Fadil, Mehra aim to revamp sustainability
Lobbying for more vegetarian and kosher dining options, increasing the number of recycling bins in university housing and advocating for an updated web registration system are just some of the issues on Undergraduate Student Government presidential candidate Alex Fadil and vice presidential candidate Rohan Mehra’s platform.
Go green · Alex Fadil (right) and Rohan Mehra hope to create incentives to entice campus organizations to be more environmentally conscious. - Jennifer Schultz | Daily Trojan
A junior majoring in international relations (global business), Fadil is currently the executive vice president of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council and a member of Reverse Osmosis A Capella. Mehra, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, is currently the president of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. Together, they re-founded Pi Kappa Phi at USC in 2009.
Mehra said he thinks the pair’s involvement in a variety of organizations gives them an advantage.
“Alex and I are a very strong team because we have a lot of experience working together,” he said. “We’ve both been under the same pressures together, and we know how to handle huge situations and work as a team to get things done.”
Fadil and Mehra said uniting the different communities at USC is key to implementing change.
“It’s really all about uniting the school,” Fadil said. “A lot of people don’t have the best notion of what USG does and what resources are available. We want to unite the schools, fraternities and the commuters.”
Neither Fadil nor Mehra have been part of USG, but they don’t think their lack of experience will be an issue in their campaign.
“USG is very internal,” Fadil said. “We want to add an outsider’s perspective and bring student voices to USG.”
They said sustainability is one of the big items on their platform. Not only do Fadil and Mehra hope to increase the number of recycling bins on campus, but they also hope to create incentives for students to be more sustainable, such as intra-organization competitions.
“If students are talking about green things in everyday conversation, that will move our student body to consider that as well,” Mehra said.
If elected, Fadil and Mehra hope to improve communication between the student body and student government to increase transparency and to encourage more people to get involved with USG. One way they plan to expand involvement is by sending out short e-mails that highlight USG activities.
“We want to send out bi-weekly or monthly school-wide e-mails with what USG is doing, what USG plans on doing and how you can get involved,” Mehra said.
The most important thing to Fadil, however, is making students happy and serving as the middleman between students and the administration.
“I want to be the voice of this student body and represent them for all things USC, and I want to be the best person I can be for the rest of the school,” Fadil said. “We want to know what to do to get the most out of the student voice and whether or not we’re understanding that voice to the best of our capability.”
Mehra said the pair hopes to make an impact on the school through student government and to push for issues students care about by becoming the leaders of the school.
“We both love our school, and we really enjoy our time here,” Mehra said. “Maybe it’s about time for us to make as big a positive footprint so that everyone else will have a good time and love the school as much as we have.”
The campaign process isn’t a burden to either Fadil or Mehra. Rather, the duo said they find it enjoyable and fun.
“It’s not an overwhelming amount of work,” Fadil said. “When I feel passionate about something, I go for it all the way.”
For more election coverage, check out the latest USG news here.
The question is how responsive have the current USG members been to the student body and what have they actually accomplished. If you are satisfied with their past actions, no problem, vote for them. If the majority of
what you have received is lip service, new blood and passion is a viable alternative.
Go Alex! Voting for you
The presdient and vice president candidate don’t have USG experience but they are arrogant enough to claim USG is internal. To an outsider, it would be internal. The President’s position is not something you just run for without learning about USG. Other candidates have paid their dues. I don’t see their experience on the issues or much experience at all. For candidates with a Green initiative, it is surprising that nothing on their sustainability is highlighted in the article. Where is their history of involvement with a Climate Change organization if they are passionate about moving the university towards sustainability. The environment is a real issue and not to be used for personal gain and convenience.
Neither the presdient or vice president candidate has USG experience yet they show such arrogance to claim USG is internal. To an outsider, it would be internal. The President’s position is not something you just run for without learning about USG. Other candidates have paid their dues. I don’t see their experience on the issues or much experience at all. For candidates with a Green initiative, it is surprising that nothing on their sustainability is highlighted in the article. The Golden Key is not a very meaningful honors society, and I would rather see their involvement with a Climate Change organization if they are passionate about moving the university towards sustainability. Otherwise, it is a campagn ploy. The environment is a real issue and not to be used for personal gain or convenience.
I take that back…I didn’t seem to read the whole article. They look like they’re well versed on their campaign issues and want to bring legitimate change to USC.
who are these guys? they have no usg experience. they will absolutely not be getting my vote.