Election Platforms for the 2026/2027 USSU Executives

Campaigning began this week, and the USSU race is in full swing. Voting for USSU elections takes place via PAWS, opening on March 25 at 9 a.m. and closing on March 26 at 4 p.m. There is also an online forum held by the USSU on March 20 at 2 p.m. on Zoom and an in person forum on March 24 at 4 p.m. held at Louis’. The link to register can be found at ussu.ca/elections

The Sheaf contacted each of the candidates running this year and reached out for a brief introduction, a headshot and three main platform points. The following are the candidates who replied this year.

These are unedited submissions by the candidates and are not an endorsement in any way by The Sheaf.

Nate Desjarlais — Running for President 

“Hi, my name is Nate Desjarlais (he/him) and I’m running for USSU President. I’m a second-year management student at the Edwards School of Business. I was born in Saskatoon and my First Nation is Yellow Quill near Rose Valley. Through my involvement with the Indigenous Students’ Union, the Indigenous Students’ Advisory Committee, and the Finance & Assessment Committee that reviews and recommends student fee changes within the USSU budget, I’ve had the opportunity to see how student leadership decisions directly shape campus life. That experience showed me how decisions made in student leadership can directly affect everyday student life. As a management student, it also strengthened my interest in responsible leadership, clear communication, and thoughtful decision-making. 

University should be a place where students build community, form lasting friendships, and feel like they truly belong. My priorities are strengthening community on campus, supporting student life and engagement, and improving communication between the student union and the broader student body. Miigwetch.”

Sharyar Faruqi – Running for President 

“Hi! My name is Sharyar Faruqi (he/him). I am currently in my second year of Engineering Physics here at the University of Saskatchewan. I am interested in running for the president position as I have experienced firsthand certain things I would like to change for the betterment of the university and its students. 

My platform consists of three main points. Affordability, Inclusivity, and Opportunity.”

Abtin Safaeian – Running for President 

“Hello everyone, my name is Abtin Safaeian. My pronouns are he/him. I am a third-year

Neuroscience major with a Mathematics minor, and I’m running to be your next USSU

President.

The reason I am running for the USSU presidential position:

I am deeply passionate about helping people, and I am very dedicated and committed to

enhancing the university experience for all USask students. I have always been a leader and a listener, right from my high school days, when I was the president of four different clubs and also part of my high school’s student representative council in Saskatoon. That passion for leadership and active listening has carried on to university, where I am now the president of USask Table Tennis and also Vice President of Marketing in the USask Entrepreneurs Club. 

My platform has 3 pillars and is guided by my philosophy of active listening to my peers. Those 3 pillars are:

1. Affordability

2. Academic support

3. Student wellness

The most important struggle that all university students face right now is the struggle to afford things, whether it be the cost of textbooks, tuition, rent, or just normal groceries. That’s why my platform begins with affordability, because for so many students, the cost of being here is one of the biggest barriers to success. To tackle that problem, I have a clear plan. I will push for stronger advocacy to get more need-based bursaries, scholarships, better student loans, and more student financial support. I will be working with Career Services, external community organizations, and companies to create more jobs, internships, and co-op for our students on and off campus. I will work towards discount partnerships that can help students financially. Furthermore, I will work towards more communication about student fees and an easier opt-out process with the help of the Marketing and Social Media Department. I will work with the Executive team on practical affordability supports like a textbook exchange bank. I will work with the VP Operations and Finance to identify more funding opportunities for student groups both internally and externally. I will work towards permanent funding options from the university for the food centre so students have food to tackle food insecurity on campus.

My second priority is academic support and student success. I will work with the VP Academic Affairs to advocate for extended study space hours during midterms and finals, when students need them most. I will work with the Executive and university administration to push for more quiet, low-sensory, and private study spaces across campus, including better study pods and more low-stimulation rooms. I will also be working with the Executive team and Help Centre in order to encourage more students who received high scores in previous years to do tutorial sessions for their fellow students.

My third priority is student wellness and campus life. I will push for easier access to mental

health and student support information through the USSU website, social media, and visible

promotion across campus. I will work with the Executive and USSU Centres to improve

awareness of supports, especially during exam season, and I will support wellness initiatives like study-break events, resource distribution, and practical stress-relief programming. I will also advocate for more student-centered spaces, more low-cost events, and stronger

community-building on campus so students feel less isolated. And because student wellness also means student safety, I will bring forward student concerns about winter safety and push for better snow and ice removal on walkways so students can get to class more safely.”

Elmer Vincent – Running for Vice-President Operations & Finance 

“I’m Elmer Vincent, a 4th year in Computer Science. For the last few years I’ve been really involved in student life serving as the President of two clubs: Red Cross USask and SISA, as well as being a member of the student council representing international students. These experiences have given me the chance to work closely with different student communities, organize events and initiatives, and speak up for students in spaces where huge decisions are being made. Those experiences have shown me not only how much students care about this campus, but also where they often feel overlooked and unsupported. That is a big reason why I decided to put myself forward once again.

The three areas I care most about are campus club funding, scholarship support, and student advocacy. For clubs, I want to lobby for better budgeting and stronger funding support. Student groups do so much of the work that builds campus life, community, and belonging, but they often have to do it with very limited resources. I believe clubs should have access to funding that actually reflects the value they bring to students. I also want to advocate for stronger scholarship support, especially for communities that face greater financial barriers, as financial stress affects so many students and can make it harder to focus, participate, and succeed. Students should feel like there are real opportunities and real support systems available to help them stay on track. Most importantly, I care about advocacy. Students deserve representatives who will listen, speak up, and push for practical changes that actually make a difference. To me, leadership is about making sure students feel heard, supported, and taken seriously. I’d be happy to talk more about my platform, so if you see me around campus, come say hi!”

Ashley Mendez Rosales – Running for Vice-President Academic Affairs 

“Hello, my name is Ashley Mendez Rosales (pronouns she/her). I’m in my 3rd year of Regional and Urban planning. I’m an aspiring hobbyist, currently focusing on crocheting, sewing, gaming, rhinestoning, skating, and swimming (anything to keep me busy during the winter months). This year I have the privilege of running for Vice President of Academic Affairs with the USSU. This position is very closely tied to how my life will be after graduation, reading and amending public policies all to help out more people. As an urban planner it is my job to be on the public’s side and represent them in City Council. I intend to do the same at the University of Saskatchewan, I will be representing students and helping them navigate through various academic situations.

My platform consists of increasing accessibility to textbooks for students, lowering the course weight of final exams, making professors adhere to regulations and increasing students’ knowledge on their rights. Right now more than ever students need to be finding ways to save their money and allocate their money towards essentials like groceries, bills, and rent. This is why I will advocate for professors to upload the course required readings from the textbooks as an alternative to students paying for textbooks. The other point in my campaign is making departments and professors not have exams weigh 50% or more of a student’s grade. Grades should consist of various midterms, quizzes and assignments which would all contribute to a final grade. Having an exam be worth 50% is stressful and extremely unhealthy for students, which is why I’ll be advocating for the removal of that. And my last point consists of two parts, one will be making it easier for students to report any discrepancies regarding unprofessional professors. Not only that, but actually seeing repercussions and disciplinary action. The second part will be communicating students’ rights whether that’s through in person meet and greets or online videos. This will increase reach but also educate students on what their rights are.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the elections turn out and best of luck to everyone. I can’t wait to be there for students as potential VP of Academic Affairs.”

Azul Gonzales – Running for Vice President of Student Affairs

“My name is Azul Gonzalez, and I’m running for Vice President of Student Affairs. I’m an international student from Mexico City, currently in my third year of Fine Arts with a background in design. I moved to Canada three years ago, learned a new language, and built a life from the ground up. Right now I’m working three jobs while taking six classes, and that experience is exactly why I’m running. My campaign is built on three points: tuition payment plans, less stress, and more art. For many students, paying tuition in one installment creates real financial pressure, and that pressure doesn’t stay in your bank account. It shows up in your grades, your mental health, and your ability to engage with campus life. I want to bring tuition payment plans into the conversation. I understand that change doesn’t happen overnight, but there’s always a pilot we can start. When students carry less financial stress, they have more energy to succeed academically, care for their mental health, and connect with the people around them. That’s where art comes in. I believe art and design make people feel like they belong. Whether it’s student murals, interactive projects, or better designed event posters, bringing creativity into our shared spaces changes the way campus feels. It brings people together and sparks connection. I’m hardworking, I learn fast, and I’m passionate about every student’s experience here. I’m not running because I have all the answers. I’m running because I understand what students go through, because I’m right there too.

Learn more at azulgonzalez.com.”

Karthik Natarajan – Running for Vice-President of Student Affairs

“My name is Karthik, he/him, and I’m a third year Bioinformatics student in the College of Arts and Science. I’ve spent my time at USask deeply embedded in this community and like a lot of students, I’ve felt firsthand the gaps that exist in campus life, mental health support, and student engagement. I’m running for VP Student Affairs because I believe USask has incredible potential to be a place where every student genuinely thrives, and I want to be the person who helps make that real. This isn’t about a title it’s about showing up for students in the moments that actually matter.

Top Three Platform Points:

1. Accessible Mental Health Support Bringing peer support directly to students during the highest stress periods of the academic year, so help is available when you actually need it not weeks later.

2. A Campus That Feels Alive Creating consistent, free, low-barrier social opportunities for every student, especially those who feel like campus life isn’t designed for them.

3. Real Student Voice Building a transparent system where student feedback is collected, acted on, and publicly reported back so your input never disappears into a void again.”

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The following is the complete list of candidates running in the 2026 USSU election. Any candidates listed below that are not included above have chosen not to submit their platform to The Sheaf.

President

Abtin Safaeian

Nate Desjarlais 

Shahrukh Sarwar

Sharyar Faruqi 

Vice-President Academic Affairs 

Ashley Mendez Rosales

Vice-President Operations & Finance 

Elmer Vincent

Emmanuella Okoro

Vice-President Student Affairs 

Azul Gonzalez Avila

Karthik Natarajan 

University Senate

Norah Jacob

Nandish Jha

Sharon Jacob

Calico Khosravany

Jasmin Luu