General Election
Candidates Members at Large ( 5 positions available)
Eliana Carlos
Hello! I’m Eliana and I am currently a 3rd year student under Industrial Design. Ever since I started studying at Emily Carr, I have seen how vibrant the community is, its joys and its struggles. Thus, I would love to give back to the community by helping in the exciting plans the Student Union has in store for you.
As a current Member-at-Large and head of the Services Team for the ECSU, I’ve helped organize skill-building workshops such as portfolio photography and button-bracelet making to foster connection within the community. Our team has also partnered with local restaurants and grocery stores to provide student discounts through the BCFS Deals App, supporting students facing rising living costs.
If I were given the opportunity to continue working for the student union, I would love to continue improving food security for students and being a voice for international students – given the rise in tuition fees this year. I believe these aspects are important for Emily Carr for these play pivotal roles in student life and safety.
If you’d like to further discuss plans or concerns, feel free to reach out in person or through ecarlos@ecuad.ca! You can usually find me tinkering away in the ceramics studio or hanging out in the library :)
Thank you and I hope to chat with you soon!
Yining Huo
Hi everyone! Thank you for taking the time to read this.
My name is Yining. As a third-year undergraduate and an international student, I care deeply about whether campus life feels welcoming, connected, and worth stepping into beyond classes. I chose not to run in my earlier years because I wanted to first understand how our school works, rather than make promises without knowing what could realistically be done.
I managed a student-run charity for more than two years before entering university. The club was unstructured and lacked participation when I took it. I assisted in the development of events such as music festivals, bazaars, and talent shows, as well as the establishment of long-term fundraising to support philanthropic and disaster relief initiatives. I learned that students are more likely to participate when events feel comfortable and easy to join, rather than impressive only on paper.
Moreover, I've been organizing informal community gatherings in Richmond for the past year, which usually attract 20 to 30 people per session. As a host, I discovered that the most crucial part is to ensure that everyone is at ease, secure, and able to enjoy being there. When people feel at ease, connection happens naturally. This directly reflects a challenge I see at our school.
Many students avoid networking not because they lack interest, but because it feels too formal and intimidating, especially without industry experience. Through social media, I saw many students express this discomfort. When I asked whether they would attend more student-friendly events, I received over 60 positive responses from students across Vancouver schools.
As a Member-at-Large, I aim to bring this approach to campus by establishing low-pressure, student-centered exchange spaces that promote engagement and cross-program interaction. Also, as an international student, I understand how communication obstacles can lead to isolation, but my purpose is broader: to help students feel more comfortable participating in campus life and planning for what comes next.
I don’t promise immediate change, but I commit to careful planning, consistent effort, and responsible follow-through.
Towustasin Stocker
Hi, I’m Towustasin Stocker (Tao) from Haida Gwaii, and I’m running as an At-Large member with ECSU because I want student representation that is visible, responsive, and practical.
I have 13 years of professional multimedia experience, which means I know how to turn complex information into clear communication people actually understand. I also attended this year’s Students’ Union AGM, so I have seen how decisions get made, how priorities move through the union, and how the ECSU works with partner organizations. That matters because good intentions are not enough. The work has to move from discussion to action.
As an At-Large member, I will focus on:
Clear, consistent communication students can follow, including what is happening, why it matters, and how to get involved.
Stronger feedback loops so concerns get tracked, addressed, and reported back.
Practical advocacy around affordability, accessibility, and student well-being, with follow-through and transparency.
If you want someone who will show up, listen closely, and turn student needs into concrete outcomes, I would be honoured to earn your vote.
Lily Taban
Hello everyone! My name is Lily Taban, I am a 3rd year Film + Screen arts student and this is my first time running for the Students’ Union. I am passionate about creating a safe space and community for everyone on campus. University can get easily overwhelming and feel isolating, especially for people of diverse backgrounds and new students. I want to make sure there are inviting spaces and organized events to help bring everyone together through more active and accessible ways of informing/communicating events. Food insecurity is another issue I care deeply about and a point I will actively advocate for.
I am always willing to be a helping hand and have volunteered throughout my time at Emily Carr. I’m also in many clubs, you might recognize me from KACE. There’s not many film students in the Students’ Union, so I hope to be that voice if elected as Members at Large.
I want students to feel supported throughout their time here and a more lively campus life. Creative people deserve a creative space to help stay motivated !
A little about me is I’m an optimist and some people say I’m always wearing purple, feel free to ask questions, get to know me in person or email me ktaban@ecuad.ca
Sunmeet Tut
Hello, my name is Sunmeet Tut, but you can call me Sunny and I’m currently a first year Visual Arts student at Emily Carr. Since starting at Emily Carr, I’ve gained so many new memories, experiences, and opportunities. I am standing to be elected as a Member at Large Representative for the Emily Carr Students’ Union Board of Directors as I would like to ensure that the views of every student from all years and disciplines are represented and valued.
In High School I was an executive member in the Student Council; thus, I believe I can help facilitate meetings and decision-making, and work collaboratively with the team to ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for the student body.
One of my goals is to create a more vibrant community within the university. Having more events, fundraisers, and clubs are a few examples. I simply want everyone to have a place at ECU, a place where they feel like they belong and can meet like-minded people. A community made by the students for the students. I’m also someone who enjoys connecting with people and creating meaningful experiences. I want to create more opportunities for students to share their own opinions and ideas to not only help improve the school, but also to create a space to speak their minds with no judgment.
You can probably hear me around the school with the sound of my key chains from a mile away. Aside from Art, I love to read and make playlists!
If elected, it would be a great honour to be a board member at the Students’ Union, and to be given the opportunity to make a positive impact on your university experience.
Candidates Faculty of Art Representative (2 positions available)
Jenny Chao
Hi, my name is Jenny Chao, sometimes known as Jen, and this will be my second term as a board member of the ECSU, if elected. This year, I’m running for the Faculty Visual Arts Representative position, where I can continue to contribute to a friendly and collaborative environment here at Emily Carr! You may have seen me around campus, hosting events such as Sip and Sketch, hanging around the Students’ Union office, or procrastinating my next big projects. I try to make sure that I'm doing the most that I can, whether that's in school or in my personal life, and I will continue this pattern into the Students’ Union. That’s why, this year, as your visual arts' representative, I’m going to be continuing to advocate for things like accessibility and equity on campus, as well as food security through food assistance on and off campus, through supporting the food pantry and food cart initiatives. I have experience in the position of Racialized Community Coordinator on this board, where I do outreach to the Indigenous Students of the AGP, whether that is for the AGM for our BC Federation of Students, or things like this nomination period for the new board.
Thank you for this opportunity and reading my statement! Hope to see you around on campus.
Cheers!
Jenny
Sanjana Patel
My name is Sanjana , and I’m running for the position of Faculty of Visual Art Representative because I care deeply about the kind of community we are building at Emily Carr and the kind we deserve.
I’m not running just to hold a title. I’m running because I’ve seen the pressures we face:
we face real challenges here: rising tuition, expensive materials that aren’t optional, software subscriptions, and printing costs. Many students are balancing part-time jobs while managing intense studio hours and many are even facing food insecurity in one of the most expensive cities in Canada.
On top of financial pressure, there’s creative burnout. Critique culture can be intense, studio access can be limited, equipment bookings fill up fast, and sometimes it feels like decisions are made without enough student input.
If elected, I will advocate for affordability and transparency around fees, stronger food security initiatives, better access to studio spaces and equipment, clearer communication between students and the administration, and stronger professional development opportunities so we feel prepared beyond graduation.
As an artist myself, I know how personal and vulnerable our work can be and I want to help create an environment where everyone feels supported, respected, and empowered.
If you want someone committed, approachable, and ready to work . I would be honoured to have your vote.
Let’s shape this together.
Faculty of Design & Dynamic Media Representatives (2 Positions)
Pezo Arugu
Hello my name is Pezo Arugu im running for Representative of Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media. I want to give Emily Carr a chance at fostering a genuine student community that not only allows newer students to make friends easier but assists in keeping this school buzzing during all events motivated by community. If given the chance to represent the Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media, it would be an honour. I have been a member of the Academic Policy and Planning Committee helping the school slowly make better and more student friendly policies. Along with this I understand that not all Faculties are treated equally in terms of resources. I would like to assist to ensure that there is an even distribution of school resources between them and help to continue maintaining a safe and friendly environment where students can work. Being a 2nd year for 3D Animation I want to make sure that 2nd year students stay in conversations as I want our first impression of 3D Animation to be positive. Currently acting as the Animation lab student monitor I am familiar with helping make sure the computer labs across the school are not only clean and working well but also in taking in complaints to improve the standard of working.
Karol Hancco
Hi everyone, my name is Karol, and I’m running for Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media Representative.
This year, I served as Faculty of Culture and Community Representative, where I worked closely with foundation students. That experience showed me how essential it is for students to feel heard and supported, especially while navigating intense and creative programs like ours.
As an Animation student, I understand how demanding our courses can be. We spend long hours in studios, investing not only time but parts of ourselves into our projects. That level of commitment deserves strong communication, transparency, and real advocacy.
I also worked closely with Campaigns and Advocacy. As an international student, I understand how issues like tuition increases can be incredibly stressful, especially when they happen in the middle of our education. Students deserve clarity, representation, and support during those moments.
I’m running because I want students in Animation, Design, and Film to feel supported academically, creatively, and mentally. I care about building stronger connections between students and faculty and ensuring that our voices meaningfully influence decisions that affect us.
I would be honoured to continue advocating for you.
Justin Kramchynsky
Medhavi Mahesh
I am Medhavi Mahesh, and I’m in my third year in the 3D Animation program. Over the past two years, I’ve been part of the Emily Carr Student Union, first as a Member at Large and now as the Design and Dynamic Media Representative. Being in these roles has given me a real understanding of how the Union works and how much impact student voices can have when they’re heard.
Outside of the Union, I’m also a co-lead of WIA Collective at Emily Carr. I’m involved in different spaces across campus because I genuinely enjoy being part of the community. Whether it’s organizing, collaborating, or just checking in with people in the studio, I like staying connected. I think that’s one of my biggest strengths. I’m approachable, I communicate openly, and I’m always willing to step up when something needs to get done.
I care a lot about making campus feel supportive and exciting, especially for students who might not always feel represented. As someone in a multidisciplinary practice, I understand how different each student's experience can be, and I want to continue advocating in ways that are practical and realistic.
I’m a people person and I’m here to keep showing up, listening, and working hard for our student body and make a comfortable space for my peers and friends!
If you want someone experienced, involved, and easy to talk to, I’d really appreciate your vote:)
Candidates Culture & Community (1 position available)
Isabelle Zhao
Hi everyone!! My name is Isabelle Zhao, and I am running to represent YOUR Faculty of Culture + Community ᕦ(ò - óˇ)ᕤ
As a Foundation student constantly crossing disciplines and meeting people outside my own program, I experience culture not as an abstract idea, but as something lived every day. In how we collaborate, how we critique, how we speak to one another, and how safe we feel expressing our ideas. Culture is built through people, not policies. The environments we create shape who feels confident enough to speak, who feels safe enough to experiment, and who feels like they truly belong. That is why representation matters.
Having moved between different cultural and educational environments, I understand what it means to enter a new space and search for belonging. That perspective shapes how I think about leadership. Representation should feel human. Not distant or bureaucratic, but accessible and real. Leadership is not about speaking the loudest. It is about listening carefully, asking better questions, and making sure no one feels invisible in the conversation.
As students, we navigate creative vulnerability, academic pressure, and the uncertainty of growth. If elected, I will advocate for clearer communication between students and faculty, more accessible ways to share feedback, and creative spaces where students feel supported, heard, and respected.
Isabelle says YES.
YES to listening.
YES to trying.
YES to culture built together.
If elected, I will represent you with care, curiosity, and commitment.
THANK YOU 💗💗💗🍀🔐
Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research Representative (1 Position)
Tripti Rao
My name is Tripti Rao, and I am a graduate student at Emily Carr University standing for the position of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Representative. I am interested in this role because graduate students occupy a complex position within the University as students, researchers, and often workers navigating overlapping expectations with limited clarity and support.
My academic background and studio-based training have shaped how I approach collaboration, listening, and problem-solving. Within my cohort and across graduate programs, I maintain strong working relationships formed through shared studios, classes, and common spaces. These everyday interactions provide insight into how policies, resources, and physical environments are actually experienced by graduate students.
I see this role as one of careful representation and accountability: listening attentively across programs, articulating concerns clearly within the ECSU and faculty-facing structures, and ensuring that information and decisions are communicated back to students in accessible ways. I am particularly interested in advocating for clearer communication around research support, funding structures, workload expectations, and the use and maintenance of shared graduate and common spaces. These are not peripheral issues; they directly shape how we work, collaborate, and sustain ourselves during graduate study.
If elected, I will approach this role with consistency, seriousness, and care, remaining attentive to the realities of graduate life and committed to inclusive, thoughtful representation.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to represent the graduate student community.
With gratitude and warm regards,
Tripti
Natasha A. Walter-Pinay
Natasha A. Walter-Pinay // Osá-Wisue Penasue Iskawoā
I am primarily an oil painter and jeweler from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation on Treaty 4 territory. I have come to the unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands and territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples and this Mother Earth. I am currently in the MFA program, I can be found dwelling either in my studio or in the AGP chipping away at tasks, such as this candidate statement. I am also currently a TA for an undergraduate course called Indigenous Presence this semester! I am interested in learning how to serve and get to know our communities more, and become a link between recognizing colonial structures in our institutions and research, and learning/understanding what/how we can implement change regarding such.
It is a fabulous honour to be considered for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Representative position! Megwich/Thank You!