Lily PolenchukThe 2025 Board of Governors (BoG) representative candidates spoke for the final time during the Myer Horowitz forum on March 3. For Angelina Raina and Karina Banerji, the forum was an excellent exercise in diplomacy. They have both shown a commitment to fair and friendly competition. Both candidates have a clear understanding of the narrow scope of the BoG representative role. With two well-rounded candidates on the ballot, the question of who should represent us on the BoG is tough to answer. Raina and Banerji are both well-prepared to meet the demands of the role. The primary factor to consider is what kind of experience is best in a BoG student representative.
Angelina Raina
When it comes to confident and tangible action plans, Raina is the ideal candidate for BoG student representative. Her speech at the Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ) forum was a particular highlight of the campaign. With an uncompromised “nothing about CSJ, without CSJ” approach to the forum, Raina is sure to have gained several francophone votes. Another standout moment happened during the Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) forum. Raina was adamant that she will advocate for Indigenous students’ access to childcare while also tackling the problem of food insecurity. These goals would be addressed alongside the ISU — which is in line with a platform based on engagement and accountability.
When asked what makes her the stronger candidate for the BoG representative position, Raina mentioned her SU experience. Raina’s experience was evident throughout the SU election forums. She is diplomatic, and not afraid to speak out. She described Banerji as being “very wonderful and experienced.” Raina is a true advocate for students across the U of A — a fact which does not exclude her opponent.
Karina Banerji
Banerji’s strength is found in her adaptability — which has been on full display throughout the BoG race. At the Augustana forum, she emphasized the need for more collaboration between the Camrose campus and the North Campus. She made it clear that she wants to see equitable access to academic resources for students at Augustana, especially in-person resources. Banerji was also particularly memorable for the empathy that she showed during the International Students’ Association (ISA) forum. She used her time to focus on ways to help international students find community and combat homesickness — a true stand-out moment for this candidate.
Banerji began her speech at the Myer Horowitz forum by differentiating herself as a candidate — something that she expanded on during the question period. She has gained experience across several areas of student life. Additionally, she has a “well-grounded understanding of the intersectional challenges that students face”. Financial difficulties, safety, and academic fairness are only some of the challenges that Banerji would like to address. Her broad experience and expert adaptation in the face of critique show dedication. Tenacity and grit might just convince many students to vote for Banerji.
Who will win?
Raina’s speeches at every forum over the past week have consistently shown her to be equally qualified for the BoG representative seat. She arrived at every forum with hard facts and a tangible plan for how to best advocate for students at the U of A. Whether it is advocating for more job opportunities at Augustana, or continuing the fight to keep tuition affordable for international students, Raina has spoken concretely on how she would achieve her goals. Tangible plans, observable confidence, and experience as a SU arts councillor makes Raina the likely winner of the BoG race.
Who should win?
Banerji’s adaptability and diversified resume are why I will be giving her my vote for the next BoG representative. The realistic scope of her plans for “advocacy, accessibility, and affordability” — the overarching theme of Banerji’s platform — only become more evident with each forum. She began the week of forums with a softer approach and somewhat abstracted plans to advocate for students. Yet, each forum speech built upon the next — which displayed the development of Banerji’s broader platform beautifully. Her ability to adapt and incorporate feedback into the BoG race is a positive sign of how she would represent all students. She has experience working with her faculty association, and talking with incoming students as an ambassador. These experiences would be helpful for Banerji, because they have given her connections outside of the SU.
