John is running for re-election in their position as the Executive Director of Advocacy. People operating under this title are responsible for sticking up for marginalized and underprivileged students, and here is what John had to say about their experiences with this, as a candidate seeking re-election:
“Over the past year as Advocate, I have been breaking down barriers to academic success for students of Memorial and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with students as we have had to navigate career-shaping decisions. I thrill at the many successes we have won together, whether they have been in challenging the exclusion, racism, ableism or other harms of a number regulations, to achieving a reduction in severity and less frequent application of penalties against students in appealing institutional decisions, to changing the very perspective of how students deserve to be supported for mental health needs”.
John’s platform involves continuing to push forward with ideas that have to do with their previous year and election cycle. They see this second term as Director of Advocacy as an opportunity to build on the foundation they have laid:
“Many of the plans I had last year – to provide all students with their constituency reps and [relevant] contact information, to develop a means of assuring action fueled by student experiences, or to produce modes of communication previously underutilized- had been delayed as I had to bridge chasms of wounded relationships between students and the University; but all students are now in a better position to realize much stronger and braver support than ever before. Students will see more of their Advocate and will see even more wins achieved together”.
As their bio on the MUNSU website states, John is an “enviro-geek, feminist and an avid sun-soaked Naturist”.
Make sure to get out and vote for the upcoming MUNSU elections, being held on the 19th and 20th of March!