Sabeeh Mirza & Kian Salek
(Tai Lyn Sandhu / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Sabeeh Mirza and Kian Salek hope to “S.P.A.R.K.” change with their campaign by bolstering community engagement and financial organization.
Mirza and Salek aim to bridge divisiveness by promoting greater collaboration within the USC community and with its surroundings.
“Our platform [is] about expanding community initiatives,” said Mirza, a sophomore majoring in political economy. “We’re … ensuring that people understand that USC does not exist in a vacuum, that we are part of the larger South Central L.A. community through ensuring that programs are able to continue helping schools.”
Mirza and Salek also plan on addressing daily needs of students and “ensuring that the budget is being used to the best of its ability.”
Ultimately, their platform is shaped by their diverse experiences.
“We both have very different perspectives on USC,” said Salek, a sophomore majoring in behavioral economics and psychology. “We’re able to see USC throughout its entirety.”
— Anya Motwani
Andrew Cardenas
(Henry Kofman / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Andrew Cardenas’ campaign is centered around increasing accessibility to student mental health services, reemphasizing sustainability efforts on campus and streamlining the Recognized Student Organization process for student groups.
“A lot of people also stigmatize a bunch of mental health fields here, and if it’s more easily accessible, then a lot of people can thrive, especially here, since it’s a top school,” said Cardenas, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience.
Cardenas has been drafting a proposal to USC Student Health to expand mental health services to be “more comfortable and less stigmatizing” for underrepresented communities.
Apart from his experience in student council before coming to USC, Cardenas has been influenced by his lived experiences as a first-generation student.
“I have a unique perspective on what it’s like to not have a voice … I could bring that intimately and advocate for a lot of [students],” Cardenas said.
— Anya Motwani
Disclaimer: Andrew Cardenas is an assistant sports editor for the Daily Trojan.
Kevin Hoang
(Ethan Thai / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Kevin Hoang, a freshman majoring in behavioral economics and psychology, says KFC doesn’t actually stand for “Kentucky Fried Chicken” — it stands for “Kevin For Change.” That’s exactly what Hoang intends to do if elected, proposing a fast food place — perhaps a Kentucky Fried Chicken — on campus.
“The dining hall closes at 10 p.m., and [Tutor Campus Center] closes around 4 p.m. … If you go a little off campus, it’s like 20-something dollars for Thai food,” Hoang said. “It’d be really beneficial if we had a cheap, accessible, fast and quick food resource for students.”
Hoang will also implement a financial aid student liaison and host a monthly Trojan Connections Night. He said his time as student body president in high school gave him advocacy and leadership experience.
“A lot of my ideas are cultivated and cumulative of what I’ve heard from my peers,” Hoang said. “I’m always ready to be an open ear … I’m just another ordinary student who wants to be a part of greater change at USC.”
— Alia Yee Noll
Moy Valdez
(Ethan Thai / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Moy Valdez, a junior majoring in political science, will prioritize USG’s visibility if elected. As a transfer student from California State University San Marcos, Valdez wants to ensure future students know how to get involved with USG.
After learning firsthand that USG does not allow guests in their office, Valdez wants to prioritize creating an open-door guest policy.
“Especially in a place that’s supposed to represent students, I find it outrageous that you can’t, as a student, just go into the office and meet people,” Valdez said.
Valdez served as student body president at CSUSM, interned for the United States Senate and the California State Senate, and worked as youth commissioner for Sacramento.
“I have a lot of experience when it comes to incremental change through board meetings, committee meetings, things like that,” Valdez said. “I want to show the student body that no matter what dream it is, whether it’s big or small, you can get it done through incremental change.”
— Alia Yee Noll
Jad Kilani & Zehran Muqtadir
(Ethan Thai / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Jad Kilani and Zehran Muqtadir want to elevate underclassmen voices. They have made promises such as bringing C&G Juice Co. acaí bowls back to the freshman meal swipe plan and ensuring USC hosts the involvement fair every semester.
“[The involvement fair is] imperative to keep students involved, to show them all the opportunities that they have here at USC,” said Muqtadir, a freshman majoring in public policy.
Kilani, a freshman majoring in political science, said they want to “pass resolutions that will urge the administration to be more transparent about their decisions” for reducing the National Merit Scholarship and cutting USC Volunteer Center funding.
With Kilani’s experience as a USG senator and Muqtadir’s experience interning for his congressman, the duo hopes to represent their underclassmen constituents well.
“There are certain reforms that here at USC, there’s a need to change,” Muqtadir said. “We bring a new, fresh voice.”
— Alia Yee Noll
Karim Debian & Justin Shih
(Henry Kofman / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Despite running as a pair, Karim Debian, a former deputy aide to former USG president Bryan Fernández, and Justin Shih, an aide to senator Ali Bhatti, have individual priorities: transfer student inclusion for Debian and food access for Shih.
“Transitioning from community college, where I was originally from, to obviously, this huge four-year school was extremely difficult,” said Debian, a sophomore majoring in business administration. “I didn’t have too many tools [or] too much aid to adjust myself, socially, academically and career wise.”
He proposed increased promotion of events for transfer students.
Shih’s top priorities meanwhile include increasing flexibility in student meal plans and obtaining EBT acceptance at locations including Seeds Marketplace and Starbucks.
“If you’re forcing students to be on the meal plan, you should give them maybe some different options,” said Shih, a sophomore majoring in artificial intelligence for business.
— Nicholas Corral
Sudeepta Murthy
(Henry Kofman / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Sudeepta Murthy sums up her platform with the acronym “C.A.R.E.,” focusing on campus resources and USG accessibility.
“When I come from an outside world and I come to meet this new world of college life, campus life, I can see where immediately my own needs and my friends’ needs are not met,” said Murthy, an aide to senator Jeremiah Boisrond and a freshman majoring in public policy. “A lot of what I want to work on in the future is more so focused on accessibility and making sure basic services are provided to students.”
Murthy proposes extending late-night hours for campus libraries and Tutor Campus Center restaurants to accommodate night classes. Her platform also includes provisions about improving the internal culture of USG.
“There’s also a disconnect within USG,” Murthy said. “I think we need more of a bonding, collaborative environment between senior officials and newer members, and that will encourage better policymaking.”
— Nicholas Corral
Mason Yonover
(Henry Kofman / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
USG senate candidate Mason Yonover says he “hate[s] USC” and is running “a campaign of indifference” to boost his resume.
“I need stuff for my resume, because I don’t really do anything … Maybe this will inspire some people who don’t give a shit to vote me in,” said Yonover, a sophomore majoring in creative writing. “Just to spite all the other losers who are running.”
Yonover said he decided to run after his own roommate launched a campaign for senate last fall.
In addition to saying he wanted students to be aware they could smoke on campus, Yonover listed getting rid of campus barriers and spreading awareness about the Holocaust through the USC Shoah Foundation.
“You’re not allowed to [smoke on campus], technically,” Yonover said. “Theoretically, if they were to catch you, you wouldn’t be allowed to. But as someone who does it all the time, I can guarantee you can smoke anywhere.”
— Nicholas Corral
Jeremiah Boisrond
(Henry Kofman / Daily Trojan. Modified.)
Jeremiah Boisrond is focused on increasing USG’s transparency, growing student visibility and maintaining open communication. As a sophomore majoring in legal studies, he is running for re-election and hopes to continue to build upon his progress.
Boisrond’s platform aims to amplify student voices to connect the University’s administration and students. According to Boisrond, whether it’s USC housing, allocation of funds or student safety, “it goes back to transparency.” He believes that USG “should be out, interacting with students, and [USG] should be proactive, not reactive.”
Boisrond plans to tackle resource accessibility with legal resources for students and more extensive food options on campus.
As a student government veteran, Boisrond has been able to see what has worked in USG and can pinpoint what he thinks he can improve.
“When it comes to what sets me apart, it’s my commitment and seriousness,” Boisrond said.
— Ava O’Connor
Senatorial candidates Christian Cook and Dakota Driemeyer did not respond to request for comment.
Correction: A previous version of this article improperly attributed nine photographs. The article was updated Feb. 14 at 2:32 p.m. to reflect the correct attributions. The Daily Trojan regrets this error.
