The first female in four years is vying for the Student Association’s top spot, pledging to improve career services and continue the student space fight.
SA Vice President of Public Affairs Julia Susuni said she would push for better alumni-student programs in career services, put Trader Joe's on GWorld and create an interdisciplinary leadership minor.
“I think it's important to tackle those things that don’t take up as much time but are very important, because at the end of the day, everyone wants a more efficient system,” the junior said.
She pledged to expand alumni mentorship programs and help GW connect more students with alumni. GW, which hired its first provost for career services last month, will pump $20 million into job programs over the next decade. Susuni stressed keeping students involved in conversations about the overhaul.
Susuni said that she wants to improve the student experience, hoping to bring Trader Joe's onto GWorld and move Student Health Service on campus – ideas that past candidates have failed to achieve.
“Trader Joe’s is a place I’ve heard a lot about from students,” Susuni said. “It’s an alternative to Whole Foods because it’s more affordable.”
She said she would lobby the grocery store’s national headquarters, like former SA president Nicole Capp did in 2007 to add the former Watergate Safeway to the program. In 2007, Trader Joe’s declined to accept GWorld at its Foggy Bottom store.
Lindsey Mertens, a spokeswoman for Trader Joe’s, declined to comment on the possibly of adding GWorld.
She said moving SHS offices closer to campus, perhaps into Tompkins Hall, which will mostly empty out when science and engineering departments move into a new building in 2015, would be more convenient for sick students.
Capp, followed by Julie Bindleglass in 2009, were the last two females to get elected to the top SA post. If elected, Susuni would be the fourth female elected president in GW’s history.
The first female president, Carrie Potter, was elected in 1998. Since 1977, there have also been seven female executive vice presidents, including this year’s Abby Bergren.
Susuni will run against SA Sen. Michael Morgan, ESIA-U, and freshman Tywan Wade. The final candidate list will be announced Friday.
Susuni said a leadership minor, with internship and volunteering credit and interdisciplinary courses, would help students take advantage of D.C.
“I really want to help this University and make the student body better,” Susuni, a junior, said. “A lot of what I have seen this year has given me the tools to identify and act on all of these issues.”
She is a member of GW Women in Business, the Alpha Delta Pi and GW Hillel.
Sounds like a great candidate! I look forward to hearing more about her ideas during this election.
Check out her website, it’s so great! All of her platform ideas are addressed in detail!!
Nice try, Julia Susuni
Trader Joe’s on GWorld? I would loooove that!
What BS. I’m pretty sure people have been promising to do that for the last ten years. The reason it hasn’t happened is not for a lack of people trying.
So incredibly excited that she’s running!
So excited to have a LEGITIMATE candidate this election!
I know who I am voting for! She seems so bright and motivated! Wonderful candidate.
She wants to put SHS on campus, and Trader Joe’s on GWorld…..WOW, sounds awesome!
Number 2 tossed in Buffalo with fries
Julia is actually one of the most amazing people, ever. So glad to hear that she’s running!
Julia is incredible. I can’t say I was friends with her before the fall, but as I’ve gotten to know her, I’ve really seen her heart. I completely trust Julia and trust that she could be a great SA president, if elected.
Way to flood the hatchet comment section with supporters to make it look like everyone loves you. Smart strategy though.
I hear she does ecstasy at work! I heard it from this guy once I think so it must be true.
+1
Thank God someone is running with a brain! Julia will do an amazing job as President as she has done with everything else!
While I think she has great ideas, Trader Joes was offered Gworld but they declined due to the fees associated with accepting gworld.
McFiddies Tuesday nights should be GWorld eligible that would be my platform! Who needs food, chug a brew!
Both of the two “best” ideas are things that will likely not happen
Gworld attaches a larger than life fee on to al purchases, 10% compared to the 2-3% for visa and MC.
SHS being moved on campus would be a very costly move for the university. Unless new another admin building was built it is not likely to happen.
It’s nice to have a legitimate candidate! Unlike others in the race who are unqualified homophobes who have no true passions for what they say they are running on!
You’re right. I’m sure that unlike the “unqualified homophobes” in the race, she has a deep, abiding passion for putting Trader Joe’s on GWorld. I think I saw her actually tear up during a fierce debate on that issue one time.
Knock off the name-calling. That’s stupid. Calling the other candidates ridiculous names just makes Julia’s campaign seem like a team of childish mudslingers.
But that’s exactly what they are. Even after Julia has publicly announced she’s in this race, she still has her campaign team hide behind the keyboard. I guess that’s her strategy to winning this thing…
Glad to see Julia is running!
Some people are just capable of getting things done, and Julia is one of those people. It’s wonderful to watch her in action, because she cares and she always finds a way to deliver.
Julia’s candidacy is exciting not just because she could be the fourth female in office — that’s beside the point. It’s exciting because she is smart, qualified and a genuinely good person that understands that students are more important than bureaucracy.
In short, Julia would be wonderfully successful in this role and I wish her all the best!
So so so pumped that Julia is running! She is so kind and smart. She’ll do a great job.
I’m glad to see that a female is running and a Jewish one at that! GW is behind so many other universities in treating women equally. You’d think it’s 1950 or something around here. Good luck Julia!
Go back to the kitchen, darling. I’ll take a sandwich. Now.
Says the single male sitting alone in his room behind his computer. Real tough.
One of the EVP’s was Dianne Gayoski, in the 1996-97 year, I think.
Yeah baby! I think she used to attend meetings in her cheerleading uniform.