By Kayla Allen, Staff Reporter
Campaigns with social media pages have been linked. All campaigns that responded to interview inquiries have been quoted.
Though Spring elections campaigns looked a little different this year, students are once again heading to Bisonweb to cast votes for their next student leaders. Due to technical issues the original April 2 election dates were pushed to April 7-9, giving students more time to cast their ballots.
However, for many Howard students, especially during a pandemic, it’s difficult to dedicate time to keep track of all of the platforms, slogans, and graphics circulating on social media. That’s why Hilltop is here to help. Below is a list of all of the undergraduate candidates running for leadership positions this spring, an overview of their platforms, and if applicable the candidate’s social media page.
HUSA Executive
OTR61 is the HUSA Executive slate headed by Kylie Burke (president) a junior, political science major from the Bay Area and Lauren “Lolo” Lowe a junior, chemistry major, biology and history double minor from Houston.
Their campaign is centered on three central pillars: Optimizing student government, transitioning back to a safer, equitable campus community and restoring student and stakeholder power. This is translated into a variety of initiatives such as professor reports, advocating for student financial relief, reinstating student and faculty trustees, administration contact cheat sheets and pushing for student-supported, sustainable campus reopening policies.
School of Education
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
EMPOWER is the SOE Executive Council slate composed of Courvaun Hill (president) a junior human development major and Spanish minor from St. Louis and Nia Goodall (vice president) a sophomore elementary education major from Houston. They are running on the platform EMPOWER (Establish strong leadership, Representation, Provide, Opportunities, Welcoming, Community, Expand Outreach and Real change).
Their platform seeks to empower SOE students to get the same opportunities as other students, bring SOE into the forefront of campus representation, fill in all of SOE’s leadership roles and create a supportive environment for all students regardless of sexual or gender orientation. “EMPOWER SOE is all about giving our peers a chance to be seen and heard on a larger platform. We plan on working with other councils to bring SOE more into the forefront of campus life and ensuring that our strength is seen,” said Goodall.
College of Engineering and Architecture
SENATE
Myles Bostic is a sophomore CEA student running for election as a CEA HUSA Senator. His platform stresses increased transparency between the students and student government and delivering on student wants and needs.
Dominic Davis is a sophomore CEA student running for election as a CEA HUSA Senator. His platform OUT (Outreach, Understanding, Transformation) pushes to increase the number of CEA organizations becoming official Howard organizations and transform the image of CEA being an academics only school.
Colin Smith is a sophomore CEA student running for election as a CEA HUSA Senator. His platform stresses improved communication across the board, increased communication between student government and students and increased communication amongst student government bodies.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Nazareth Brown is a junior computer science major from the Atlanta area running for President of CEA Executive Council. His student first platform emphasizes addressing the rift between architecture and engineering students, developing a community atmosphere within the entirety of CEA through various programming and increasing the visibility of CEA student government to CEA students.
“ I intend to run council with a very people focused and driven mentality, focusing more on the exact wants and needs of the student body rather than just pushing mundane programs through,” said Brown
College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
UGSA REPRESENTATIVE
Galaxy Okoro is a junior, health science major from Prince George’s County, Maryland running for CNAHS UGSA Representative. Her platform, Okoro’s Theory of Galativity, seeks to improve the overall college experience for CNAHS students through collaboration with other schools, collaboration and programming with the Transfer Student Association and bringing in different perspectives.
“I believe that as CNAHS students, we tend to lack participation and representation because we are always in class or labs or just really busy. I believe in limitless possibilities, the sky is never the limit for CNAHS students and we all deserve to shine together,” Okoro said.
SENATE
Lela Scott is a junior, nursing major from the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania running for re-election as a CNAHS HUSA Senator.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
BRIDGE (Build networks, Restore unity, Innovate, Develop, Give opportunities, Empower) is a slate made up of Yodit Goshu (president) a sophomore health science major from Houston, Mary Koku (vice president) a sophomore nursing major from Chicago, Ayanna Bryant (secretary) a junior nursing major and sociology minor from Lindon, New Jersey and Tia Epps (treasurer) a junior clinical laboratory science major and chemistry minor from Chicago.
Their platform seeks to increase communication through CNAHS town halls and faculty one-on-ones, offer professional development opportunities, institute weekly mental health check-ins and instate a CNAHS scholarship.
College of Fine Arts
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Forward Fine Arts is a slate made up of Kendall Robinson (president) a junior painting major from Atlanta, Lo Williams (vice president) a junior theater arts acting major and secondary education minor from Los Angeles, Calyn Coleman (secretary) a sophomore fashion design major, advertising minor from Indianapolis, and Benjamin Chapman a sophomore, acting major from Chicago.
Their platform hinges on four pillars: unity, empowerment, education and fundraising. They plan to achieve these through initiatives such as showcases and galleries to exhibit the talents of all three floors, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities.
“We want to provide the Fine Arts student body with business tools they need as well as the personal tools they should have to be successful,” said Robinson.
School of Business
UGSA REPRESENTATIVE
Ocean Latimer is a sophomore honors marketing major from Los Angeles running for SOB UGSA Representative. His platform emphasizes connection. Specifically, connection of the SOB community to the broader Howard community through programming such as mixers, networking events, and career events.
Stephen Spence is a sophomore management major from Chicago running for SOB UGSA Representative. His platform “Build back better” seeks to collaborate with other organizations and increase engagement through programming such as game nights, socials, jam sessions and study sessions.
SENATORS
Jordyn Allen is a sophomore, marketing major political science minor from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida running for re-election as an SOB HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “Change We Can See” which seeks to engage students in conversation through social media on senate legislation, increase transparency through public reports on money dispersed and provide permanent funding for SOB’s Royal Court.
Jaron Dandridge is a sophomore honors finance major from Richmond, Virginia running for election as an SOB HUSA Senator. His platform seeks to increase accessibility and engagement with HUSA Senate, encourage partnership amongst other councils and make himself available through office hours.
“My goal is to make students aware of senate’s large presence and to inform students of how they can properly engage. I want to provide an open ear for all students who feel their voices aren’t heard. I want to give all students a voice regardless of them being a minority in the student population or a minority major in SOB,” said Dandridge.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Together We W.I.N. (Wisdom, Inclusivity, and Navigating) is a slate comprised of Brielle Loman (president) a sophomore finance major from Bowie, Maryland, Ava Parker (vice president) a sophomore marketing major from Dacula, Georgia, Sarina Swain (secretary) a sophomore, international business major from Princeton, New Jersey and Nya Loman (treasurer) a sophomore finance major from Bowie, Maryland.
Their platform prioritizes drawing on the unique experiences of SOB students to create experience catered towards everyone, creating strong relationships with students and faculty, and ensuring all students can navigate their SOB experience successfully.
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
UGSA REPRESENTATIVES
Ariana Cobb is a junior, journalism major running for election as a CHSOC UGSA Representative. She is running on the platform Becoming Aware, Engaged and Connected. Her platform pushes for students to know more about UGSA events and connecting with existing SOC organizations
Myah Hart is a sophomore, public relations major running for election as a CHSOC UGSA Representative. She is running on the platform Got H.A.R.T.? (Heart, Aim, Reflect, Triumph) Her platform emphasizes listening to student stories, instituting supportive student networks, giving students opportunities to reflect, and helping students triumph over obstacles.
“I think it’s important that students leave Howard with the same or better feelings and over exceeded expectations of when they came in. During this campaign I want to put my heart into, and if I’m elected I will do the same because Howard is not just classes and homecoming, it’s bigger than that and bigger than us quite frankly,” said Hart.
SENATORS
Alana Thomas is a junior legal communications major and english minor from Boynton Beach, Florida running for re-election as a CHSOC HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform the VOICE (Visualizing Opportunities to Increase Campus Engagement). This platform aims to be the voice that turns problems into solutions, dreams into opportunities, and advocating on behalf of SOC students.
Andre Wilkes is a sophomore from Detroit running for election as a CHSOC HUSA Senator. His platform has a strong emphasis on advocacy that seeks to engage students where they are.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Good News, Good Trouble is a CHSOC slate comprised of Ashleigh Fields (president), a sophomore journalism major from Charlotte, Saige Haynes (vice president) a sophomore, television and film major and business administration minor from Atlanta, Darreonna Davis (secretary) a junior journalism major and playwright minor from New Orleans and Jabari Courtney (treasurer) a first year public relations major from Atlanta.
Their platform emphasizes accessibility through open communication and relationship building on all levels, integrity through establishing increased opportunities for students to hold their leaders accountable, and equity by providing equal opportunity for all students.
“Our mission is to not only unify and uplift students via diligent communications and ample resources, but to also amplify the craft and network of the individual by taking measurable action steps,” said Haynes
XXL is a CHSOC slate headed by Thomas Cole (president) a junior public relations major from St. Louis, Kaitlin Antonio (vice president) a sophomore public relations major from Stafford, Virginia, Amarí Washington (secretary) a freshman broadcast journalism major from Chicago and Madison Harris (treasurer/write-in) sophomore television and film major from Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Their platform stresses maintaining the standard of excellence within SOC, making SOC a place for all students to express themselves, and instituting sustainable plans for the overall benefit of SOC.
College of Arts and Sciences
UGSA REPRESENTATIVE
Samaria Campbell is a junior human performance major and chemistry and military science double minor from Atlanta running for re-election as a COAS UGSA Representative.
Campbell is running under the platform “Unify” which aims to bring back Howard culture and safely bring the Howard student body back together. She plans to do this through safely bringing back popular Howard events and creating programming that is specifically catered to students. She plans to work closely with COAS council to make sure COAS specific needs are being met.
SENATORS
Naheim Banks is a sophomore political science and criminology double major from Los Angeles running for re-election as COAS HUSA Senator. He is running on the platform “ADVANCE HUSA” which outlines building on HUSA Senate’s work this past year through education, community engagement, and advocacy.
“One thing I think the student body should understand about my campaign is that it takes an equity approach to legislation. When I speak about eliminating fees for requesting transcripts, the creation of a Caucus System, and the implementation of ranked-choice voting, it is because I want our campus to be more democratic, more equitable, more representative of the students that walk our Yard,” said Banks.
Ka’Nedria Boldin is a freshman political science major from West Palm Beach, Florida and is running for election as COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform is “UPGRADE HUSA” which seeks to build more freshman representation into HUSA, bring more student voices to the table, and revise past legislation.
Nya Christian is a sophomore political science major and is running for re-election as a COAS HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “Improve, Implement, Inspire” which seeks to improve student government communication, implement the legislation passed this year in a way beneficial for the student body and inspire HU24 and HU25 to engage in the Howard community.
Eryka Anabell Clarke is a honors political science major and english and legal communications double minor from Long Island, New York running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “REBUILD” which specifically aims to restructure Senate powers, implement COAS Royal Court funding and establish student tenure and promotion committees.
Maguy Djambouen is a junior international relations major, community development and economics double minor from Brooklyn, NY and she is running for re-election as a COAS HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “Cultivate” which strives to build on the work of the senate through educating student organizations on funding access and improving relationships with them.
Brady Dye is a freshman physics and political science double major running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. His platform is fundamentally focused on committing Howard to environmentalism through building on the Green Fund bill, monitoring Howard’s net carbon emissions and committing administration to making university vehicles carbon neutral by 2035.
Ayomidipupo Fadaka is a freshman honors biology major from Lagos, Nigeria running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “R.I.S.E.” (Representation, Involve, Sustainability, Everyone) which seeks to create sustainable law changes and thoroughly involve all students of COAS in the Senate process.
“Making legislation is not autocratic, and just as my platform states, I wish to represent the interests of the students and involve them, therefore I want to get the students’ input from the very beginning and every step of the way,” said Fadaka.
Charis Haynes is a freshman biology major from Georgia running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform, FIT strives to improve student-senator relationships, inspiring students to take action to solve their problems, and transform student concern into effective action.
Aimeé Ihirwe is a freshman political science major from Grand Rapids, MI running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform centers on improving communication between senators and students, being an active voice for student organizations to receive funding, and updating the student handbook to reflect our current circumstances.
“I have every intention of centering improvements to represent us as a student body. That means creating room for everyone to share what they envision Howard to be as we move forward,” said Ihirwe
Aaron Johnson is a freshman biology and mathematics double major from Atlanta, running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. His platform, THRIVE (To transform, help, revitalize, become more innovative, visionary, and effective), focuses on addressing issues that Howard students face and bringing underrepresented and overlooked groups to the table.
“Ultimately, I will invest back in those who decided to invest in me by ensuring that their ideas and concerns will be carried into every general body and committee meeting. And every piece of legislation will be for the benefit of them and their passions,” said Johnson.
Nia Naylor is a freshman political science major and secondary education minor from New Castle, Delaware running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform RISE (Revive, Inclusion, Service, Excellence) seeks to connect and be a voice for the COAS community through pushing to make all Senate meeting notes public and send surveys to students to get opinions on legislation and how the Senate can operate better.
Ijeoma Nwugwo is a freshman biology major and chemistry minor, first year BS/MD student from Rochester, New York and is running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. She is running on the platform “STEP” (Step to succeed, transform, engage, and progress) which prioritizes improving senate-student relations, supporting and transforming mental health services and creating services that improve online learning.
“I would like the student body to know that I am someone who they can trust and rely on… A vote for me would be a vote for them because I will make sure that all students’ voices are heard,” said Nwugwo.
Jayda Peets is a junior political science and Spanish double major and Russian minor from Milton, Georgia by way of Chesapeake, Virginia running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform is “Be the Change HU” which focuses on increased LGBTQIA+ representation, developing mental health programming to connect the student body and increasing opportunities in the language and pre-professional departments.
“The one thing I think the student body should understand about my campaign is that it’s genuinely based on wanting equitable representation for all Howard students. That comes with equitable representation for various marginalized groups in our student body, especially the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Peets.
Gregory Pugh is a junior political science and African-American studies double major from Philadelphia and is running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. The platform he’s running on is “Time to ACT (Advocate, Coordinate, and be Transparent) HUSA Senate” which emphasizes advocating for student needs, coordination amongst student government organizations, and mandatory weekly updates from HUSA Senate and HUSA Executive to the student body.
“ I believe that whether we are back on campus, in a hybrid situation, or virtual, it is the job of student leaders to come together to properly coordinate and create unique programs to support the mental, financial, emotional, physical and social health of the students,” said Pugh.
Allyson Smith is a sophomore honors political science major from Memphis running for election as a COAS HUSA Senator. Her platform is “Truth to Power ” which prioritizes student mental health through community programming and letter writing, LGBTQIA+ representation and strengthening communication through increased town halls.
“Truth to power is a platform built on its students. As a Howard University student, my power lies within my truth to neglect the status quo and encourage students to be their full selves in every space they walk into,” said Smith.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
REVIVE is a slate of students running for COAS Executive Council. The slate is comprised of Mariah Cooley (president) a sophomore political science major and legal communications minor from Peoria, Illinois, Pierce Hodges, (vice president) a sophomore biology major and chemistry minor from Philadelphia, Julianna Boye (secretary) a freshman political science major and philosophy minor from West Bloomfield, Michigan and Sunlyn Kearney (treasurer) is a junior biology major and chemistry minor from Atlanta.
The “Revive” (Reinvent, Engage, Voice Concerns, Immersion, Visionary, Energize) platform prioritizes increased engagement with COAS students through mixers, implementing a text service for students, and more opportunities for students to voice their concerns, as well as increased focus on career readiness and COAS creatives.
