My name is Ryan Assaker, and I am a third-year Public Policy student at Concordia running for General Coordinator of the CSU. I began my involvement in student governance in my first year as an executive in the School of Community and Public Affairs Student Association. I later served as ASFA Finance Coordinator from 2024 to 2025 and currently serve as CSU Finance Coordinator for 2025 to 2026.

This year, our team secured funding for two free food programs on campus, Spinach Collective and Hive Free Dinner, expanding access to essential supports as students face rising costs. As Finance Coordinator, I prioritized financial transparency by publishing reports, engaging with student media, and making budget decisions more accessible to the student body. I have represented students at Concordia’s highest governing bodies, including Senate, advocating directly in spaces where institutional decisions are made.

I have drafted policies for the unions I have worked in, worked extensively with bylaws, and developed a strong understanding of how Concordia’s systems operate. I have also worked with student associations and faculty members to ensure coordination when student interests are at stake.

As General Coordinator, my focus would be to enable our team to deliver meaningful results by defending students against austerity measures such as shuttle bus cuts and LTA contracts, strengthening representation in university governance by giving a clear voice to student concerns through the CSU, and continuing to fund subsidized programs that reduce the financial burden on students.

I’m Isabelle Ranger, and I’m a double-major in Political Science and Philosophy. Over the past two years, I’ve worked as a Student Advocate (currently Lead Student Advocate) at the CSU Advocacy Centre, and I’m a 2025-26 student senator. As a CSU Advocate, I support students navigating Concordia’s complex academic regulations and complaint processes. This role requires a detailed understanding of university policies and the practical realities of a decentralized bureaucracy. Through this position, I’ve gained direct insight into administrative gaps, procedural inefficiencies, and the structural tensions that shape student experiences. On Senate, Concordia’s highest academic decision-making body, I’ve had the opportunity to take part in important discussions around financial impacts to education during a period of profound uncertainty. 

This established institutional knowledge and working relationships I’ve developed across the administration allow me to start this mandate with focused, clear goals.

My priorities are to streamline academic bureaucracy and expand access to information for the student body. I’m committed to:

• Advocating for greater accountability and consistency among departmental academic advisors and addressing persistent flaws within Concordia’s academic information system (SIS), as errors and misinformation significantly affect students’ degree progression.

• Prioritize transparent, thorough reporting of Senate decisions and deliberation to ensure the student body is informed and able to critically engage with Concordia’s institutional direction.

• Initiate a comprehensive review of the Academic Code of Conduct, which hasn’t been updated in over a decade. This includes developing an institution-wide framework to establish standards of ethical, responsible, and equitable use of AI in academic contexts.

Hello, my name is Ates Balsoy, and I’m running for the CSU Sustainability Coordinator position with the Step Up slate. As a 3rd year student specializing in Urban Planning with a minor in Human Environment, I have experience in sustainability practices in both academic studies and student unions.

As the previous ASFA (Arts and Science Federation of Associations) Internal Coordinator and Geography Undergraduate Student Society’s Academic Coordinator, I worked to improve environmental, economic, and social sustainability at the faculty and department level. 

My familiarity with housing policy through the CSU’s Housing and Job Centre prepared me to oversee the Transitional Housing Project, and I’m excited to continue the work I’ve done with Pedestrianize Mackay since 2023.

If elected as the CSU’s Sustainability Coordinator, I will:

1. Implement free breakfast and dinner programs at both campuses: I want to accomplish providing students with 3 meals a day at both campuses! 

2. Develop a new subsidized housing project: As a renter myself, I know how hard students are affected by the housing crisis, so I would build my familiarity with housing policy and the CSU’s relationship with UTILE to work on another project similar to the Woodnote!

3. Work on pedestrianizing of Mackay Street: Having studied the environmental and social benefits of reducing car traffic through campus, I would continue the work I’ve been doing with Pedestrianize Mackay since 2023 to advocate for the city to make Mackay fully pedestrianized

If you vote for Step Up, CSU steps up for you!

Hello! My name is Adey Singer, and I’m an Art History student running for the position of Finance Coordinator. My goals for this mandate are to make lasting improvements to CSU’s administrative capabilities and improve financial processes to help our clubs and services flourish and ensure responsible use of student money.

My experience includes serving as FASA’s (Fine Arts Student Alliance) Finance Coordinator in 2023-2024, the Programming Coordinator for the Art Matters Festival fee-levy, the Administrative Coordinator for the Pan-African Student Union, and the CSU Council Minute-keeper in 2025-2026. These positions have given me administrative skills and experience in student unions that allow me to understand not only what changes I want to make, but how they can be implemented. 

Throughout my mandate, I aim to:

• Improve the efficiency of reimbursements by conducting a thorough review of operations and updating the existing system.

• Expand funding for CSU Clubs, host financial training workshops, and offer consistent drop-in hours with the Internal Coordinator for additional support 

• Collaborate with faculties and clubs to make sure students know about as many funding opportunities as possible
  
  

• Conduct surveys and consult with students to improve the allocation of CSU funds and update the financial policy.

Hi! My name is Lina Elbakaye, and I’m entering my third year as a Political Science major and human rights minor running as Internal Affairs Coordinator with the Step Up slate. 

I currently serve as President of the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) for the 2025–2026 academic year. This year, I’ve represented undergraduate students on the Arts and Science Faculty Council, CSU Council, Concordia Senate, and Political Science Department Council. I’ve also participated in subcommittees related to academic matters and appointments. Through advocating for student concerns and meaningfully contributing to many university decision-making processes, I’ve developed a strong skillset for governance, communication, coordination, and navigating institutional procedures.

Throughout my mandate, I am committed to:

• Start-a-Club Sessions
  Running monthly sessions to guide students through the process of creating and managing clubs so they feel supported.

• Revamping Clubs Resources
  Developing better systems for club training, sponsorship, and event planning, as well as making sure the CSU’s website has updated and thorough information.

• CSU Transparency & Accountability Recaps
  Posting clear monthly summaries of what Council and executives have worked on to our online platforms, so students better understand what the CSU does and how decisions are made.

• Monthly Executive Open Days
  Dedicated monthly hours where all executives are present at the same time to answer questions from students. Students and clubs can come and ask questions, get answers on the spot, and avoid being redirected between offices over email. These will rotate between SGW and Loyola campuses to ensure accessibility.

Hi! I’m Emma, a third-year Sociology student and the current Outreach Coordinator at ASFA, where I’ve spent the past two years strengthening community engagement for over 14,000 Arts and Science students. Through leading two Frosh weeks and building creative outreach initiatives, I’ve seen how thoughtful programming can transform students’ experience on campus and their connection to representation.

As Student Life Coordinator, I’m focused on three key priorities:

• First, I want to strengthen collaboration across student groups and on-campus programs, including clubs and faculty-level student associations. By building stronger partnerships and encouraging cross-association initiatives, we can expand the reach of existing programming, share resources effectively, and create events that bring students together across faculties.

• Second, I believe student life must be affordable and accessible. As many students navigate rising costs and food insecurity, events shouldn’t add financial pressure. I will prioritize low-cost and free programming, partnerships with campus initiatives that support food access, and event models that make participation realistic for all students.

• Third, I want to invest in practical, student-centred programming — including workshops, wellness initiatives, and skill-building events that support students beyond social engagement.

I’m committed to building a student life that is collaborative, accessible, and rooted in students’ real needs.

Hello! My name is Saraluz Barton-Gomez, and I’m entering my fourth year as a double-major in Community and Public Affairs and Political Science. I’m running for External and Mobilization Coordinator of the CSU with the Step Up slate. 

Over the past year, I have served as an elected representative on the CSU Council, the Community Action Fund, and Concordia’s Senate, the university’s highest academic decision-making body. Through these roles, I’ve developed a strong understanding of the CSU and Concordia’s governance structures and how to effectively advocate for students within them. I have also served as the Communications Secretary (2024-2025) and the Mobilization Secretary (2025-2026) for the School of Community and Public Affairs Student Association. Additionally, I’ve worked as a Research Assistant studying democratic governance in universities and as a Community Mobilization Agent in NDG (2024-2025). 

Throughout my mandate, I am committed to: 

• Student Affordability: Increasing awareness of funding resources available to students, while expanding free and subsidized services on campus. 

• Engaging Students in Decision-Making: Increasing student understanding of Concordia’s decision-making structures and supporting participation in the systems that affect us.  

• Strengthening Student Solidarity Beyond Campus: Building strong coalitions with other student unions to address shared challenges (ex. underfunded services) and create solidarity.

• Collaboration with Faculty Associations: Holding monthly meetings with student executives, particularly those in mobilization and external roles, to build support and collaboration.

Hello! My name is Kinsey El Tanani, and I’m entering my fourth year as a Political Science major and Immigration Studies minor. 

My goals for this mandate are to make lasting improvements, improve shuttle accessibility, and expand food security initiatives at Loyola, ensuring Loyola is treated as a fully supported campus in CSU funding, services, and programming.

My background includes currently being a CSU Councillor representing Arts and Science students, where I sit on both the Loyola Committee and the External Committee. In these roles, I work to advocate for Loyola students and mobilize students around key issues. My work has focused on ensuring Loyola's concerns are reflected in CSU discussions and institutional decision-making.

In addition, I serve as an ASFA Council Member representing Political Science students, where I advocate for departmental and faculty-level student interests.

Throughout my mandate, I aim to:

• Increasing Loyola Funding:

  • $5000 was allocated in 2025, while hosting a large number of students who study in the facilities of Arts and Sciences. This is a large portion of the student union, and they deserve equal opportunities, especially since they have to travel to Loyola. The goal is to expand bursaries and special project funding.

• Student-Athelete Representation:

  • The goal is to create working groups that explore long-term policy pathways to formalize their representation within CSU governance. I will make bursaries and special project funding more accessible and more widely available by targeting the student athletes and dedicating a funding line that goes directly towards them.

• Shuttle bus: 

  • I will work on continuing efforts to restore early-morning and evening shuttle hours, at a minimum, during peak class times and create OPUS fare support and subsidies for Loyola-based students who rely on public transit. As well as host discussions with the STM to facilitate transportation between the campuses.