Parrella.
In order to mitigate the stress of campaigning, current SU members have said how important it is to not obsess over the election’s outcome and enjoy being part of the process.
Senior and current SU President Hellen Oliveira said, “A lot of candidates end up momentarily attaching their worth to the election’s potential results. So, my advice to candidates is to take a step back. You will enjoy campaigning a lot more if you allow yourself to have fun with it.”
Throughout the campaign, candidates have frequently put out posts and videos to keep their audience engaged while still keeping them informed about their campaign.
Freshman Tabassum Ahmed, the only Public Relations candidate, said, “I’ve been using my creativity to create posts and messages for the school community to show why I’m a fit candidate.”
Despite the social media campaign content, sophomore Ebube Ajulu said she feels more confident in who she will choose after the debate.
In order for a candidate to be successful, current Senior SLT Reem Nasrallah said, “Any strong candidate on the SU Board should be approachable and good at communication because, regardless of what position you hold, your main role is to be able to speak for your classmates, and you can’t do that unless you’re able to communicate with them well.”
