By Kassel Franco Garibay and Anna Gombert
Elections for Student Government president and vice president will take place on Friday, December 1 with Manny Lopez (’19) and Alessandra Le Pera (’20) running against Salma Mahmoud (’19) and Shehab Marzouk (’20).
Students will be able to vote online on the Path, or in person from 9 to 11 a.m. in Brothers College and from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. in the Ehinger Center. Donuts, candy and hot chocolate will be provided for all voters. The results will be announced on the same day via a posting in the Ehinger Center and online through Student Government’s social media. The new administration will assume office on Sunday, December 3, at 7 p.m., replacing the current Student Government president Jared Sutton.
On Wednesday, November 29, a presidential debate took place in the Commons moderated by The Drew’s Acorn Michael McCurry. Each candidate was allowed to make opening statements, answer questions and wrap up with closing remarks. The debate offered the Drew community an opportunity to hear more about both platforms and their plans for Student Government. Around 50 people were in attendance.
Lopez is a double major in Psychology and Spanish, and is a current senator for Student Government as well as the co-chair of ARIEL. The Lopez and LaPera platform focuses on topics such as open dialogue with departments on campus, dining, off-campus experiences including study abroad programs, the registrar, facilities, commuter students, and increasing school spirit and diversity. They also laid out that “One aspect we would like to change is the way people interact with their senators and student government,” in their platform.
Mahmoud, a double major in neuroscience and Spanish, is currently serving as the vice president of Student Government in Sutton’s second term in office. The main goals of the Mahmoud and Marzouk administrations are to “create greater sense of community through diversity and inclusion initiatives and school spirit” and “make constituents clear about what Student Government does around campus” according to their platform. They also want to address issues with commuter and transfer students, expanding connection to NYC, and dining options, among other things.
“I think the election is really healthy for the Drew campus, and both parties are very qualified for the position and bring a unique perspective to student government,” said Ty Ty Witten (’19). “I wish the best for the candidates and looking forward to knowing who will be our new leaders.”
Diversity is one of the major themes in both of the candidates’ platforms. “The candidates were all well spoken and seemed passionate about the Drew community and being inclusive for everyone,” said Brianna Vazquez-Smith (’19)
Image courtesy of Caitlin Shannon
