Victoria Silman | News Editor
Featured Image: The campaign period for the YFS election is underway, spanning from February 4 to 15. | Fatema Ali
White and blue posters litter the campus, and students have begun to notice: it’s YFS election season.
With the campaign period officially underway, beginning February 4 and spanning until February 15, those vying for a position in the YFS are making themselves known. Two slates are dominating the election sphere: the well-known UniteYU, and the newly-formed Vision. One independent candidate, Abdeali Saherwala, is running for director of Environmental Studies against Vision’s Anushka Karmalkar.
Running for president are Vision’s Noam Sibony, and UniteYU’s Fatima Babiker. Running for VP executive positions are: Vision’s Daniel Muntaner—well-known on campus as ‘Fedora Guy’—against UniteYU’s Mutaz Elhawash for VP Campus Life, and Vision’s Celia Lewin against UniteYU’s Azinwi Saningong for VP Equity.
Due to a lack of candidates, UniteYU’s Jasmine Hawamdeh has been acclaimed VP Campaigns and Advocacy, while Aaron Suresh, of the same party has been acclaimed VP Operations.
UniteYU has seen victory throughout past elections, including last year’s, which saw all executive candidates win. With the current YFS executives belonging to this party, students can expect similar goals for the incoming candidates, should they be elected.
Babiker, a third-year biomedical science student says: “I’m excited to be running for president with an incredible team. I’m looking forward to speaking with students about everything we’re hoping to do for them, should we be elected.”
Furthermore, UniteYU hopes to better student experiences at York. “UniteYU is comprised of like-minded progressive students who are hoping to bring change to York. Through our platform, we are looking forward to enhancing the student experience at York and accurately representing students and their needs,” Babiker says.
According to their website, the party is hoping to achieve five major points for the student population, including: lobbying for a universal transit pass between transit providers, extended access to campus libraries, re-launching the METRAC Campus Safety Audit, lobbying against the requirement of doctor’s notes for missed exams, and continuing to fight for free and accessible education with hopes of introducing a Student Strike Vote in 2019.
Vision released a statement on February 5, which outlined the goals of the party, with major focus on: accessibility; implementing online voting for future elections; invoking transparency in tuition spending, including third-party background audits; introducing YFS grants, scholarships, and/or bursaries to give back to students; and increasing club funding.
Lewin, a third-year biomedical science student, says she hopes to create a more accessible campus. “I am running with Team Vision because this group truly cares about representing students and creating change,” she says.
“I plan to work towards getting the busses back to York, which is something I have been advocating for since August. As well, I want to add more gender neutral washrooms and buttons on all lecture hall and washroom doors. Students with physical disabilities should be able to access their education with dignity and independence,” Lewin adds.
The voting period begins February 12, and will extend until the final campaign day, February 15. Voting booths will be set up at several locations across campus.
