Class of 2030 Senator (7 Seats)
Tobias Haxhi,
Hi everyone, my name is Tobias Haxhi, and I'm running for class of 2030 Senate. I want to start with a question: how many of you actually know what Tufts Senate does? If your answer was something along the lines of “I don’t really know…” That's the gap I want to close. I'm not running on one big issue. While there are things I'm interested in changing such as Dining experience, Housing problems, Registration dilemmas, etc. I'm running because I believe every student deserves to feel like their voice actually reaches the people making decisions on their behalf. So here's what that looks like in practice: I'm putting a form directly in my Instagram bio. Anyone, whether you know me or not, can use it to send me questions, raise concerns, or set up time to actually talk. No wondering if anyone's listening. Just a direct line, open all the time. If you elect me, you're getting someone who's building a real channel between you and the people making decisions about your Tufts experience. Let's shrink that distance. Let's make the Senate feel like it belongs to all of us, not just the people already in the room. Thank you.
Joey Vernet
I came to Tufts because Tufts represents a place where people are encouraged to be civically engaged with the world’s issues, whether those issues are local or global. During my first few weeks here, my observations have made me even more passionate about making sure that civic engagement does not just stop with just learning theory, having the right conversations, and especially not with performing activism! I think it is important to represent student VOICES and VALUES through actionable change, leading by example and not through empty promises. I am willing to put in the pain for change and will think critically and work tirelessly to look at both sides of concerns made by students. I am also willing to humble myself since I may not know everything. That is why your VOICE matters! Students should not have to feel the need to fight tirelessly to simply be heard and accounted for! They should feel VISIBLE, and the Senate should feel VISIBLE to students as well. I’m from Brockton, Massachusetts, where its rich diversity opened me to many different perspectives. I’d love to bring that same openness to the Tufts Community as your 2030 Senator. Voices. Values. Visibility. Vote Vernet!
Kirin Fitzpatrick
My name is Kirin Fitzpatrick. I am running for Senate 2030 to work overtime for our community. I will work towards banning construction near dorms from 9pm-9am, securing further discounts on textbooks, and further communication between Senate and student body. I will also fight for more opportunities on and off campus, for fun and career growth. I work at the career center and will partner with them to bring more enrichment activities on campus that help students gain employment skills. Students need someone that won’t just fight for their daily issues, but also their long term goals and college opportunities.
Bill O’Connor
In my short time on this campus I’ve noticed a few big problems that plague the freshman class, and I find them to be some relatively easy solutions to implement. Coming from Phillips Exeter Academy, I’ve been in the boarding world for years and understand the improvements that could be made to improve quality of life across campus.
I. Water Filters on every floor. The inconvenience of waiting for a single water filter in dorms of over two-hundred people can be frustrating, especially when there is a time crunch for class. More evenly dispersed filters will alleviate that, and reduce plastic waste on campus by encouraging reusable water bottles.
II. Pest control. I know you've heard horror stories of friends finding cockroaches in their dorm rooms. Pest control is easy with a simple and proactive plan. With proper attention it will be easy to make our dorms and communities pest free.
III. Printers in Dorms. Having to go to Tisch (which is sometimes closed) to print out papers, especially for early classes the next day, can be aggravating. Having more widespread access to printers, especially in larger dorms, would mitigate student stress.
He fits the Bill
Sylvia London
I’m running for TCU senate because of my passion for advocacy and making a real difference. I value intention and impact across everything I do, and I know that being a TCU Senator will allow me to make a difference on campus. I want to support, empower, and give a voice to students, and I hope to work alongside fellow senators and the class of 2030 to turn conversations into tangible change on campus. My platform is centered around access to mental health resources, extended hours for retail dining locations on campus, and promoting transparency between Senate and students through town-hall inspired, open forum meetings. Check out my social media for further details about me and my platform. Let’s make Tufts a better place, together!
Rosie Ounsworth
I am running for TCU Senate because of my desire to help create positive change in the Tufts community by initiating or enacting policies based on the needs and wants of my peers. As a TCU Senator, I plan to implement three main areas of criteria, starting with allowing students to see professors’ syllabi before enrollment. This would help students actually determine if a class is right for them. I’d also like to improve straws at the Kindlevan Café, as freshmen report poor quality paper straws at Kindlevan Café that make students have to use multiple straws for their drinks. The environmental benefits of using paper straws is then reduced, as students have to overuse straws. Finally, the TCU Senate plays an important role in the livelihood of Tufts students. Because of this, I propose an online “What’s Senate Doing?” platform where students can see TCU Senate missions and productivity while also being able to submit requests and ideas. Ultimately, I’m extremely excited to be running for TCU Senate for the Class of 2030. I hope to get to know my classmates better throughout the campaigning process in order to best represent my class.
Kurt Raymond
I’m running for senate because i believe that we deserve more from our university. We deserve a more affordable campus, including a system to provide university-funded laundry in every dorm on campus. Our RAs deserve protection from an administration seeking to eliminate their jobs for the crime of unionizing. Likewise, we deserve protections for all labor unions on campus, from librarians to dining workers to professors, to ensure our campus runs safely and smoothly. And finally, we deserve a campus free from Flock cameras and mass surveillance. We deserve these things because Tufts isn’t the greedy administration squeezing it dry for profit, Tufts is the workers and students who live and breathe it every day.
Catalina McGraw
Hi everyone! I’m Catalina McGraw, and I’m running to be your TCU Senator because I believe in the power of your voices, and I want to be your advocate.
I believe transparency is essential for establishing trust, & I want to establish accurate transparency between students, TCU, and administration. For example, students can’t trust OEO because we don’t know how they handle reports! OEO needs to publish and promote their policies, as well as work with student representatives so students can feel assured that reports are dealt with accurately and that people are held responsible. I also want to expand academic opportunities at Tufts by advocating for new Psychology and International Relations minors. As a university founded on liberal arts values, it’s vital that students are afforded every opportunity to supplement their studies with interdisciplinary coursework. Finally, I want to ensure up-to-date facilities. Did you know that Carm shut down for 2 months last year? One of our two main dining halls shouldn’t be shut down twice in a year. I will advocate for routine maintenance checks so we can stop problems before they start.
If you want change, vote Catalina for Senate. Change starts with Catalina.
Abdullah AlJuboori
I am running for the 2030 freshmen senate seat, because I want the voice of the 2030 class to be heard from the very beginning.
My goal is to make the campus especially for the freshmen welcoming, accepting of others and connected, and I think the first way of achieving that is going over the first challenge which is that freshmens don’t believe their voices would reach the upper classmates or the members of the Tufts senate so I want to gap this bridge and build trust within my class that no voice will go unheard
As everyone moves into campus and gets settled in they start noticing stuff they want to change or alter, and I want to be the person that is able to make a difference by taking their notes and being able to do change
Additionally, I don’t wanted to become a senator just for the the title of senator, I want to be a freshmen senator because I want my class to have someone to be able to approach, to talk to you, complain to, or even just talk about how they are feeling in tufts. I
f elected I want to be able to make a change and in 4 years time look back and be proud of everything that was done and achieved in benefiting the tufts community
Akash Shah
I’m Akash Shah, and I’m running for TCU Senate to make our new home of Tufts University the best place for the student experience it can be. My platform ensures we have the most comfortable and productive time here:
1) Res Quad construction starts AFTER 9 AM, not before. No more jackhammer alarm clocks. 2) VIRTUAL STUDENT IDs, to make dining swipes and res hall life so much less clunky. Plus, fewer costly lockouts.
3) FEEDBACK FORMS for ALL dining halls, so you can give YOUR input on the meals of the day.
4) CUBBIES for ALL dormitory bathrooms. No more carrying around wet caddies.
5) Insert YOUR idea here! I want to hear from every student and make Tufts the best home for ALL of us.
I will be a senator for ALL students, and I look forward to meeting and listening to EVERY ONE of you. Vote $hah for Senate!
Femi Ayo-Oyebade
Hello Class of 2030! My name is Obafemi Ayo-Oyebade(I go by Femi) and I am running to represent our class in TCU Senate.
In all honesty, apart from the clubs I led in high school, I have no prior student government experience- mostly because my school didn't offer it. Despite this, I'm running for one major reason: to strengthen the voice of the student body. I believe that every student's voice deserves to be heard loud and clear. My platform focuses on improvements, such as dining hall and meal swipe reforms-including expanded meal swipe equivalency or weekend hours for place like Hodge and Kindlevan- and also free printing on campus. Ultimately, my greater focus will always be whatever issues you find most pressing. Remember to vote Femi for Seni, because every student deserve a right to a greater college experience!
Timothy Srunn
Hello beloved Class of 2030! My name is Timothy Srunn, I'm from Bentonville Arkansas, and I'm running to be YOUR senator for this Fall's TCU election. With me representing your voice, nothing will EVER be Timpossible.
I want to emphasize how much I value representing you. Ever since I began student council in high school, I've found that working for and representing the student body is one of my biggest passions. I want to know what you love about Tufts. I want to know what drives you absolutely insane, even if I'm somehow involved in it. This profession is about listening. This position is an opportunity to learn more about each one of you and most importantly, putting out those great ideas. I want to use my creativity to the fullest, finding every possible way to turn a good idea into something we can implement. Focus groups, coldcalls, town halls, anonymous suggestion boxes/forms, you name it. I cannot guarantee every one of your suggestions will come to fruition. But I will guarantee that I will love them. I will put in the work. And I will tell you that nothing is TIMPOSSIBLE!!!!
@tufftimmyfortufts2030 - campaign info
Will Lorian
I want to join TCU Senate because I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, and want to help make Tufts a better experience for current and future students. Helping ensure that students have a voice in the evolution of school policies is incredibly important to me. I love getting to know people and hearing different perspectives and feel I can bring a fresh perspective shaped by my experiences in various clubs, sports, music, and hobbies.
I’m prepared to represent my peers. As a track captain in high school, I learned to lead, support teammates, understand their needs, and organize events. I also served on my high school’s Disciplinary Committee, where my peers chose me to represent and defend the student perspective in discussions with faculty. Additionally, my senior class elected me to deliver our commencement address, which taught me the importance of representing people who place trust in you.
If elected, I want to create an anonymous form that allows students to share ideas they would like to have brought to TCU. I would use that feedback with TCU to prioritize initiatives, including accessible recreational activities, casual social events, better gym equipment, and feminine products in all dorm bathrooms.
Grey Collins
Hi Jumbos! My name is Grey Collins, and I’m running for the Tufts Senate because I hope to be a voice for freshmen on campus and work hard to improve our college experience. I’m running because I believe we need more transparency and accountability in our student government.
I’m also running because I believe we need to open Hodge seven days a week, to give students more opportunities to eat healthy food and get jobs on campus, open dining halls later in the evenings, and put ice cream cones (gluten free) in the Carmichael dining hall.
I’m also running because I know that we need higher standards of living in our freshman residence halls. Other issues with mold, insects, and other problems need to be handled much quicker. I intend to set up a direct student-living hotline with the TCU, so we can respond to your concerns much faster. Another thing I’m very passionate about is funding the arts, because they are the life-blood of our campus. Funding arts groups and programs on campus will be a top priority.
If elected, I will give it my all and focus on serving you and making this the best four years possible.
Noel Yi
My name is Noel Yi and I’m running for 2030 Class Senator to ensure that your wellbeing is taken care of. My priorities are to increase access to supportive resources, tackle campus inefficiencies, and re-evaluate student costs. Specifically, I want to prevent pests, reduce mailroom congestion, and minimize laundry costs. I care about your day-to-day inconveniences, because “tiny” issues are still ones that add up over time to impact our mental health.
For any Jumbo who needs medical attention, I will streamline the process of finding nearby providers covered under our Student Health Insurance Plan. Beyond that, I will work to increase the awareness and usability of JumboLife (our student organization website), helping students find the right clubs and e-boards promote their club’s longevity.
College life is taxing sometimes, so my ultimate priority is to take something off your plate. What I have loved most about my time here is seeing other students get excited when they talk about their interests. My wish is that nobody ever needs to dim that spark out of exhaustion
Justin Spitzer
Candidate did not submit headshot
I am interested in running for TCU senate because I’ve been interested in education policy for a long time. Coming from a “college town” in Durham, NC that never felt too connected to the university there, I realized what it’s like when a school ignores its community, and part of the reason I chose Tufts was because I saw this university as the opposite of that. However, I’m running because I think there’s room to do better, from securing programs like TUPIT that the community relies on, to enhancing administration transparency so people feel more involved and represented, to finally coming up with creative ways to get students to love Medford-Somerville, I want to run so that I can make the Tufts community even stronger.
Zoey Qin
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I'm running for TCU student government because it's the organization that hundreds of student organizations look to as the first point of contact. I find it remarkable that Tufts is able to host so many clubs open to the student body, and the TCU is a big part of making the environment friendly and accessible. Budget approvals, constitutions, and proactively creating initiatives that will benefit the student body are all pivotal to academic and social life at Tufts.
A lot of the time, I think this work can be "behind the scenes" or less clear for the student body. It's important that TCU is not an enigma, and while a lot of work has already been put forth by previous classes to increase transparency, this is something I would like to continue working on with the class of 2030. (For instance, coming into Tufts, I didn't know how the TCU was broken down until I did independent research.)
Finally, I know that voter turnout for TCU elections last year was relatively low at about 13%. I would make it a goal to try to increase voter turnout and overall student engagement between TCU and the student body as a whole.
Mason Dewk
Candidate did not Submit a headshot
I am running for TCU Senator because I believe Tufts can work better for the needs of the Class of
2030.
If elected, one of my biggest priorities will be to work with administration to end non-emergency construction near Houston, Miller and Carmichael Halls between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
I also want to work with Tufts to modernize SIS and make it more mobile-friendly. Registering for classes and managing should not feel outdated or complicated. I will work to make SIS more mobile.
I will work to create a special swipe at the campus store for everyday necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, and other essentials.
Additionally, I will push for maintenance surveys and a better way for students to report and track maintenance issues.
Most importantly, I want it to be easy for you to reach me and know what’s actually happening in the Senate. Every week, I’ll send out a Google Form where anyone in the Class of 2030 can submit a problem or idea they want brought up.
You bring me the problems, and I’ll bring them to the Senate to help make the transition to college smoother for everyone.
Vote Mason Dwek for TCU Senator.
Will Ayers
Canididate did not submit headshot
Since coming to Tufts, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most passionate and driven people I know. The future of this university fundamentally lies in the perspectives and revolutionary ideas that come from these very students. Unfortunately, without proper representation, this university is bound to fall victim to its own biases. As a TCU Senator, I will not simply listen to the Tufts student body; I will truly hear what students have to say. From serving as a class representative to becoming President of the New Hampshire Association of Student Councils, I have spent over four years in student government. During this time, I have worked with students from many different backgrounds, serving their best interests by learning from them and hearing what they have to say. If you ask yourself ‘Who will hear me?’, ‘Who will have my interests at heart?’, ‘Who will bring my concerns to the table?’ The answer is: Will will!
Joann Yamoah
Canididate did not submit headshot
I am running for TCU because I want to be an active voice for my classmates and help make everyday student life a little easier.
One issue I hope to work on is dining swipes. Many students do not use all of their swipes each semester, and I would like to talk with administrators about whether there is a way for students to get more value from the swipes they have already paid for.
I also want to explore late-night study events during midterms and finals. These are stressful times of the semester, and I think creating small opportunities for students to take a break, grab something to eat, and feel connected to the community could make a real difference.
Finally, I want to advocate for more accessible basic necessities on campus. I especially think menstrual products should be readily available in bathrooms across campus.
These are a few things I would like to work toward, but I also want to be a representative who listens before deciding what students need. I am not running just to hold a position. I want to show up, listen to my classmates, communicate their concerns, and work with TCU and administrators to find realistic solutions.