Competition fierce as student elections kick off

Students Joanna Scully, Stephanie Kameric and Jonathan Nkunzimania
SRC 2015 Presidential Candidates

By Katherine Morris

Three strong student candidates are in the running for the top job as president of the Student Representative Counciltoserve as the student voice in 2015.

Students at the Nathan campus have until close of business today to have their say and cast their vote.

Presidential candidate for the ‘Unite’ ticket is second year Government and International Relations student Stephanie Kameric.

Stephanie is also the current SRC Secretary and President of the Griffith University Women’s Association.

Among her priorities is ensuringthe highest levels of safety for students, with a focus on women, the LGBTIQ community and Indigenous students.

“I also want the SRC to take a more serious stance when it comes to advocacy issues. This year we did mental health month, which is an issue that’s very close to my heart, and I’d really like to continue this in 2015,” Stephanie said.

Business student Jonathan Nkunzimania came to Australia as a refugee from Burundi in east Africa, after living in a refugee camp in Tanzania. He became an Australian Citizen in 2012.

He is the ‘Your Voice’ ticket candidate and wants to make sure students’ voices are heard and changes are made for students.

“I’m hoping to achieve all our policies such as cheap food deals every day of the week,” he said. “We’ve spoken to many students to see what students care about and want to see changed.

“To be the voice of many, I believe that many voices together makes one united voice.”

Representing the ‘Gryffithdor’ ticket is Law and Commerce student and avid debater Joanna Scully who is also Griffith Organised Debating Society secretary.

She wants to make sure that students are well looked after at Griffith.

“We want to be the ticket that gives students what they want by constantly engaging with students. More student services such as providing free weekly breakfasts and introducing nap pods in the library are a priority for us,” Joanna said.

All three candidates have focused strongly ongetting students to vote this week. Last year approximately 32% of eligible students voted and Stephanie, Jonathan and Joanna are agreed that a larger turnout is to be encouraged.

Undergraduate students can vote online here, polls close Friday 26th September at 5 pm.