After technical difficulties delayed the ballot release for a day, students can now vote for their representation in the Student Government Association until Friday, May 8, at noon. Students can access the ballot via a link sent to their DePaul email.

SGA members, particularly those in the cabinet, communicate closely with university administration. The president serves on the Joint Council, a shared governance body that is made up of administrators, faculty and staff. SGA’s committees also have direct affiliations with different university divisions and councils. Administrators visit general body meetings and engage in communication outside of in-person meetings.

In 2024, over 1,100 students voted in the SGA spring elections, about 5.3% of the total student body that year. Amelia Slaughter, this year’s chair of SGA election operations, emphasized the importance of students voting in a statement to The DePaulia.

“I think it is important to engage in student elections because if you don’t participate, you give others the opportunity to make decisions for you,” Slaughter said. “These decisions affect your education, your experiences and your campus. Using your voice on campus betters your college life.”

Candidates submitted statements on their backgrounds and intentions on SGA’s election website. A compiled and condensed list is included below.

CABINET

President and Vice President

Leen Hashlamoun and Peyton Deck 

Hashlamoun is the chair of the Diversity and Equity Committee, and Deck is the chair of the Campus Affairs Committee.

Hashlamoun, who is running for president, “is deeply passionate about justice and hopes to create a more equitable future both in DePaul and the world as a whole,” the statement said. Hashlamoun’s committee hosted Student Advocacy Dialogue sessions, heritage movie nights, and “communicated student concerns to administrators.”

According to their statement, Hashlamoun and Deck seek to: 

• Promote campus wide sustainability efforts
• Encourage productivity within SGA
• Bridge the gap between students and administration
• Foster an environment that highlights and protects diversity, equity and inclusion
• Pursue the Ban the Box campaign, an initiative from Students Against Incarceration that seeks to remove the checkbox on incarceration history on college and job applications
• Emphasize Vincentian values of service, empathy, dignity and inclusive education in their roles

Read the full statement here.

Angelina Squeo and Muaz Hussaini – WRITE-IN TICKET – endorsed by DePaul Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter

Squeo is currently a College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences representative and is on the Academic Affairs Committee. Hussaini is currently SGA’s treasurer. 

“As student body President, I will make sure to lead with fairness, dignity, and accountability, ensuring that all students, regardless of background or belief, are treated with respect and are never discouraged from speaking up,” Squeo wrote.

According to their statement, Squeo and Hussaini seek to: 

• Prioritize the protection of student voices and students’ academic freedom on campus 
• Emphasize the safety and support of the student body 
• Heighten transparency and communication to the student body 
• Bridge students to career and post-graduate opportunities 
• Strengthen SGA and student engagement

Read the full statement here.

Treasurer (UNCONTESTED): 

Layth Awadallah – Junior, Accounting – endorsed by DePaul YDSA

“As a first-generation Palestinian student, I am committed to ensuring that school resources are invested in the students,” Awadallah wrote. “I have a lot of experience handling finances and serving in executive positions, so I think I am a good candidate for this position.”

Awadallah said he plans to “ensure investment in students and the community,” and pledges “absolute transparency” by promising to host open forums when major budget decisions are made. Read the full statement here.

Chair of Campus Affairs (UNCONTESTED): 

Elena Yepsen – Sophomore, Accounting

Yepsen is a College of Business representative and is a member of the marketing committee. “I want to boost/promote sustainability at DePaul through organizing various events that include increasing awareness and knowledge and creating sustainable crafts/items,” Yepsen wrote.

She said she wants to increase support for the students during midterms and finals through “light hearted activities as a way to unwind.” She added she would like to host more donation drives and “create bags or baskets with essentials to then go donate to various service organizations.” Read the full statement here.

Chair of Academic Affairs: 

Cooper Menne – Junior, Political Science and Japanese Studies

Menne has served as an SGA representative for LAS and as secretary. Menne said he would like to host alumni nights, scholarship nights and what he described as “breakfast with your professors” events. He said he wants to participate in grade challenges “to make sure that students are getting the proper grades for the hard work they do.” 

“This is not an exhaustive list; I plan to represent the needs and wants of the student body and am always willing to listen to policy or initiative suggestions,” Menne wrote. Read the full statement here.

Lexi Tomaszewski – Freshman, Physics (WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

Tomaszewski currently serves on the Academic Affairs Committee. If elected, she said she’d aim to strengthen connections among students within the College of Science and Health and across the university community.

“Through my work on the student ID initiative and many other projects, I have gained valuable experience advocating for students and turning ideas into action,” Tomaszewski wrote, adding she has a close relationship with the dean of the College of Science and Health and worked with her “to help improve the college experience.”

“These experiences have prepared me to effectively represent students and lead the Academic Affairs Committee in creating meaningful change.” Read the full statement here.

Chair of Marketing and Communication (UNCONTESTED)

Falisha Anwar – Sophomore, Business Analytics

Anwar currently serves on the Marketing and Communication Committee.

“If I’m elected, I want to improve how SGA and the student body talk to each other by using social media, surveys, and outreach to make news, opportunities, and tools easier for everyone to find,” Anwar wrote. “Additionally, I want to work together with more student groups to make sure that more opinions are heard and understood while also being acted on.” Read the full statement here.

Chair of Membership (UNCONTESTED)

Yash Modi – Sophomore, Psychology

Modi says he has a year and a half of experience with SGA and has served on different committees. Modi’s goals include increasing SGA outreach to more DePaul students and creating a welcoming onboarding process for new members. Modi said he wants to create an “engaging and entertaining” environment for SGA members through events like retreats. 

He said he would want to guarantee that students “have knowledge of how to use the tools they have access to, so they can best serve DePaul and its student body.” Read the full statement here.

Chair of Diversity and Equity (UNCONTESTED)

Augusto Maita – Freshman, Political Science & Economics – endorsed by DePaul YDSA

Maita says he wants to create “stronger bonds between students through our culture,” and organize events in collaboration with cultural clubs on campus. He said there is much more SGA and DePaul can do for students.

He also expressed interest in organizing a fashion show. “I’d be ecstatic to organize and manage a fashion show so that students can pleasantly and orderly express what they feel through beautiful outfits,” Maita wrote, adding it would “let students express who they are.”

Read the full statement here.

REPRESENTATIVES (see their full statements here)

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 

• Warren Smith
• Miya Martinez (WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)
• Mohammad Atiya (WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

College of Science and Health

• Abrahim Kayali
• Fatou Ndiaye
• Prince Priyanshu (WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

Driehaus College of Business

• Kaarunya Venisetty

The Theatre School

• Ethan Rosario Arnold

College of Computing and Digital Media

• Tenae Blackwin (WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

No candidates running:

• College of Communication
• College of Education
• College of Law
• School of Continuing and Professional Studies
• School of Music