The 2024 vice-president (external) (VPX) race was a bitter battle, further accentuated by both candidates’ difference in vision of how to best achieve student advocacy. The candidates, Abdul Abbasi and Logan West, were affordability, supports for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and access to transportation and mental health.

Abdul Abbasi

Abbasi is a student at Augustana Campus, and has experience in student governance, including being the SU’s Augustana councillor and sitting on General Faculties Council (GFC).

Throughout the VPX race, Abbasi’s ideas have been direct. In the Augustana forum, he discussed his plan to establish transportation between Edmonton and Augustana through advocating to Minister of Transportation, Devin Dreeshen. In addition, he also discussed Students’ Union (SU) funding for the bus. These ideas are bold, but realistic, and crucial for Augustana students.

A prominent idea for Abbasi was culturally-sensitive mental health supports for international students. He pointed out that mental health is still heavily stigmatized within international students’ households. As well, he said that international students face unique struggles not addressed by the university’s mental health services. Both are very valid points to make, but are seldom acknowledged by candidates.

Abbasi used specifics to highlight his arguments, which can often bolster your agument. But, his numbers were sometimes inaccurate. He appeared somewhat unprofessional by slightly undershooting student demographic percentages on two occasions. He cited a three-year, $54.3 million federal plan to combat SGBV in Alberta, but it’s actually $54 million over four years. As well, he referenced an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) townhall, which projects a 7,320 surplus in student visas for 2024. However, he wasn’t clear that this is not yet confirmed. As VPX, it’s important to be precise. If Abbasi can’t show accuracy now, can he if elected? It’s important to note that both candidates made the second mistake, but Abbasi referenced the data first.

Abbasi showed abundant intuition and effort in identifying opportunities and coming up with plans for the role. While he made excellent points, more accuracy and fewer slip-ups are necessary if he’s elected.

Logan West

West focused heavily on the power of social media presence to engage students, which was in part based on personal experience. She said that until recently, she hadn’t paid attention to student politics, but communications from the SU inspired her to get involved. Throughout the forums, she identified social media as her primary tool to get feedback from students and enhance advocacy with all levels of government. West had great ideas for student wellness, but didn’t necessarily make for a well-rounded VPX portfolio. Instead, I would have liked her to see express a wider range of issues and concerns to advocate for, which she only started to in the final forums.

West highlighted municipal-level advocacy as her focus, which would be effective to further her goals of transit accessibility and safety for visible minority groups. As part of this, West made it clear that she would improve transit safety by pressuring the Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board (ETSAB). However, West was often unclear about which government officials and programs she would collaborate with for other ideas, which Abbasi did. Like Abbasi, she said she wants to bring student issues to CASA and CAUS, but we can’t just rely on them to solve all our problems.

As well, West had a habit of skirting around questions. When asked at the Myer Horowitz forum how she plans to work with the provincial government to support transgender and queer students, she identified advocacy as her foremost priority, along with endorsing services like The Landing. However, she didn’t actually answer how or where she would approach the government. 

West demonstrated considerable concern and radiated passion for student well-being, but is heavily impeded by a relative lack of direction. She’ll need a more concrete plan if she’s elected as VPX.

Who should win, and who will win?

The candidates share many general goals, but they differ in their approach. While Abbasi has utilized specific courses of action and numbers during his campaign, West has employed her passion and energy as her tool of choice. However, by being specific and having a clear vision to advocate for students, Abbasi has ran the stronger campaign.

Ultimately, I believe Abbasi should win. His advocacy plans have more direction, and his positionality gives him a unique perspective that would help him represent a wide variety of students. Because of this, as well as his strong campaign, I think a win would be well deserved by Abbasi.

Additionally, I think students will chose to rally behind Abbasi, but it will be close. West has a lot of charm, and she has had her share of strong moments too — especially at the debate. While she might be better suited for VPSL, she has put in the effort and is eager, and I think that could serve her well. In the end, though, Abbasi came across with more confidence and direction during the campaign, and I think a lot of voters who followed the election from start to finish will favour him for that.