All-Candidates Hub

Vanessa Opoku (ELEVATE UTSC)

Hey UTSC! Vanessa Opoku here, your future SCSU president! I'm in my fourth year, pursuing a double major in Human Biology and Population Health, showcasing my diverse skills and expertise for the upcoming 2024-2025 executive cohort at SCSU. Leading Team Elevate, my goal is to enhance and expand student engagement, foster inclusivity, and advocate for the diverse needs of our community. As a Scarborough native with progressively varying experiences at UTSC, I want to improve student mental health by consulting holistic or comprehensive approaches to well-being and amplifying student opportunities to have our voices heard and supported. I am also interested in elevating students' benefits and discounts that enhance our academic performance, like Grammarly! My exceptional dedication, leadership skills, and commitment to fostering inclusivity set me apart as a standout candidate for your new SCSU president. Vote for Vanessa to ensure your voice is heard and your needs are prioritized within the UTSC community. Make sure to keep up with our Instagram and TikTok @elevate.utsc. Together, let's Elevate the UTSC experience!

Hunain Sindhu (IMPACT UTSC)

Hello UTSC!

I'm Hunain Sindhu, a 5th-year student Specializing in Environmental Geosciences and I’m grateful for this opportunity to be running to be YOUR next SCSU President. From overcoming my introverted nature in my first year to now being deeply involved in various aspects of the student body, I've developed a strong passion for improving SCSU’s current initiatives and advocating for student needs. As a presidential candidate, I aim to oversee the Student Centre expansion project, establish policies for accommodating students from distressed regions, and create avenues for voicing concerns and aspirations from the student body. With a strong sense of responsibility, I'm dedicated to ensuring every student's voice is heard and represented effectively.

My dedication to transparency, inclusivity, and tangible results means you can trust me to prioritize your needs and make real, positive changes that enhance our university experience together.

PLEASE VOTE HUNAIN FOR PRESIDENT!!

Desteenie Africa (ELEVATE UTSC)

My name is Desteenie and I am an upper year student in City Studies, English, and Sociology. Although I am focused in the social sciences, my academic journey has reached various programs. I have once been in Management, Anthropology, Arts, and more because I was unsure and unguided throughout my academic career. Now that I have discovered the pathway I’m most proud of, I would like to support other students in their academics to feel pride for their time spent at UTSC as well. I hope to develop and continue to advocate for academic petitions which makes education feel more like a fluid pursuit of knowledge rather than being pressured by the restrictions of program requirements. I also hope to support not just education in UTSC, but about UTSC through a rewarding experience of Scarborough-centric courses to raise awareness of the spatial and cultural significance of Scarborough and UTSC.

Zanira Manesiya (IMPACT UTSC)

Hi everyone, my name is Zanira Manesiya and I'm running to be your next VP Academics and University Affairs!! As a final year student at UTSC, I can confidently say that UTSC has allowed me to learn, grow, and thrive. It is my hope that as your next VP AUA, I can play a positive role in your journey here at UTSC, so that we can continue to build a supportive and inclusive community.

Being involved with various organizations both locally and globally, has championed my belief that education, and access to it, is a right for everyone. As your VP AUA, I hope to advocate for student needs, implement grants and bursaries to increase access to education, and support students as they navigate their academics. The entire Impact UTSC Team and I, are here for all students; to listen to your needs, collaborate with you, and advocate for you. A vote for Impact will be a vote for the students.

Rafay Malik (IMPACT UTSC)

My name is Rafay Malik, and I’m striving to be your new VP Campus Life. UTSC has been like a home away from home for me, and it’s the people that make that possible. What makes UTSC truly UTSC, is community. This community has welcomed me with open arms, so it only feels fitting that I give back to them. SCSU has a lot of potential to reach so many of the students on campus, and for a lot of those students, the balance between academics and fun is askewed. I want to bring more life to our campus such as by improving club life with a club startup fund, and arranging a free start of the year concert for all students. I want UTSC not only to be an educational institution, but a true university experience. A place where people go not only for their classes, but just to spend time, and have fun.

Laie Shifara (IMPACT UTSC)

Hey UTSC! My name is Lalise Shifara (she/her) and i am thrilled to be running as your VP Equity with Team Impact! I’m super passionate about providing an inclusive environment for all UTSC students and uplifting the diverse and underrepresented communities here on campus. I want EVERYONE to be seen and heard, so I am here to LISTEN and take responsibility to act on your concerns!

By establishing a Community Care Centre, implementing an official daily-use communication system, and partnering with LGBTQ2S+ organizations the RSC, I wish to make UTSC a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming community for all students. Together, lets pave the way for a more equitable future!

Aanya Sinha (ELEVATE UTSC)

My name is Aanya and I’m a fourth year student in English Literature and Psychology. I am also a bisexual woman of colour, as well as an international student. I came to UTSC in my second year after spending my first entirely online thanks to the global pandemic. Ever since then, I have grown to love UTSC for all that it is, but especially for the people. Which is why running for the VP Equity role is so important to me- I want to make sure that each of us as individuals get to be a part of the process that involves making lives at UTSC more meaningful, rewarding, and most importantly, inclusive. I hope to develop and advocate scholarships for international students, improve safe spaces’ funding, and streamline mental health and accessibility resources on campus in order to improve the quality of campus health.

Adegoriola Debo-Adesia (ELEVATE UTSC)

Hey everyone, My name is Adegoriola (Gori) Debo-Adesina , and I'm excited to share my vision for the future of SCSU as VP External.

In this position I aim to create a UTSC line for students to easily transport between the Scarborough and UTSG campuses to help reduce the commute between classes had between the two campuses. Secondly, advocate for a more independent form of health insurance to help students have a reliable form of coverage. Finally, I plan on introducing a platform where housing would be provided to students by connecting them with verified landlords with affordable rates for students. However, for my vision to come to life, I can't do it alone. I need your support and your vote to make this dream a reality.

Vote me Adegoriola (Gori) Debo-Adesina for VP External and together, we can Elevate UTSC to a higher standard. Thank you for your support, and remember, together, we can make a difference.

Omar Mousa (IMPACT UTSC)

Hey everyone, my name is Omar Mousa, and I’m your future VP External! As someone who believes that everyone has the right to go against what they believe is wrong and to fight for what they believe in, I aim to amplify the student body’s voice as a whole. I believe that SCSU has the power to not just amplify the voice of students, but to make sure that their voices reach the target goal.

I’d love to focus also on decreasing the financial burden of students in terms of student housing and transit. We all understand that financial problems can lead to distractions from academics, which is why the students are here in the first place. If we can lessen these distractions, then students can focus on more important matters.

Jena Bah (IMPACT UTSC)

Hey everyone! My name is Jena, and I am pleased to be running for the position of VP of Operations! As your VP Operations, I want to expand the initiatives and services of the SCSU Food Centre, host tax clinics and financial workshops, and revamp the 1265 Bistro’s menu. My background in Economics and Statistics will enable me to be successful in the financial aspects of this role, and you already know my City Studies Major will come handy in the organizational aspects of it.

It is my aim to increase transparency between the SCSU and the student body. Together, let’s build a campus that’s more than just a place to study – it’s a place to thrive. Join me in shaping a brighter future for UTSC, and vote Impact!