Jin HeEvery year, The Gateway hosts a panel to discuss the Students’ Union (SU) election. This year’s panellists provided their insights on the candidates running, student politics, and who students should vote for in the 2025 SU election.
Opinions expressed by the panellists do not reflect those of The Gateway.
The Panel
This year’s panel included:
- Areeha Mahal: The Gateway 2021–22 News Editor, former Deputy Arts and Culture Editor, and former Deputy News Editor
- Mason Pich: fourth-year political science and religious studies student at the University of Alberta, former SU arts councillor
- Habby Zoud: second-year philosophy student, secretary of the Campus NDP
The Candidates
Saim Khokhar, a fourth-year student in combined sciences and education.
Nikka R. Pakhomova, a first-year astrophysics student.
Ramish Raza, a fourth-year political science student, co-president of the International Students’ Association (ISA), and 2024–25 arts councillor on the General Faculties Council (GFC).
Logan West, a fifth-year student in film studies and women and gender studies, vice-president (outreach and events) of the Organization for Arts Students and Interdisciplinary Studies (OASIS), and 2024–25 GFC arts councillor.
All three panellists agreed that West has run the strongest campaign by a significant margin in terms of social media and physical presence. Zoud appreciates that her social media “actually gets into some of the reasons why she’s running.” He identified Raza as having the second strongest presence, but Khokhar and Pakhomova are “off the map.”
Mahal, who is no longer a student at the U of A, mentioned that she’s had multiple people send her pictures of West’s posters. West has incorporated a lot of pop culture references into her campaigning, and Mahal thinks this has the advantage of drawing people in. Especially those who are not usually interested in the SU elections.
“I think that has been a good strategy. Especially when you’re considering that you’re campaigning to … a bit of a younger crowd.”
Mahal agreed Raza came second in terms of presence, but that his presence is not comparable to West’s.
Pich noted that West “dominated” social media in the 2024 SU election when she ran for vice-president (external)(VPX). According to Pich, she has done that once again this election cycle.
Pich and Mahal noted West and Raza as having the strongest forum performances so far. Although Pich thinks that Pakhomova “is doing an incredible job of bringing forward new ideas and speaking well to them.”
“So while I think [West] and [Raza] are able to speak to their points the best, I think Pakhomova probably has the best presence at the forums.”
Mahal has appreciated West’s focus on student safety and policy excution, as well as Raza’s focus on affordability and international student issues. She agreed Pakhomova has performed well at the forums but finds that “sometimes she’s lacked a clear policy direction.” While Khokhar has brought a “strong Augustana focus,” the ideas he has brought to forums “have slightly been less impactful for North Campus, [Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ)], and international students.”
West also stood out to Zoud, but he hasn’t found Raza’s or Pakhomova’s performances notable.
“I think there’s a lot of good ideas. I just don’t think they’re able to articulate some of the things they’re advocating for as well as [West].”
The panellists agree on which candidate has the strongest platform
West’s platform was also the strongest to all three panellists.
“West has a very well-developed platform. You can see her experiences playing into what she views as the biggest student issues, and what are likely the biggest student issues,” Pich said.
Still, Pich appreciated Pakhomova’s platform as well. Particularly for the new ideas she’s brought to the table and “her understanding of how to make the university a better place for students that are coming here for the first time.”
Zoud agreed that Pakhomova’s platform had some good ideas but found it “kind of muddled.” Pakhomova is one of the candidates promising to take a salary cut of $10,000 to reduce student fees. At the same time, she has proposed increasing CCTV cameras on campus. Zoud worries these promises could lead to increased fees for students.
As for Raza, he has stated affordability as a core concern, but Zoud doesn’t “think any of [Raza’s] promises directly impact affordability very well.” Zoud would like to see Pakhomova and Raza take advantage of the VPSL’s wide portfolio. The focus on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in West’s platform stood out to Zoud.
Zoud identified Khokhar’s platform as the weakest. Although Khokhar has stated affordability and fostering community as priorities, Zoud doesn’t see how his platform will tangibly address these issues.
“I don’t think friendship bracelets will really do anything for promoting community on campus.”
When West ran for VPX in the 2024 SU elections, Mahal found that a lot of her platform points were more suited for VPSL.
“Her running for VPSL, I appreciate that. That’s shown reflection and growth. She’s pivoted towards the platform points that mean a lot to her.”
Mahal thinks that safety concerns have recently been front of mind for students. She appreciates that Raza has focused on this during his campaign. While Mahal still prefers West’s platform, Raza’s is second.
Regarding Pakhomova, Mahal called into question the feasibility of her platform, although she appreciates her focus on hosting cultural events for St. Patrick’s Day and Mardi Gras. Like Zoud, Mahal identified West’s platform as the strongest and Khokhar’s as the weakest.
The Gateway asked the panellists what platform points would have the most impact on students if accomplished. While West’s points have the most potential to impact students, Pich argued that in terms of “what students would actually feel,” Pakhomova has the advantage.
“Her ways of building towards a better university community are very strong at the end of the day. At the end of the day, this is VPSL. So thinking about community is a big aspect of that.”
If either West or Pakhomova wins, Pich said he’d like to see the winner integrate some aspects from the other’s platform.
Mahal sees West’s platform as having the most potential for impact. West “has a very good variety in her platform points” and has spoken on period equity and campus safety, which stood out to Mahal. Zoud agreed that West’s platform has the most potential, and argued that Khokhar’s and Raza’s platforms tie for least potential.
Who will win: three votes for West
Who should win: two votes for West, one vote for Pakhomova
