For the past few months, the United States’ presidential election seems to be all that the media is talking about. But right here in Taylor’s University, a very different kind of election has been taking the students by storm. 

We’re talking about the Taylor’s University Student Council elections, of course! After weeks of diligent campaigning, the long-awaited election results were finally revealed on Wednesday, in large, eye-catching posts that proudly announced the new Board of Directors for the years 2020 to 2021. 

Though we could not congratulate them in person, that did not dampen our desire to know the people behind their bright, smiling portraits. So we spoke to the top 5 of the TUSC BOD, and asked them about their plans for the coming term. 

You might be wondering, how does a person who runs, swims and dives also have the time to be President of TUSC? Well, second year Accounting and Finance student Jonathan Jeremiah is the answer to that. Rather than idling away the MCO, he invested his time in online events and various student bodies. It’s not difficult to see that his diligence, combined with his eagerness to serve Taylorians, makes him well-suited for the position of president. 

Source: Taylor’s University Student Council, Facebook 

Though he had to pull over at the side of the road to check the election results, Jonathan was no less excited to be chosen as president. 

“My first thought was: ‘Oh my God’,” he described with excitement. “Then I texted my family group and the people who worked with me on the campaign to thank them,” 

When asked about some of the events that we can look forward to, Jonathan could only give us a teaser. “I would tell you to wait and see,” he grinned, “but I’ll say that we’re thinking of online events. These consist of talks, especially with university graduates. Hopefully, these events can be a hybrid of physical and virtual.” 

Jonathan also touched on a subject that has been the brunt of Taylorians’ complaints for many years. “For some students, the food prices might be too high.” (Spoiler alert: They are.) “We could possibly push for new restaurants with cheaper options to be opened in Syopz.” 

True to his campaign manifestos, the new president intends to create an engaging campus experience for every student. 

“We need to connect with clubs and societies, then get as many people to join our Discord channel, or any means where we can get in touch with them,” he said. “That’s the base idea; more to be worked on.” 

If you’ve been following the TUSC elections, you’ll notice a very unique aspect in Thaarishya’s manifestos: Inclusivity. Coming from the small town of Segamat, Johor, the Finance and Economics student felt disconnected from her fellow urban counterparts, and this led to her passion for the minority groups in Taylor’s. 

“Local students from small towns always struggle to feel belonged, more so the international students,” she confessed. “The Council must take care of these needs. Many students are walking around campus feeling sad, and we are not hearing their voices.” 

Source: Taylor’s University Student Council, Facebook 

But building an inclusive, welcoming community is easier said than done, and Thaarishya recognises this. “Students are staying in their comfort zones,” she observed after three years of studying at Taylor’s. “They’re not getting to know these diverse communities.” 

In order to bridge this gap, Thaarishya suggests personalised support groups. “[The student council] will get a list of all students studying remotely (abroad), then approach the heads of schools to set up virtual meetings with these students,” she explained. “Instead of the usual approach of them coming to us, we’ll take the extra mile and reach out to them first, making sure every Taylorian feels belonged and appreciated.” 

Penang-born Cray Chng is an adventurer who is never tired of new experiences. Having served as the vice president of HELP’s student council, the second year Finance and Economics student is experienced in event management, an integral skill for a Director of Campus Integration. 

Source: Taylor’s University Student Council, Facebook 

“I understand the preferences of students—what they desire and expect from the university,” he shared. “These strengths of mine can be used to create a better experience for all Taylorians.” 

As stated in his manifesto, Cray plans to organize exciting initiatives that involve all Taylorians. “People want to be involved in an event rather than listening to a speech,” he said. “Thus, we intend to organize game-based events where everyone can connect with each other despite the pandemic.” 

Nonetheless, Cray expressed concerns about intervarsity collaboration. “Attaining partnership with other universities is a challenge, as everyone is running on their own time and pace.” The pandemic also adds to these complexities, he said. “However, I believe that with determination, these challenges can be overcome.” 

Better known as Michelle, the Mass Communications student claims to be “short but cute”. Yet this has not stopped her from reaching great heights as she became the head of campus relations. 

Source: Taylor’s University Student Council, Facebook 

As a people-oriented person, Michelle’s networking skills will certainly be put to good use when she leads her department to establish intervarsity relations, collaborate with other institutions and increase TUSC’s publicity. 

When asked about her plans for the future, Michelle has some exciting propositions. “In light of Covid-19, we’re thinking about gaming competitions, online events and podcasts. This can be in collaboration with other institutions too.” 

As a first year student, Michelle expressed several concerns about working with the more senior BODs, mainly communication and transparency. But she believes in the power of speech to resolve disagreements. “We need to keep the whole team updated when we do something. That way, everyone is on the right track.” 

Hailing from Johor Bahru, second year Law student Stephanie does not only spend her free time binge watching, but also reading about contemporary issues. And that is how she developed a concern for Taylorians and their welfare. 

“From what I see, the students’ engagement with clubs, societies and student bodies is lacking. People are only interested in their studies; most don’t even bother to join any initiatives in Taylor’s,” she admits. “I believe there should be more platforms for all students—not just freshmen—to be exposed to clubs and societies. Everyone is always eligible to join any clubs or societies.” 

“One of my plans is to provide more platforms for people to voice out their opinions,” Stephanie continued. “Not just in the form of surveys, but engaging activities like workshops and student assemblies. These initiatives can attract people to come together and discuss their concerns.” 

Source: Taylor’s University Student Council, Facebook 

The people behind their posters are spirited, driven individuals who have taken on these roles not for selfish reasons, but for the good of all Taylorians. Indeed, we can’t wait to see what exciting new changes they will bring to the community.