SMUSA Board of Directors Candidates 2024: Part 2

Interviewed & Written by Samarth Behl

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by SMUSA

In the spirit of informed decision-making, we present exclusive election coverage featuring in-depth interviews with the 2024-2025 candidates conducted by Samarth Behl, the SMUSA contributor for The SMU Journal. Your vote matters and these articles aim to empower you with the knowledge needed to make an informed choice during the upcoming SMUSA elections. Be sure to check SMUSA’s ELECTIONS 2024-2025 page for more details.

Nidhi Nasta: A Contender for SMUSA Board of Directors 

Nidhi Nasta

Meet Nidhi Nasta, a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student running for a position on the SMUSA Board of Directors. Beyond her academic pursuits, she possesses a deep passion for dancing.

Nidhi is actively involved in campus life. She re-established the SMU dance team last year and is currently serving as the president of the team.

Why Nidhi?

She wants to be the bridge between the students and SMUSA. “There’s a difference between acknowledging the problem and improvising, but what many people don’t realise is the steps in the middle of this, like planning, implementation, execution, and so much more. And that will take a lot of research and determination and, of course, determination to the association that I do believe I have. So, I would definitely do more research and take all the necessary steps that are needed,” she added.

Passions and Causes:

Recognising a gap in student awareness, she says, “many students are not aware of what’s going on, and I do believe that social media is an amazing way of spreading education, but it’s not the only way, and if I become on the BOD, I would go beyond and try to make every individual aware of what’s happening in SMUSA.” She aims to educate students about SMUSA by going beyond the traditional channels.

Action Steps:

Nidhi believes in treating the organisation with care, like nurturing a baby, to ensure effective planning, implementation and execution. She aims to take action by meticulous planning, thorough research and determination.

Nidhi’s advice to students goes beyond academic pursuits. She believes university life is much more than mere academics. “Cherish these memories. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge and learning; it is also a journey of self-development,” she added. “You, as an individual, are not just what you are majoring in, what your hobbies are, what course you are doing or what your background is, I want to get to know you for who you really are,” she continued, highlighting the role of individuality and identity.

Lakshay: A Contender for SMUSA Board of Directors

Lakshay Bansal

Meet Lakshay Bansal, a second-year student double majoring in computer science and business administration, running for a position on the SMUSA Board of Directors. Beyond his academic pursuits, Lakshay is always eager to learn new things.

Lakshay is actively involved in campus life, contributing to the drama society as a secretary and taking part in multiple entrepreneurship competitions like the innovation sprint and the innovation cup.

Why Lakshay?

Lakshay believes his eagerness and willingness to learn positions him as a great candidate for the Board of Directors. “I think I will be a good fit because as I said, I am always eager to learn new things and being in this position requires to learn a lot of new things like you have to be eager to listen to the people, eager to learn so that you can help people,” he added.

He believes his boldness, optimistic approach, and determination make him a strong candidate.

Causes and Passions

Lakshay’s campaign is rooted in the desire to enhance student engagement, foster transparency, and ensure student voices echo within SMUSA.

Action Steps:

The first step he would take is to actively listen to the needs of the students. “I think most of them[students] also give solutions on their own that what exactly they are looking for. So being a good listener is the first step that I would take,” he further added. He believes that students often provide solutions to their own concerns, and active listening is the first step towards addressing these issues.

He also aims to be accessible to students so that they can express their concerns to him. He further wants to leverage his critical thinking skills to generate innovative ideas and solutions to make a positive impact on the lives of the students.

Lakshay encourages students to communicate openly about the challenges they face on campus. He believes, in doing so, Saint Mary’s can be a stronger and more supportive community.

D’andre Farrell: A Contender for SMUSA Board of Directors

D’andre Farrell

Meet D’andre Farrell, a Bachelor of Arts student majoring in political science and minoring in criminology and commerce, running for a position on the SMUSA Board of Directors. Beyond his academic pursuits, D’andre enjoys roller skating, ice skating and other outdoor activities.

D’andre’s involvement on campus includes roles like a residence assistant, committee member for Res After Dark, contributor to the food room, and active participant in the Caribbean and black student society. He is also a varsity athlete.

Why D’andre?

D’andre’s motivation to run for the board of directors stems from his genuine urge to help students and make a difference in their lives. Talking about the board of director position, he says, “It’s also a way for me to advocate for students and help and to have a bigger impact than what I have already been doing on campus.” He sees this role as an opportunity to gain valuable experience aligning his career goals while making an impact on campus.

Causes and Passions

His commitment revolves around improving student life, particularly focusing on fostering cultural expression. “I feel like SMU is very diverse, but I feel there are more ways that they can allow us to express that culture,” he added.

He is also passionate about the issues that students living on campus face. “I know living on campus, we are all aware of certain issues we may be having, and I have been speaking to people on the board even before wanting to run. I was speaking to people on board expressing student concerns,” he said.

Action Steps:

He has already been taking steps to make a positive change. “As it relates to living on campus, I have already been expressing these concerns to the boards. I am an RA, so we get to voice our opinions in town hall meetings to advocate on behalf of the students. So, I am already taking a step towards that,” he further added.

He believes being a part of the board would allow him to make the changes that students want more effectively and have a more significant impact than he is currently having on campus.

D’andre encourages students to reach out to potential SMUSA leaders, emphasising the critical role that these leaders play in shaping student life in the future. He wants students to vote for someone who would advocate and stand up for them.

Charis Gervase: A Contender for SMUSA Board of Directors

Charis Gervase

Meet Charis Gervase, a second-year global development studies student with aspirations in diplomacy and policy work, running for a position on the SMUSA Board of Directors. She brings a global perspective to the student body, having lived in three countries- Tanzania, England and Canada.

Charis is actively involved in campus life, serving as the head of communication in the African society.

Why Charis?

Charis believes her experience with African society and networking with students equip her with the experiences and skills required in a student governance body. “I have had the privilege of talking to international students, and them lending me and sharing with me their experiences and concerns on campus is a blessing because to be able to hear all that people say, I believe, gives me perspective to share to the board as well as to advocate on their behalf,” she further added.

Passions and Causes:

“I am passionate about making us into a community and helping people find their communities where they feel safe,” she said. She aims to transform the student body into a tight-knit community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. She is committed to helping students find their communities on campus.

Action Steps:

“I think it takes the cooperation of both sides [Executives and Board of directors] in order to ensure that students feel heard, and I am definitely willing and prepared to work with the board and with the executives.” She wants to work collaboratively and closely with other student leaders to leave a lasting impact on students.

In her advice for students, Charis encourages an active approach for students to demand more from the school and SMUSA because she believes every student deserves more on campus. Recognising the heavy financial investment, we students make in education; she emphasises that students deserve a supportive environment and assurance that their voices will be heard and fought for.

As the SMUSA elections approach, students have the opportunity to weigh the competency and visions of candidates like Nidhi, Charis, D'andre, and Lakshay who bring unique perspectives and aspirations to enhance the campus experience. Check out the follow up article, “SMUSA Board of Directors Candidates 2024: Part 1” for the complete list of BOD Candidates. Stay informed and participate in the upcoming elections to ensure your voice is heard. Vote on the 14th of February, Valentine's Day. Check your SMU email on the election day for more information regarding voting.

Watch the full interviews here: https://youtu.be/-OLu351OnG0