Voting for the first-year senator elections opened Sept. 15 at 8 a.m. on Canvas and will close Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. The results will be announced shortly after the polls close, according to Carissa Uresk, ASW’s speaker of the senate.
Meet the eight candidates for first-year senators here:
Aaron Smith
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: The school wants you to do more without limits. At other schools, it seemed like we were talking about things to do and find your limit. Here, it feels like everyone is excited about new things and other people and pushing you to keep doing more.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: No. Student government in high school is a résumé stamper. Back in high school, no one respected it. Me and my friends created a math club and it turned into the biggest club at our high school.
Q: Why are you running?
A: Much like a new environment, you want to get as involved as you can. I want to try to bring about some new things. No one has any idea when things are happening. I have gotten no notifications about school events. I want to do something to show school spirit and try to make a prominent effort to get people to the games.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: To get more people involved. The administration at my high school hated me for trying to get people involved, and most of the things I tried to do got shut down. Here, I think I can do more.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: By simply putting up banners around school. I mean, you have to know when the game is going to happen to be there to support. One of the things I want to start is a strength club —because it is something that we don’t offer now—as a way of getting more people involved.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: Like my goal, I want to see more school involvement. Westminster talks about community a lot, but do you really have a community if no one shows up?
Diana Khosrovi
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: I think it’s the people and how they are all so welcoming. Also, it’s an open environment— something you don’t find in many colleges.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: Yes, I ran throughout my years in high school and I’m also involved in Leadership Boise Idaho.
Q: Why are you running?
A: Mostly because I feel that several things can be made to improve Westminster. I love the Westminster vibe, but things can be spruced up. I’ve listened to other people’s’ comments about what they think can be changed and since I love the school so much, that’s why I want to make a change.
Q: What are your goals as a senator if elected?
A: I want to help maintain the sustainability that this campus has. Also increase student involvement and involvement to faculty.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: With student involvement, communication is very important, so I’d want to put a ruffled feathers box where students can anonymously put their feedback. We’re representing them, so we need to give them the option to express their grievances.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: Hopefully increase hours in Shaw. It’s nearly impossible for people to go and get a decent meal with their busy schedules. Also, I would like to have free access to female hygienic items and condoms. I think now you can go in the nurse’s office, but this is face-to-face. There should be more discreet options. Brown University started doing this, and I’m really inspired by that.
Diwas Poudel
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: The small size. I was looking for a college that was small in size and Westminster responded pretty quickly to me. I talked with an alumni and he said it was a good campus and that you learn a lot here and you get to know everyone on campus.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: In high school I was involved in the high school student council.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I want to be a representative for students that are just like me. When I was in high school, I was in this position to be involved with students, faculty and administration. Hearing other students’ issues and implementing changes is something I love doing, and I think that I can do it pretty well. That is why I want to continue here – it’s a passion for me.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: My three points are I hear you, I want every other voice to be heard and I want to move forward hand-in-hand.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: By getting in touch with the students and hearing issues from them. It will make these issues a topic of discussion.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: I still have a lot to explore here, but I would like to create a common platform for every student’s views and opinions. Even though it’s a small campus, not every student is eager to talk to you. With a common platform, everyone can share their issues, and I can take it into a topic of discussion.
Johnny Carr
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: The people. I haven’t been here very long, but everyone I’ve met has been awesome. It feels a lot like a community. It’s easy to connect with people and you can have legitimate conversations about things.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: Yes. I was the chief justice for my high school, and I really liked my experience to meet people you wouldn’t meet otherwise. It felt really impactful there, and we as a student council accomplished a lot.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I wanted to get more involved in the school and help people. I think I’m relatively approachable, and later I want to run for higher and higher positions. It’s a nice thing to do. I can make some cool changes and work with other students and faculty. I wouldn’t be running for a title. I’m really running because I enjoyed my time in student government in the past.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: I would like to help out the first-year class. I feel like I could make meaningful changes and get to know more people.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: For one, I would try to make orientation a little less painful because they were long, dull days. But overall, I felt like the school was really welcoming.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: I’d say Westminster has a community feel, but there are things we could do that are more interactive. I’ve made a lot of friends, but I’ve also met people who haven’t felt as welcomed. I want to get people more engaged and involved.
Mia Moore
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: Probably just the feeling of it. The complete safe, welcoming, comforting feeling. I toured other campuses before and I didn’t get a welcoming feeling and I didn’t feel like people were being themselves, but the moment I got to Westminster it felt like home.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: No, not really. I’ve always been interested in it and government as a whole. I find student government really engaging and interesting, so I wanted to try my hand at it and learn as I go.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I heard about the senator position at Griffin Gear-up, and it immediately piqued my interest because I already knew that I wanted to somehow get involved in student government. I want to see how it works and be the voice for people.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: To not make anyone angry and try to make an impact on the school, be open to new ideas posed by students and other senators and meet a lot people. I want to be part of Westminster and making it better.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: I’m a personable person and my approach is very hands-on. Maybe by using social media and just talking to people and getting to know them.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: It’s hard to determine since I haven’t been here that long, but I know as I get more information I can find something because things can always be improved.
Michelle Pham
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: The atmosphere here has a welcoming feeling. Also, the nursing program is really supportive in terms of my future career success. People are so welcoming. It’s like you are still at home.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: Yes, I was a senator for the Young Senator’s Leadership Program in California.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I want to reflect all students’ interests. I have good leadership qualities that for others I could be a good role model and give personal guidance. What I want to do is be someone there at a personal level, whether they have emotional problems or need help with their homework.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: I want to start an origami club as well as create more study abroad scholarships. There is also a lot of leftover food in Shaw and I want that donated to homeless shelters.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: If there is leftover funding in a budget, that can be allocated to the study abroad scholarships.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: I feel like the paper usage could be reduced. I know there were a lot of theater students that had to print their entire script; maybe they could use their phones to conserve paper. We could also use fewer napkins and use a different material.
Missy Crittenden
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: The size, I think, the small classes and I’ve always wanted to live out West.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: No, not yet.
Q: Why are you running?
A: Just to have a say. And I’m a good listener. I want to bring things up and take a personal interest in people’s problems.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: I would like to focus on restoration of the campus, maybe the buildings and the nature surrounding them and the ecosystem.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: I don’t know yet. I haven’t really thought about it; that’s just the idea.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: The food in Shaw. I saw the article about one of the students who doesn’t have any options to eat anything besides peanut butter and vegetables, so we should have better options.
Riley Moeller
Q: What is your favorite thing about Westminster?
A: I love how outdoorsy it is.
Q: Do you have a background in student government?
A: I have never done student government before, but I think that it gives a nice perspective to everything.
Q: Why are you running?
A: I actually sat in one of the senate meetings and I really enjoyed that experience and what they talked about. I’m excited. It would be a good experience.
Q: If elected, what are your goals as an ASW senator?
A: We need a dance studio. I have dance everyday and have to go off campus. And you need a space for the dance team, as well.
Q: How would you accomplish your goals?
A: I think they are already planning on adding onto Jewett. I think just getting involved in the senate and being present at the meetings would help relay information.
Q: What are some changes you would like to see the school make?
A: Shaw is very expensive and it is difficult. I want to look into a change that my friend suggested. She wants to use her allotted money to go grocery shopping instead of using it in Shaw, which would still be a good experience.
