Class of 2029 Senator (7 Seats)
henry almoney
My name is Henry Almoney, and I am running for your Class of 2029 TCU Senate! Serving as a Tufts senator would be a great privilege, as well as a chance for me to actively make change on our campus. I've held many leadership positions, such as seven years on student council, two years as my school's speech and debate president, and two years on my cities TEDx leadership committee. I’m ready to bring that experience to the Tufts Senate and work passionately for our community.
After speaking with the class of 2029, I found many ways in which Tufts can be better for everyone. I would like to:
Implement a Tufts sponsored Charlie Card to have cheaper access to Boston,
Improve the pre-matriculation credit system to allow more transfer credits
Open Hodge on Saturdays,
Improve our bathrooms with ventilation, better toilet paper, and free menstruation products across campus.
Follow me on Instagram @Henry4tufts-senate, and reach out with any questions, comments or concerns. I hope I can count on your vote for TCU senate Class of 2029!
sanya bandekar
Hi everyone! I’m Sanya, one of your TCU senate candidates! I’ll keep this short: I aim to lead with humility and integrity. As your senator I will work to improve dining by extending Hodge hours to weekends and improving their food options, implement discounts for bringing reusable tumblers to the Sink, Hotung, and Kindlevan, and advertise a regular student input survey to get your opinions on what YOU want to eat. I will advocate in the maintenance space with bathroom cleaning on weekends and expanding access to menstrual products. I will push for more funding for club sports so you don’t have to pay out of pocket for meets and games, and advocate for subsidized printing and textbooks as a necessity for classes. Mailing systems will work to be reformed through rentable heavy-item carts, and allowing weekend drop-boxes for quicker deliveries. I will work with TCU to bring weekend local markets to campus for students to get food, perishable goods, and bring thrift pop-ups so YOU can trade used goods (and make some money!)
No one of our voices is more important than another. Yours deserves to be heard AND implemented in our Tufts family. Vote Sanya.
Christina bowley
Hi everyone! My name is Christina Bowley, and I’m running for Freshman Representative in TCU Senate. I want to make Tufts a place where every student feels heard, supported, and able to thrive. Some of my priorities include bringing ice cream cones to Carm (because small joys matter), expanding financial assistance for textbooks so they’re more affordable, and making meal swipes usable at Tower Cafe and Commons Marketplace for greater flexibility. Most importantly, I’m committed to promoting equity across campus, ensuring every student has the resources and opportunities to succeed. Together, we can make Tufts not only an incredible place to learn, but also a true home for all of us.
elle chassin
Hi everyone! I’m Elle Chassin, and I’m running to be your Freshman Representative on TCU Senate. Coming to Tufts, I’ve been inspired by how much energy, creativity, and care this community has—and I want to make sure our student government reflects that spirit.
Imagine a Tufts where every student is seen: free menstrual products in every bathroom, open dining hours that actually work for SMFA students, and clearer answers and expanded options for our meal swipes and JumboCash. Let’s create a campus where quesadillas are actually at Hodge, there are more trashcans, and JumboLife is fully updated and detailed! Imagine a campus with even more ways to connect, from TVs in Miller for watch parties to footballs and rackets you can grab from Tisch to start a game.
But more than policies, I want Senate to be a place where your voice drives the change—where what matters to you doesn’t get buried in meetings but turns into action. That’s the Tufts we can build. Let’s get started: Chassin a Better Tufts together.
#womeninsenate
naya chopra
I am running for class senator because I am passionate about transforming student life at Tufts through meaningful advocacy and hands-on leadership. My experiences—leading student organizations, mentoring peers to find their voice, and championing equitable public policy—have prepared me to make a tangible difference on campus. At HB, I learned to move past my introverted beginnings and became a vocal advocate for positive change, starting initiatives that uplifted my peers and addressed real needs. Whether spearheading data-driven projects in Green Club or leading confidence-building workshops for girls, I’ve approached every challenge with empathy and collaboration. On campus, Hodge On-the-Go is a vital food hall and retail space for students needing quick, accessible options. As your senator, I will push for practical reforms that matter: expanding access to free menstrual products so no student is forced to choose between education and basic needs, installing more trash cans to keep our campus clean, ensuring full financial transparency, and fighting for the ability to use meal swipes at all Tufts Dining locations—including retail venues like Hodge—for greater convenience and food equity. Chop to it and vote for me!
Aieda gao
Hi, I PROMISE THAT YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER SENATE CANDIDATE LIKE ME & HERE’S WHY!
I’m Aieda Gao, the only candidate from the SMFA campus who lives on Beacon Street! I go to Medford 5 days a week, so I’m really familiar with both of our beautiful campuses. I understand the difference in both of them (e.g, Medford got better laundry machines, while SMFA already has free feminine products at restrooms), and I’m more than willing to bridge that gap—so no more coin-required laundry machines at SMFA, free feminine products in Medford restrooms, and more shuttles during class rush hours for everyone!” Voting for me will be a choice you never regret, and I’ll be so honored to be your choice and serve our beautiful Tufts community.
sai komma
I’m Sai Komma, and I am running for Senate. Small changes make big differences — that’s my vision for Tufts. I will push for the things we all care about: more late-night dining, AC in dorms, and better support for getting into research and clubs. I also want to start fun traditions like a freshman formal or a school-wide dance. At the end of the day, I want to represent our class and make sure freshmen’s voices are heard.
alejandro madero
Candidate did not send a headshot to ECOM before the deadline.
One of my favorite things is making life better for those around me. In the senate, I will focus on improving the quality of life at Tufts University. I am also an engineering student, which gives me a unique perspective on issues, bringing a more inclusive atmosphere to the student government. As a senator, I will take time to walk around campus and engage in meaningful conversations with students in order to find out what issues matter most (like adding shade to hodge) and make those priorities on the agenda. For those reasons, I seek candidacy for the TCU Senate.
anjali mishra
Do you want a weekly shuttle to Target? My name is Anjali Mishra, and I am running to be your class senator to help make that happen!
Throughout high school, I served on the student council and was class vice president. From creating a hot chocolate bar to planning formal dances, I have gained extensive experience in planning and executing events. If elected, I have multiple ideas I would like to implement on campus. Within a dorm, I would like to add ice machines and a small amount of sports equipment, so you don’t lose time or convenience while staying active. Additionally, I would like to establish a weekly shuttle to Target, providing you with free transportation to a convenient location where you can easily purchase necessities. Finally, I hope to install TVs in all dorm common rooms, allowing students to enjoy sports games, movies, and more together!
Strong communication is the forefront of my campaign. Tufts offers many resources, and I want to ensure that the information is easily accessible and the technology is user-friendly for all.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration! Vote Anjali!
jasmine pun
Running for TCU Senate means actively listening, learning, and advocating for all students—regardless of background or need. In high school, I led organizations like the Black Women’s Affinity and the Affinity Student Leadership Council, gaining experience in uplifting diverse student voices and bringing concerns into decision-making spaces. Beyond leadership, my personal journey has shaped me in ways that make me ready to serve. I spent high school living away from home, teaching me independence, responsibility, and how to advocate for myself while building support systems. Additionally, growing up in a large household with six siblings meant learning how to balance needs, resolve conflicts, and support others with empathy and patience. These experiences give me a grounded, people-first approach to leadership—one I’ll bring to the Senate.
Although Tufts is a place of excellence, there’s always room to grow. If elected, I want to help reimagine key areas of student life: expanding access to mental health services, revitalizing underused spaces like the field behind the Courts, and strengthening first-year advising systems so new students feel more academically confident.
I’m running with dedication, experience, and love for our community. Tufts isn’t just where we study—it’s our home.
Let’s Jazz Up Tufts with Jasmine!
hailey renick
My name is Hailey Renick, and I’m running to be your Class of 2029 Senator. My priorities are your voice, your health, and your Tufts. Your voice should be at the center of every Senate decision. I'll begin by implementing a weekly survey to gather student feedback on dining hall options, so you see more of what you love. For your health, installing a Harm Reduction Vending Machine in the Campus Center stocked with resources like first aid basics, drink testing strips, drink covers, and feminine care products ensures that safety is always within reach. These are small steps that can make a big difference in keeping our community safe and cared for. To make Tufts feel like home, I'll work to make campus easier to navigate with better video resources of dorms, more interactive campus maps showing study spaces and interior images of buildings, and clearer signage around campus about meal plans, so you feel confident with every step. Rely on Renick for a Tufts where every student feels heard, healthy, and at home.
olin rose-bardawil
You deserve to have leadership that does more than just approve the decisions made by upperclassmen and administrators. And you also deserve more than lofty ideals with few plans behind them—you deserve true action and accountability. By voting for Olin Rose-Bardawil as one of your freshman senators, you’ll be getting just that. Olin has some great goals when it comes to dining hall improvements, financial access, inclusion, and more. But more importantly, he has some things that most candidates don’t: real experience. Real plans. An understanding of how to approach leadership effectively—and what approaches to avoid.
Do you think you pay too much for everyday necessities at Tufts? Olin has the best plan to tackle that. Do you think we can do a better job protecting and defending our international students? Olin has a plan for that. Do you worry that your senators may not be accountable and transparent? Well, Olin will be. Because for him, it’s not just about a campaign. It’s about YOU. Olin is the leader Tufts deserves.
I humbly ask for your vote, knowing this position will not be without its challenges but that with your help, WE can get the job done.
jacob schlessman
This campus was founded to be a light on the hill for all of Boston. But today, once the sun sets, that light goes out. Tufts students are forced to trek to lesser schools throughout Boston for social events via long subway rides and unreasonably priced Ubers. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Our campaign believes that increasing the number of clubs and organizations hosting social events off and on campus can help solve this problem. I want to establish a fund that organizations can tap into to subsidize the cost of hosting these events. As a freshman senator I hope to:
Increase Senate support for social clubs/events
Put a Pec Deck (Chest fly) in the Gym
Get Hodge open Friday evening
Get more attachments for the gym & a rack to place them on
I seek to represent the interests of the class of 2029, and ideas like this one are just the start of solutions we believe are feasible answers to the questions our school faces. Join me this fall as we reignite the light on this hill. Vote Schlessman for freshmen!
jonathan schwartz
Candidate did not send a headshot to ECOM before the deadline.
Tufts University was built on top-tier academia, research, and student activism. I am running for TCU because I want to be a representative who listens, communicates, and works to turn student concerns into meaningful action. Student government should not only be a voice, but also a bridge between students and administration, and I want to help strengthen that bridge.
If elected, I hope to focus on initiatives that directly improve everyday student life. Some of my priorities include: advocating for a second gym on campus to relieve overcrowding, pushing for better dorm air conditioning to improve living conditions, and working to secure more funding for club sports so that students can pursue their passions without barriers. While these are only starting points, my broader goal is to be approachable and collaborative, making sure students feel heard and supported.
I have prior experience in a student senate, where I was a governing chair in my high school’s student government. In that role, I helped bring back the homecoming dance and worked closely with faculty and students to address campus-wide needs. Beyond student government, I have held leadership positions in service organizations, academic clubs, and community initiatives, experiences that have taught me how to listen, build consensus, take action, and create progress.
Most importantly, I am passionate about Tufts and the people who make it special. I want to use my time, energy, and experience to make tangible improvements for all students. Serving on TCU would be an honor, and I am committed to representing the student body with sincerity, dedication, and ambition.
seung-hwan shin
My campaign pillars are realistic, practical, and focused on improving daily student life.
Better Toilet Paper: Time is money, no student should spend extra minutes folding flimsy one-ply. We pay Tufts thousands to learn, not to sit in the bathroom at 11 p.m. fighting cheap paper.
Free Menstrual Products: Just like condoms and birth control in vending machines, pads and tampons are basic health necessities. Access is about dignity, equity, and health. Periods are predictable, unavoidable, and disproportionately affect students who menstruate. If the university subsidizes condoms, a monthly need for far fewer students, it can provide menstrual products in every bathroom.
Extended Dining Hall Hours: Tufts Senate already extended gym hours. Now, let’s do the same for dining halls so students with late classes or labs can still eat a proper dinner.
Expanded Cultural Classes: To truly move past Eurocentric education, Tufts must expand courses beyond China and Japan to include diverse Eastern, African, and Indigenous perspectives, enriching all students’ global understanding.
mignote taddese
Candidate did not send a headshot to ECOM before the deadline.
I would like to run for TCU student government as I am extremely interested in ensuring people from all backgrounds are represented and heard in their beliefs no matter how small. Living in Dubai has offered me a wide range of perspectives and beliefs that have helped me understand how to better stimulate students from different backgrounds. Additionally, living in Dubai has taught me the importance of celebrating differences within activities such as community wide Iftars celebrating Muslim students or a tree lighting ceremony that celebrated the importance of celebrating with loved ones. If elected I would prioritize ensuring students are able to discover new projects and events that help improve student life here at Tufts that foster cross collaboration and bring the Tufts community together!
linda tong
Hii fellow freshmen, I’m Linda Tong.
I don’t make empty promises. Every initiative I propose may seem small, but it’s realistic, practical, and designed to make your dorm life better ASAP.
My main projects are:
Stock bug spray + install individual shelf in every shower
Anonymous Quiet Hour Reminder using mobile-controlled lightbulbs in common areas.
Dehumidifier for cockroach prevention
Hot water dispenser /dorm for period relief
Mop station /floor
These aren’t just ideas—I’ve fully planned each project with details, costs, and clear strategies to convince the school to fund them. (Check my full plans on ig: @linda4senate_2029)
Could I promise bold, high-impact changes? Absolutely—I want those too. But I won’t make promises I can’t deliver right now. I’ll start with solutions that are achievable and improve your daily life. And if I’m elected Senator, with more influence and leverage, I’ll fight for the transformative changes we all want.
I work hard and follow through with dedication— Student government experience, 44/45 on the IB exam, Dance Team Captain, and President of two clubs. I’m a listener, a leader, and someone who turns blueprints into reality.
Vote for Linda Tong. I’ll do the work—you’ll see the results.
luke wakeman
Have you ever woken up for your 8 a.m. class and just wanted some ice water or iced coffee before class, but didn’t have an ice machine in your dorm to use? Well, my name’s Luke Wakeman and I’m here to solve that problem… and many more.
Five Facts About Me:
I’m from Kansas City, Kansas
I was the Kansas Boys State Governor
For the past 6 years, I worked my own lawn business, mowing 12 lawns a week.
I recently went to England as an ambassador for the U.S. Air Force
I was NHS VP and ran over 10 different drives, getting more than 4000 donations in total
My 5 five main goals as your Tuft’s senator are:
Ice-Machines in all dorms
Carpet Cleaning in all dorms
A Minor in IR
Cheaper Vending Machines
Quality Toilet Paper around the school
I hope I can win your vote for the Senate election, and hopefully next time I see you, I’ll be hauling Ice Machines into the dorms!
sydni wheeler
Sydni Wheeler, a Louisiana native and hopeful Political Science and Education major, is no stranger to servant leadership. Whether facilitating youth discussions at an arts rehabilitation center, leading volunteers for one of Louisiana’s largest street festivals or advocating for mental health through poetry, she’s always believed in meeting people where they are and building solutions together.
Her campaign “Sincerely, Sydni: Let’s Make a Mark!” is driven by what inspires every great letter: honesty. From Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, calling for nonviolent civil disobedience to Lara Jean’s love letters that led to unexpected adventures, letters have the power to transform. And like a letter, Sydni’s campaign is rooted in having honest conversation with Jumbos and turning them into real action.
Instead of recycling the same old promises, Sydni is committed to collaborative, research-backed solutions: “folding” laundry into room and board fees and/or offering need-based laundry grants, clarifying campus health protocols, expanding the food pantry to include hygiene products, upgrading one-ply to two-ply, providing cleaning equipment in common spaces, year-round use of mailing carts, introducing cross-registration program with Berklee and NEC for musicians, and more! I hope you join me in making our mark.
Sincerely,
Sydni
michael williamson
My name is Michael Williamson, and it has been my dream to become a part of TCU Senate since before I stepped foot on the hills and paths that make up Tufts. I formed this dream during my senior year as I knew I would be a Jumbo in early December, and it was this security that made me yearn to get to know the community around me. After canvassing around Boston and meeting peers with similar interests as me in SHAPE pre-orientation, attempting to try-out for the mock trial team, and approaching fellow students who share classes with me, I have met and befriended many from the class of 2029. I have also found time to connect with even more people through greeting neighbors in the perfectly air-conditioned Courts, and through approaching people I see frequently in my every-day life. I am ready to commit myself to pushing forward new initiatives to make Tufts a greater home for my community. Through my platform and initiatives, I hope to improve student life all around campus using surveys, outdoor campus comfort, entertaining dining options, and competitive, fun, and even nostalgic events to bring spirit and entertainment right to the student body.