An overview of the executive candidates running for the VUSAC Spring 2025 Elections.
The voting period for the elections lasts from March 20 at 12:00 am to March 24 at 11:59 pm. This year, the four VUSAC executive positions have uncontested candidates. Nevertheless, it is important to be informed of the candidates running to represent the student body. An educated voting population is essential to further community goals and interests.
The content of the candidate profiles was primarily taken from their respective speeches and Q&A responses during Townhall on March 20, 2025.
President: Rohini Patra
Rohini Patra is a third-year economics and public policy student running her campaign on a seven-point agenda. During Townhall, Patra emphasized three of these points, namely “introducing 5-dollar meals at Neds, “greater financial transparency [between Vic students and VUSAC (Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council)”, and “bridg[ing] the gap between students and administrators.”
Patra traces her desire to be VUSAC president to “pro-community spirit.” She attaches this motivation to her agenda as president, noting that “collaborating with a pro-community spirit with other Vic Clubs and Levies” is essential for VUSAC to build unity.
Regarding constitutional changes, Patra intends to amend VISA to better represent international students in VUSAC. Additionally, she hopes to redistribute the workload of semi-formal from the Scarlett and Gold Commission to the rest of VUSAC.
In response to The Strand’s question about the attainability of Patra’s goals, she states “I don’t want to come across as a person who overpromises and underdelivers.” Regarding her point of 5-dollar meals at Neds, she intends to consult with Food Services and other relevant offices to accomplish her goal.
Vice-President Internal: Aiden Kong
Aiden Kong is a third-year pathobiology specialist who places himself as “well-versed in VUSAC processes.” Kong states that his experience as Senior International Mentor and Equity Commissioner would enable him to “guide council members [by] inform[ing] the council members how different things at VUSAC work”
Kong acknowledges the burden of the VPI role and intends to respond with a balanced work-life approach such as “staying on top of Google calendar, [and] do[ing] less extracurricular activities.”
In a question about responding to situations where students have divided beliefs, Kong answers that it is important to “explain the reasoning behind any controversial decision.” He acknowledges that “there are limitations and restraints VUSAC has to operate under.”
Kong intends to better communication between students and VUSAC by encouraging VUSAC Execs to be more “public facing.” Moreover, he hopes to gain student traction by hosting inviting office hours such as a boba bar.
Vice-President External: Isha Mathur
“I intend to focus on food affordability,” Isha Mathur states as her primary objective as VPE. Upset about the seemingly indifferent responses of Food Services to rising costs of on-campus food, Mathur plans to find alternative solutions to mitigate inflation on the prices of Neds and Burwash meals. Additionally, Mathur intends to “maintain transparency about [her] progress.”
Mathur hopes to validate the efforts of council members by acknowledging their work. She holds “saying thank you to everyone on [the] council” to be important given the lack of recognition VUSAC members receive for their efforts.
In response to the same question posed to Aiden Kong, tackling situations where students have divided beliefs, Mathur acknowledges that “there will be likely someone who is upset.” However, she notes that such situations require “confidence in decision-making.”
Vice-President Student Organizations: Anya Ivantchenko
Anya Ivantchenko is a second-year student studying Drama and Political Science who premises her goals as prospective VPSO on “accessibility and outreach.” She points out that “anti-bigoted practices in institutions [are] systemised by oppression.” Ivantchenko intends to tackle this systemic oppression by “carving out spaces for those who have been discriminated [against].”
As Executive Director of the Victoria College Drama Society, Ivantchenko states that she has formed relationships with VUSAC and plans to prevent student organisations from being “intimidated with budgeting and auditing policies.”
To work towards being a holistic representation of student voices, Ivantchenko intends to “function as an objective standpoint” rather than voice personal opinions. Moreover, she plans to promote transparency between the student body and VUSAC by publishing meeting minutes.
