Final ruling confirms Piper Plavins as MSU president-elect, bringing election process to a close after appeal deliberations
Following the resolution of a disqualification appeal, Piper Plavins has been officially confirmed as the next president of the McMaster Students Union. The appeal, initiated by the request of presidential candidate Olami Olalere, was dismissed after two levels of review, finalizing the results of the 2025 MSU presidential election.
Olalere was disqualified from the race after accumulating a combination of standard and severe campaign violations.
In an interview with The Silhouette, Sinead Gono, the chief returning officer of the elections department of the MSU, said that Olalere received a total of nine standard violations and two severe violations.
Under MSU election rules, surpassing half of the spending limit in fines—$200.00 of the $400.00 limit—results in automatic disqualification. A standard fine is worth $15.00 and a severe fine is worth $35.00. Additionally, Olalere received $42.00 in poster violations for a total of 21 poster violations valued at $2.00 each, as per presidential election rule 7.10.4. In total, Olalere accumulated $247.00 in fines.
“The rules are very specific and I feel that they’re quite clearly laid out . . . There’s a threshold and if you pass that in terms of monetary value, then you get automatically disqualified. That’s what happened in this case,” said Gono.
There’s a threshold and if you pass that in terms of monetary value, then you get automatically disqualified.
Sinead Gono
Chief Returning Officer, MSU Elections
After his disqualification, Olalere filed an appeal in two stages. According to Gono, in the first stage, the MSU Elections Committee reviewed his objections and overturned only one $0.00 violation, which did not impact his total fine amount.
In the second stage, the Elections Appeal Board, which is an independent panel consisting of the MSU deputy speaker, the university secretariat and a member of the McMaster community, upheld the original decisions in full. As a result, Olalere remained disqualified and his name was removed from the official ballot.
Due to the MSU’s ranked-choice voting system, votes cast for Olalere were not discarded. Instead, they were redistributed to the next-ranked candidates on each ballot.
“There’s no erasing of votes . . . They now consider the other ranked options,” said Gono.
Gono emphasized that the elections department followed its policies and treated all candidates equally.
“We did the best that we could on our end. We followed the process that we always follow . . . The rules are pretty set in stone and we try to make them as clear as possible,” said Gono.
This year’s election cycle also saw a rise in voter turnout. Gono credited the increase to coordinated efforts by both the elections department, the MSU as a whole and the efforts of the candidates themselves.
“There was a union-wide goal of reaching 20 per cent turnout . . . We worked tirelessly on promotions and events . . . The candidates also made this election really exciting for students . . . I also think we’re seeing a natural rebound in student engagement post-COVID,” said Gono.
The candidates also made this election really exciting for students . . . I also think we’re seeing a natural rebound in student engagement post-COVID
Sinead Gono
Chief Returning Officer, MSU Elections
The final certified results have officially confirmed Piper Plavins as MSU president-elect. She is set to begin her one-year term on May 1, 2025.
After a two-week campaign, Piper Plavins has been elected as the MSU President for the 2025-2026 academic year
Early Friday morning, Piper Plavins was announced as the next president of the McMaster Students Union for the 2025-2026 academic term.
Plavins was elected with a total of 4,860 votes. A minimum of 2,750 votes were required.
Approximately 22.2 per cent of the undergraduate student body voted in this year's election, or 5,783 students.
This is a 35.4 per cent increase in voter turnout from last year’s 16.4 per cent. This is in stark comparison to 2023’s turnout of 10.2 per cent, making this a 117.6 per cent jump in two years.
Olami Olalere was disqualified from the presidential race due to receiving severe fines as per MSU Elections.
"The Elections Committee has determined that the candidate has received 9 standard violations, 2 severe fines and $42 in poster violations, accumulating a fines amount that exceeds half of the spending limit, leading to an automatic disqualification (Rule 7.12)," stated MSU Elections in an Instagram post.
All candidates may appeal any fines to the MSU Elections committee. They may further appeal to the Electoral Appeal Board consisting of the MSU Speaker, the Secretary of the University Senate and a McMaster community member who does not sit on the Student Representative Assembly.
As such, results are technically not official until the appeal process has been concluded.
Plavins' campaign prioritized improving student life through enhanced advocacy, greater student involvement, expanded MSU services, increased awareness of campus resources, support for student clubs, more accessible classrooms, and initiatives like MSU Week, the Holiday Market expansion and a mentorship program for 2SLGBTQIA+ students. More about Plavins' platform can be read here, as well as the Silhouette's critique on the president-elect.
As for the referenda, the Food Accessibility Initiative has passed. Voter turn out was 13.1%.
The Homecoming and Large Events referendum failed, with voter turnout at 13.6%.
The Engineers Without Boarders referendum was invalidated by the Elections Committee and thus results were not released.
For more information, visit the MSU elections website and stay tuned for our first sit-down with the incoming President.
This is a developing story.
Piper Plavins’ election platform for MSU president is wide ranging, but falls short on details and considering feasibility
Piper Plavins’ platform highlights the need focus on educating students about MSU services, advocating on behalf of students during a food insecurity and housing crisis as well as increasing what the MSU does for students. However, the candidate falls short on considering how to financially make her initiatives happen given the MSU's current fiscal state
Plavins' focus on student experience, especially as most of it relates to expanding old events and creating new ones, is without a concrete plan as to how to fund these events. When asked about this by the Silhouette, she referred to the upcoming Homecoming and Large Events referendum, which is not guaranteed to pass.
Without a clear plan to pay for these events, the current projected deficit in the MSU budget of $415,000 to $500,000 — in part caused by deficit spending on Homecoming 2024 — could be a major obstacle to the further large event spending the platform promises.
According to a December 2024 memo to the Student Representative Assembly from MSU VP Finance Declan Sweeney, the financial situation and deficit of the MSU is unsustainable.
Considering this, Plavins' platform is ambitious. Particularly as it relates to events, Plavins' plans do not align with the recent MSU initiative as outlined by Sweeney in his SRA memo: “considerable discussion about how to better reduce costs through integration of services & potential agreements with partners,” stated Sweeney.
"MSU Week," an event proposed by Plavins to raise awareness about the MSU near the beginning of the academic year, seems particularly fiscally irresponsible.
The first three days, the job fair, services day and advocacy showcase, resemble ClubsFest which nearly all of the MSU’s services already attend. Plavins suggested to the Silhouette that because ClubsFest can be “overwhelming,” having an additional event to promote MSU services would help raise awareness.
The choice of the name "job fair," Plavins admitted, may have been a mistake, as most MSU services hire between the start of the second term and the end of the academic year.
In her platform, Plavins’ promises to “continue the homecoming legacy” and expand the Holiday Market largely lack any details to distinguish her ambitions from current MSU initiatives, a pattern that resonates throughout the rest of the platform.
Plavins’ proposal for an Student Representative Assembly retreat, which she insisted in an interview could not meaningfully be replaced by team building exercises, concludes the first pillar by demonstrating its continued pattern of financial over-ambition.
Plavins’ first campaign pillar, while attempting to accomplish the necessary task of raising student awareness of available MSU services and spaces, risks falling short due to ongoing budget constraints. Considering the event that the Homecoming & Large Events referendum fail, she has not included any specific plans as to how she would otherwise finance her platform promises.
Even if the referendum succeeds, the redundancy of multiple proposals might prove a poor way of managing limited MSU funds.
Improving Student Advocacy
Plavins’ second platform pillar, student advocacy, in attempting to cast a wide net, finds itself lacking specific details in many areas.
When asked, Plavins admitted the lack of detail in some proposals was because she was going to be playing only one part in ongoing initiatives. Plavins’ reasoning here is solid, but in certain instances where the platform hints at larger ideas, her lack of detail is disappointing.
She could not clarify what she meant by “higher level clubs,” nor did she offer details on what advocating for “inherently accessible classrooms” would look like.
Plavins’ most concrete promise, a $5,000 funding increase to the Food Collective Centre, could be one of her most difficult to implement.
Sweeney shed light into how the current budgeting process works for the MSU in an email to the Silhouette: “Any budget adjustments would require careful consideration, as they may involve reorganizing existing allocations, increasing student fees, or making reductions in service operations elsewhere,” stated Sweeney.
The lack of detail about her own advocacy goals, in both her platform and interview answers was disappointing. However her repeated commitment to existing MSU and university level advocacy efforts suggests that Plavins’ could be an effective, if not particularly novel advocate as president.
Plavins’ shortest pillar, MSU excellence, is far less developed than her other two. Her proposal to revamp TwelvEighty was made without consultation with TwelvEighty's manager. Similarly, her parking plans lack the perspective a consultation with Parking Services might have provided.
In an email statement to the Silhouette, Rob Morrallee, director of parking services, confirmed that he had not been consulted by Plavins. He noted that her proposal for a Lot M bus schedule , as the service is already run at consistent intervals, and that her proposed flex passes are already being worked on.
These underdeveloped parking-related plans only serve to draw attention to the platform’s complete silence on assisting transit or cycling commuters.
While Piper Plavins offers students a very long platform full of promises, Plavins’ most developed proposals lack concrete plans to secure funding, while her less detailed statements lack much in terms of substance or consultation.
While Olalere's campaigns aims to address a wide range of student issues, some points lack detailed planning and would benefit from more research and consultation
Olami Olalere's campaign succeeds in highlighting a wide scope of student issues on campus while proposing initiatives to improve the operations of the MSU. However, many of these promises lack clarity, substance and proper consultations with key stakeholders and experts on campus.
In his campaign, Olalere's first pillar focuses on increasing traffic to MSU services by enhancing advertising methods. While Olarere shared with the Silhouette that he consulted full-time MSU staff about student usage of MSU services, his platform fails to include any data or specific details from these consultations to validate the need for this promise.
In his platform point on housing accessibility, Olalere mentioned his intention to create a route of communication between students and the municipal government to improve tenant protections for students. However, this proposal lacks clarity regarding who exactly students would be communicating with or what concrete steps would be taken to implement this communication channel. Olami did not state that he had consulted with any city officials on this point.
Student Engagement
In the second pillar of his campaign, Olalere envisions creating a “Maroon Wall”, a dedicated space for students to express themselves, share stories and engage with peers. Yet, key details about the initiative remain undefined, such as where the wall would be located.
Olalere intends to work with McMaster Athletics to create a student-only stand for sports games on campus to encourage student engagement in sports and to foster school spirit.
“I go to almost all the basketball games, almost all the football games, soccer games, men, women, volleyball games. I support the team, physically in all these aspects. I enjoy watching the team . . . and I go to these [games]. I am seeing the attendance. It is low,” said Olarere.
Olalere did consult with Director of McMaster Athletics and Recreation Keenan Jeppesen, and both agreed this was a worthwhile initiative to explore.
One of Olalere's proposals involves arranging monthly meetings with students in the McMaster University Students Centre, where, if elected as MSU president, he would provide a space for students to voice their concerns.
When speaking to the Silhouette, he was asked how he would handle students raising controversial topics and ensuring that such public discussions are respectful. Olalere acknowledged the potential for these issues but ultimately stated that students' voices should be heard. More consideration into the safety and security of this event could help to strengthen this platform point.
He further suggested that the meetings would be reassessed halfway through, though this response lacked clarity on how potential conflicts would be managed effectively and whether any concrete actions or protocols would be implemented to ensure fair representation and productive dialogue.
Student Expression
The third pillar of Olalere's campaign includes implementing a new MSU service called “MSUTV”. This student-run media outlet would aim to showcase life and events on campus.
However, there are already two existing student-run MSU services. The Silhouette, McMaster's student-led newspaper established in 1930, and 93.3 CFMU, McMaster's campus radio station established in 1963, similarly cover campus events, news and sports.
As of May 1, 2025, both departments will be funded by the CFMU Radio Inc. student fee to enable greater cross-collaboration, including more joint video initiatives.
Olalere's platform does not acknowledge these established services or indicate whether he consulted on the creation of a new campus media outlet. Olalere did not consult with the Silhouette or CFMU about what exactly his "MSUTV" would cover and how the two services might overlap.
When questioned in an interview, Olalere elaborated on his idea, including plans for post-game interviews and opportunities for students to interview athletes, with these segments and games being broadcasted on television. This would bridge the gap between the athletics and student sides of campus life, according to Olalere.
The current campus screen network that the MSU owns were replaced through a capital-expenditure request to the SRA in 2022. They currently run paid advertising and the Silhouette news ticker. There has been no clarification from the candidate if he proposes to still have this remain in addition to the "MSUTV" content.
However, he still did not clarify how his new proposed media service would fit alongside and be distinguished from the two already existing campus media services.
Finally, when being interviewed by the Silhouette, Olalere walked back one of his points in his original campaign platform that he provided. When discussing his proposed housing fair, he admitted he thought the idea was infeasible.
Overall, Olalere's campaign succeeds in presenting himself as a candidate eager to empower student voices.
It is also worth noting that Olalere is the only candidate running for MSU President from outside of the "MSU Bubble," showcasing the want for students to get involved to make a difference on campus.
Nevertheless, it ultimately falls short due to lack of clarity in his proposals and a failure to provide details on how he plans to implement his ideas effectively.
Along with the approaching McMaster Students Union presidential elections, students will soon vote on three critical referenda that could impact campus life
McMaster students will soon vote on three referenda alongside the McMaster Students Union presidential elections, with the voting period running Jan 28. to 30. Depending on their outcome, these referenda could change the allocation of financial resources within the MSU. These referenda are for the Food Accessibility Initiative, Homecoming and Large Events and funding for Engineers Without Borders.
Food Accessibility Initiative
The Food Accessibility Initiative, proposed by current MSU President Jovan Popovic, seeks to combat food insecurity on campus by delivering a free soup and bread meal program to students. Initially presented in February 2024 with a proposed $5.00 increase to the MSU organizational fee to fund it, the first attempt at the referendum fell short of the quorum of 10 per cent, with voter turnout reaching 9.4%.
The updated proposal now requests a $6.50 increase, adjusted for the Consumer Price Index. If approved, the fee would fund the Soup & Bread Initiative, which would provide free soup and bread for two hours a day, four days a week, throughout the academic year in an effort to increase accessibility to food on campus.
The Food Accessibility Initiative, proposed by MSU President Jovan Popovic, seeks to combat food insecurity on campus . . . The updated proposal now requests a $6.50 increase, adjusted for the Consumer Price Index.
This initiative, modelled after the Loaded Ladle program at Dalhousie University, is projected to serve over 75,000 portions annually. When reintroducing the motion on Nov. 17, 2024, Popovic emphasized that the fee would be mandatory, with no opt-out option, to ensure the program's sustainability and maximize its benefits for students in need.
Kooper Zacharczuk is leading the campaign for the Food Accessibility Initiative. After learning about the proposal from Popovic last year, Zacharczuk became committed to addressing food insecurity. He emphasized the program’s affordability and universal benefit, pointing out that the one-time cost is less than the cost of a regular meal on campus.
Zacharczuk emphasized that supporting the initiative is a straightforward choice, describing it as "common sense" to vote yes. "We're just feeding students in need," said Zacharczuk, stressing that the program’s affordability and potential impact as a free meal service make it a solution to address food insecurity on campus.
Homecoming & Large Events
The referendum on Homecoming and Large Events proposes a $20.00 increase to the MSU organizational fee, also subject to Consumer Price Index adjustments. If approved, the fee is expected to generate over $500,000 in additional revenue annually, which would enable MSU to continue hosting large-scale campus events, such as homecoming which returned to campus in 2024 for the first time since 2019.
The referendum on Homecoming and Large Events proposes a $20 increase to the MSU organizational fee, also subject to Consumer Price Index adjustments.
The MSU aims to use the additional funding to maintain these events while ensuring affordability for students.
If passed, 50 per cent of homecoming tickets will be priced between $10.00 and $20.00, starting in Fall 2025 and continuing through Fall 2027. Popovic noted that the current $43,000 event allocation is insufficient to sustain the growing demand for such events.
McMaster Engineers without Borders
The third referendum concerns Engineers Without Borders' annual fee of $0.44. This fee supports Engineers Without Borders McMaster, which contributes $12,500 annually to EWB Canada's fellowship program. However, concerns over financial accountability have prompted the referendum. A November 2024 Student Representative Assembly review revealed that EWB McMaster's budget lacked clarity and did not include their actual spending from the previous fiscal year.
The third referendum focuses on the Engineers Without Borders' annual fee of $0.44 . . . A recent SRA review revealed that EWB McMaster's budget lacked clarity and did not include their actual spending from the previous fiscal year.
Additionally, funds allocated to the fellowship program are used to support students from other universities if no McMaster students are selected. While EWB representatives assured the SRA that financial oversight issues have been resolved, some members expressed their concerns about fees collected from McMaster students going to fund a fellowship program that does not always accept a McMaster student.
Jialiang (Kevin) Hu, leading the campaign to cancel the fee, emphasized these concerns, pointing out that EWB’s financial oversight issues include losing access to bank accounts and cancelled trips due to organizational restructuring. “This referendum sends a message that students will not tolerate the misuse of their money,” stated Hu to The Silhouette.
He argued that EWB McMaster could continue its activities, such as workshops and team-building events, through alternative funding sources like grants, sponsorships, or support from the McMaster Engineering Society, rather than relying on student fees.
Students will have the opportunity to cast their votes during the 2025 MSU presidential election period, deciding the outcome of these initiatives and their implementation on campus. Voting will occur online via the SimplyVoting platform from Jan. 28 to 30, 2025.
As the McMaster Students Union presidential election nears, here are the key details and deadlines to keep in mind
The McMaster Students Union has officially launched its 2025 election period, initiating the presidential race and three concurrent referenda. Students interested in running are encouraged to review the official rules available on the MSU Elections website.
Nominations for the presidential election opened on Nov. 29, 2024 and will remain open until Jan. 16, 2025. Any MSU member, which includes undergraduate students enrolled in 18 units or more during an academic season, can self-nominate as a presidential candidate.
The election season will include key events to engage the voting student body in the democratic process. Events to look out for include trivia night on Jan. 13 and a candidate meet-and-greet on Jan. 20, both from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Grind and TwelvEighty.
The campaign period will run from Jan. 17 to Jan. 30, 2025, with a presidential debate scheduled for Jan. 28, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the MUSC Atrium. Voting will take place online via the SimplyVoting platform from Jan. 28 to 30, with the elected president assuming office on May 1, 2025.
In addition to the presidential election, students will have the opportunity to vote on three referenda addressing key campus issues. The first referendum proposes a $6.50 increase to the MSU Organization Fee as a part of the Food Accessibility Initiative, MSU President Jovan Popovic's soup and bread program.
The second referendum seeks a $20.00 increase to the MSU Operating Fee to improve funding for large-scale campus events, including homecoming and other annual celebrations.
The third referendum asks students to decide whether to renew the fee that supports the McMaster chapter of Engineers Without Borders. The chapter is being sent to referendum based on critical issues brought forward by the MSU Finance Committee.
Throughout the campaign period, The Silhouette will provide comprehensive coverage of the presidential candidates and their platforms, offering students insights into their visions for the MSU.
With the McMaster Students Union presidential election just around the corner, here are the important dates, details and deadlines you need to know
All McMaster Students Union members, which include all undergraduate McMaster University students enrolled in 18 units or more, are eligible to nominate themselves to run as a presidential candidate in the student union's election. Any student wishing to run for MSU president submit the nomination form before the end of the nomination period on Jan. 12.
Along with their nomination form, presidential candidates must also submit a campaign team form with the names of all students on their campaign team before the end of the nomination period.
The campaigning period begins officially on Jan. 14 and runs until Jan. 25. Candidates and their campaign teams may only engage in campaigning activities once this period has begun and must ensure they abide by all other campaigning policies.
During the campaign period, the MSU elections department will be running a meet and greet with all presidential candidates on Jan. 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in TwelvEighty. There will also be a debate between the presidential candidates be held on Jan. 23 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the McMaster University Student Centre atrium.
Throughout the campaigning period, the Silhouette will be providing in depth coverage on all candidates and their platforms.
The voting period will run for the three final days of the campaigning period from Jan. 23 to 25. During this time, all MSU members are eligible to vote through the SimplyVoting platform, which will be made available to all students via email prior to Jan. 23.
Voting for the MSU presidential election takes place from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25 using the Simply Voting platform. More information about the election can be found on the MSU Elections website.
From Obama’s numerous campaign endorsements by pop icons to Romney’s laughably out-of-pitch rendition of “America the Beautiful,” music has played a star role in this presidential election. Unfortunately for politics, (but fortunately for everyone else), some efforts have failed quite humorously.
Obama's administration seems to value music as a way to make money, while Romney’s campaign instead seems to use music for an emotional connection with the American people. However, luckily for Obama, he seems to have racked up the grand majority of artists’ votes anyway - specifically the ones with the most dispensable cash.
Jay Z and Beyoncé, who have a collective worth of 775 million, are not only avid supporters of the President, but also have campaigned quite rigorously to gain him donations through their $40,000 a plate New York fundraiser back in September. Obama has also managed to gain the support of other big names in music, including Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga.
Mitt Romney’s campaign has instead focused on proving that his platform will represent a change for the nation. A notorious example was when Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan tried to convince voters that he believed in smaller government because he had Rage Against the Machine on his iPod. It seemed this statement didn’t distract anyone from Ryan’s true political intentions, especially the band itself. In an angry reply to Ryan, lead guitarist Tom Morello expressed in Rolling Stone magazine how Ryan’s “guiding vision of shifting revenue more radically to the one per cent is antithetical to the message of Rage.”
The contrast between each campaign’s success is perhaps most striking in the array of artists who’ve endorsed each candidate. Obama has gained the support of a wide range of artists, both young and old, from a variety of different genres. Mitt Romney has instead garnered the support of a collection of elderly white gentlemen with whom his unprogressive ideologies resonate. Any outliers in this formula unsurprisingly display a meager level of intelligence or lack an understanding of politics. For instance, Scott Strapp, the front man of the ‘90s rock band Creed, said he supports Romney because, “My heart and soul would really like someone like Reagan or FDR to come back and give us a New Deal.” Apparently Stapp is a little unfamiliar with history, being that it was only FDR who created a New Deal and not Reagan.
When it comes to getting votes, music plays less of a role than rational discussion about the economy, but its use is undeniably successful in evoking an emotional response in voters, which can prove integral to a campaign’s success.
At least the use of music during campaigning has offered a good deal of laughs, and in the election process we’ve seen in the past few months, who could want any more than that?
Spencer Semianiw
Kacper Niburski
Assistant News Editor
After a grueling two weeks of campaigning and a balloting period that had the makings of a political cliffhanger, Siobhan Stewart is nothing short of appreciative of all that has happened.
“It is a privilege. I feel honoured to be given the opportunity,” she said. Considering the close margin of the presidential elections results, in which 33.4 per cent of the MSU’s eligible voters casted a ballot, “privilege” may be an understatement.
Winning the MSU elections by no more than 47 votes ahead of the second-place David Campbell, the results were an embodiment of the year’s strong field of candidates. In fact, when campaigning had started two weeks prior to Stewart’s win, it felt as though the title could go to any one of the five candidates.
Stewart initially felt very much the same. Even on the night of the ballot count, she was unabatedly jittery while attempting to absorb herself in a game of Settlers of Catan. “Usually I am focused and competitive but I wasn’t able to concentrate.” She added with a laugh that “I guess I had something going on.”
Then, the call came. In tears she answered the phone, assuming the worst. On the other line, however, was the current MSU President, Matthew Dillon-Leitch, congratulating her on a successful campaign. At that point, Stewart was no longer crying from anxiety; she was crying from excitement.
“The first person I called was my mom. She woke up my dad. They both were very proud. To be honest, though, I think I was crying more than she was,” she said.
After a night of endless phone calls and celebration, she awoke the next morning as the soon-to-be MSU President.
“It’s hard to put the feeling into words. When I woke up, I just told myself, ‘I’m going to be the MSU President.’ I guess if I had to sum it up, I’d say it was a feeling of appreciation that I’ve been given an opportunity unlike any other.”
As to why this “opportunity” was bestowed to her over the other four candidates, Stewart was hesitant to reply. “I am not sure why the students voted as they did.” Perhaps the win was due to a dedicated campaign team. Perhaps it was a result of extensive promotions. Whatever the reason, Stewart stressed, “I can only be humble.”
Plans to begin the initiatives outlined in her platform stretch far beyond the campaign trail. As Stewart transitions into her one-year term as MSU President, which starts on May 1, she will be meeting with various members of the current administration.
“I want to do my best to keep the positivity by staying true to the MSU and all it stands to represent,” she said.
To do this, she plans to first implement the key sustainability promise of her campaign platform: green roofs. She has currently set up meetings with Kate Whalen, the Manager of Sustainability, to discuss the most successful plan of action.
“It’s no longer an idea,” Stewart stressed. “It’s now about how we act towards it.”
Yet Stewart hinted that her presidential initiatives will not be restricted to her own campaign points. Among the many other things, Stewart lauded Mukhtar Galan’s WiFi passion, David Campbell’s stress busters, Alex Ramirez’s expansion into the community and Chris Erl’s HSR-related mandate.
“The beauty of the election is I don’t know who voted for me, but I am interested as to why people voted for someone over someone else. As the MSU President, I need to look at every platform and try to incorporate the standout points to resonate with all students.”
“It takes a certain amount of bravery to put your name on the ballot,” she continued. “All of the candidates exemplified this, just in different ways. In the end, we all agreed we wanted to make the student experience better.”
She joked, “Why can’t there be five MSU presidents?”
Though this won’t be a reality, the MSU President must work extensively with three Vice Presidents. Unlike the President, whose mandate is somewhat open to interpretation, the Vice Presidents have three respective roles in finance, administration and education.
“I am looking for VP’s that are different than myself,” she said. Comparing the MSU Board of Directors to a puzzle, Stewart stressed that the pieces must come together to form the picture. She is looking for people who see things, “in a unique perspective apart from my own, but when put together, they share the same vision.”
It is this vision, powered by the idea that there can be something for every student, despite the differences in opinions, despite the area of studies and despite the social scene, that makes Stewart excited. “It’s going to be a good year,” she said.
