Pelican is doing a get to know the Guild election tickets edition. Next up is STAR!
This article has been updated in the name of fairness.
By Izzy Hamer
Adam Elyousef for President
What drove you to run for your position?
As a kid, even though I didn’t properly understand it, I knew people judged me before they saw me. I knew what they saw. They saw difference. Even though I was just a kid, they saw danger. It was tough growing up Muslim. For a long time, I retreated into myself.
For me, university was a new start. I was still me, and there were still people that judged me before they knew me, but UWA became a place to reinvent myself. It took me a while, and I was still super shy. Eventually, I managed to work up the courage to apply for a Guild Committee. I remember being so nervous about my application. I wrote about how passionate I was, how I wanted to be useful to the community, and how I wanted to help people at UWA – all I wanted was the opportunity. I got rejected. It happens, but they still saw something in me. They looked at that application and gave me the opportunity I had always wanted. I joined another committee.
Later, I joined the most welcoming community I have ever been a part of – STAR. Going from a place in my life where every time I met someone new, I was worried about what they might think of me to joining a group of students where I was welcomed and making quality friendships that I still hold today was a breath of fresh air. So, at the end of my first year, I ran for STAR, and unlike that committee application, this time, I was successful. With the help of my new friends, I was elected as a Guild Councillor for 2021. Since then, I have held several roles within Clubs, Guild Departments, and UWA Working Groups. My passion only grew from there, running events and initiatives that cater to CaLD students and the wider community.
I have been involved with the Guild for three years now, and I feel I owe something to the Guild for all it has done for me. I want every student on this campus to have a similar experience, to be embraced, and feel comfortable in their own skin. I aim to lead our student representative body into a prosperous year, which will have the Guild actively seek and reach out to students, not the other way around.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
Establishing sponsorships and partnerships with organisations (restaurants, service providers, petrol stations) around WA for student discounts. Just show your Guild sticker! When the Guild app we have planned is developed, you will just need to show your digital student card!
If you were a fictional character, who would you be
Ben 10. It was my go-to TV show back in the day, and he’s green 😉
Favourite song right now
STARships hehe
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Taylor Swift. too many questionable men in my environment already.
Marnie Allan for Education Council
What drove you to run for your position?
Two years of attending Education Council meetings has shown me the difference between an active Guild Council and a passive one and how working with the university is more successful in creating change than working against it. The role of Education President requires someone who will use the position for the good of the student body, supporting the change that students are so eager to see at UWA. My past role as ALVA Education VP and current role as ALVA President has given me the experience to be the active and present leader that the Education Council President role requires.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
While I think most students will love the universal submission time of 11:59 pm, I am most passionate about bringing back the Know Your Rights Book, as I believe students should have easy access to their academic rights.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Pikachu
Favourite song right now?
Her by Megan Thee Stallion.
Taylor swift or Kanye West?
Beyoncé
Shizuka Lau for PAC
What drove you to run for your position?
This year, I am the Secretary of the Multicultural Students Union. Throughout my three years at UWA, being part of a club has not only exceptionally widened my social circle but has also given me opportunities to engage with campus culture. As MSU’s Head of Cultural in 2021, I organised stalls bringing small businesses to UWA and raised social awareness on campus, in which all profits made went to charity. I’m passionate about creating a culture where students can build relationships and appreciation for our community – I believe this is what PAC entails.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
Increasing communication with clubs and creating an all-encompassing handbook for incoming club executives to learn everything they need to know as student leaders. Stepping into a new role as a club executive is so exciting; however, students can often feel unprepared. The handbook will centralise all club-related information and streamline the transition into an exec role.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be
STAR GIRL
Favourite song right now
Hurricane by Kanye West
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Kanye West
Brando Arimborgo for SOC
What drove you to run for your position?
Clubs have been part of my experience since my first week at uni. I went to countless events that helped me make really close friends and learn so much about uni, life, and my future career, all while having a great time. Had it not been for clubs, I wouldn’t have had half as good a university experience as I have. Sadly, after COVID-19, a lot of clubs have struggled, and many events that students used to gain so much from have not been run. Small clubs are always decreasing in numbers. Campus culture was at an all-time low a semester ago. It’s slowly getting back to normal, but for it to be as good as possible, I want to have an impact on this university by providing clubs with as much support as possible with new initiatives and implementations that will, ultimately, help to give every student as good as an experience as I had or even better
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
It’s hard to pick only one because I think all of them target one particular area crucial for next year, especially between after-hour returns from Guild equipment and compulsory handovers. I have to say that the one that seems more exciting to me is to increase equipment hire from the Student Guild. I assume that if any of us have ever booked tables, marquees, or even speakers from Guild we have all gone through the process of having issues with the speakers, having to bring them back within business hours or even struggling with keeping them with us until it opens back up. An after-hours return system would make this process so much simpler and much more straightforward. Investing in more equipment for things such as squares, new speakers, or even BBQ sets for the start of sem events would help make this process much more stress-free. Even storing your own event equipment for one night in the overnight storage place would help clubs that don’t have a locker or club room to not have to worry by coming in early to find parking and walk around with marquees, tables, or food, rather, just leave them in the room and come the next day.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be
Maybe Garfield because I like lasagna, haha.
Favourite song right now
Right now, it’s tonight tonight by Hot Chelle Rae, haha.
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Taylor Swift lol
Alexia Datario for General Secretary
What drove you to run for your position?
I chose to run for General Secretary because I believe my passion and commitment to bringing about change is what will push the Guild to continually improve students’ experiences at UWA.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
I’m most passionate about establishing sponsorships and partnerships with service providers across WA through student discounts that can be accessed with your Guild sticker. As President of the Korean Cultural Club, I worked with my executive team to obtain sponsorships from more than 50 businesses and brought value to our KCC membership. Through my experience and role as General Secretary, I want to do the same for the Guild membership but on a higher level. For example, we can seek discounts on car insurance and gym memberships!
If you were a fictional character, who would you be
Wonder Woman? HAHAHA
Favourite song right now
After Like – IVE
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Uh, easyy 100% Taylor Swift
Amira Nunn for Women’s
What drove you to run for your position?
I was asked to run last year but declined because I wanted to focus on the positions I had. I was disappointed by the election result and decided to get involved straight away to bring about the change I wanted to see in the Guild.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
I’m most passionate about the menstrual cycle sustainability campaign I want to implement next year!
Most women are not engaging with sustainable period products like menstrual cups, reusable period underwear, and pads because they are expensive, they are unfamiliar with how to use them and also because we do not realise how much impact single-use period products have on our climate.
So, I will partner with local businesses to start a university-wide campaign to innovate the way students talk and engage with periods!
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Moana
Favourite song right now
Some Nights – Fun
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Taylor Swift
Alex Villa Gomez for Welfare
What drove you to run for your position?
As an aspiring psychiatrist, I have always prioritised mental health. However, although I really do care about the mental well-being aspect of this position, I want to start placing greater importance on housing and other effects of inflation. I want to create a Guild that not just deals directly with mental health, as I believe that welfare also includes aspects such as financial and economic burdens that will collectively influence our well-being.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
Self-declared 14-day special consideration. Who is going to be focusing on academics when they are struggling financially? I believe giving students a two-week period where they can pick themselves up without stress on academics will not just grant them a better educational experience but also positive well-being.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Piccolo
Favourite song right now
Girls Want Girls (with Lil Baby)
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Taylor West
Mia Mather for Sports
What drove you to run for your position?
I’m passionate about sports and want to make a positive impact at the university I love! Being the president of PESA this year has shown me that even though a role like this can be challenging, the joy and feedback you get from the students is so fulfilling.
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
Athletics carnival as it will bring all students from different clubs or faculties together in a fun and sporty way!
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Cleo from H2O. She’s a mermaid
Favourite song right now
Heat waves
Taylor swift or Kanye West
T dog all the way
Ananya Rao for International
What drove you to run for your position?
ISD is one of the most prominent departments on campus, or so was the case when I first came to Perth. When I first joined, I came with a sense of purpose and me and my department, just like every other member, performed our duties and beyond because we were driven. But over time, I have witnessed the deterioration and downfall of ISD. This calls for action, and STAR is listening. International students deserve a leader that will always put them first, and in all my time at UWA, on and offshore, my priority has been to advocate for the issues that concern us most. As your ISD President, I will reinvigorate our presence!
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
I am most passionate about lobbying for a cap on international tuition fees. Being an NUS delegate alongside the ISD President, I’ll have the right platform to advocate for this urgent concern. International students appreciate scholarships as financial support for international education. But if our tuition fees keep rising every year, the importance and contribution of my scholarship decreases and the financial burden increases. Therefore, bringing this up is one of my first action items.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Hermione!
Favourite song right now
Unstoppable by Sia
Taylor swift or Kanye West
Devils roll the dice; angels roll their eyes.
Zirui Lin for Environment
What policy are you most passionate about and why?
Implementing a vape recycling trial on campus. We all have our own reasons for our actions; however, we should limit its environmental damage by Not letting it end up in landfill and instead recycled.
If you were a fictional character, who would you be?
Luna Lovegood
Favourite song right now
Vienna by Billy Joel
Taylor Swift or Kanye West
Taylor Swift