Alik Schier
Hi! I’m Alik Schier and I’m running because I believe in the collective power that students have when we organize, educate, and raise hell for what’s important to us. This campaign isn’t about one candidate or one issue, it’s about the future we want to see at DePaul. I believe we can build a DePaul that focuses on moving forward, creating new systems and reimagining what we want the next 4 years to look like here. If you do too, I hope I can count on your support! Not me, us.
Initiatives:
1. Abolish unpaid internships on campus and discourage those offers from being offered to students
2. Comprehensive Sex Education classes & resources that are queer inclusive and covers abortion access and contraception methods.
3. End the 25% tuition discount to students of CPD officers & instead use that money to fund racial justice organizations on campus
Daniel McNeill
Hello, my name is Daniel McNeill, he/him, and I am from Greensboro, North Carolina. I am an acting major and looking to double, my favorite movie is Clue, and like everyone else, I was a barista. I have spent the majority of my life working, from theaters, Starbucks, and even a Tree farm. From these places, I learned many “life skills,” like dealing with a “Karen” and accurately propping a live tree. But something I noticed about all of these places was the environment and how it impacted my attitude toward work. Through this “observation,” I came to discover that community dramatically influences the environment and, therefore, my perception of work. I found that the more I felt left out or questioned by those around me, the less excited I was to work. A supportive community is vital. Students pay several thousands of dollars to attend DePaul, so it is imperative that we feel comfortable and safe in the community, both faculty and students, that it creates. Developing a DePaul where everyone has space, a voice, and does not feel left out or looked down upon is my top priority, in person or not.
Initiatives:
As a person who grew up in a conservative environment, I understand the feeling of isolation that comes with being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community while living at home. As senator, I will work toward creating virtual spaces and resources for people who are currently experiencing queer isolation. Through listening to my female-identifying peers and working toward confronting my privilege as a cis male, I recognize that sexism is still a major part of the culture at DePaul. As senator, I will make sure recognition of sexism within course material and discussion is standard. I will also fight to make sure that addressing discriminatory behavior and language becomes a more discrete and comfortable process. While members of our class are spending the first and possibly second quarter located across the world developing an initiative that connects DePaul students who are located near each other to create a sense of community is essential. Considering that a majority of us missed out on many mile-stone events that make up a typical senior year, I will work toward planning optional “make-up events’ like a “Missed Opportunities Prom.”
Olga Mourgelas
Hi! My name is Olga Mourgelas and I am an Applied Diplomacy major. I'm passionate about music, traveling, soccer, and learning languages. I'm running for SGA because I am dedicated to developing a safe, inclusive, connected, supportive, socially aware, and fun community for DePaul students.
Initiatives:
1. Organize virtual and in-person events for first-years. I want to provide more opportunities for freshmen to meet each other by organizing at least two virtual or in-person events a quarter for freshmen. Events can be movie nights, a bonfire, open mic nights, video game tournaments, speaker’s presentation, etc. or virtual town halls. Town halls will give us freshmen the opportunity to publicly voice our opinions and enact change at DePaul. Each town hall can have a different focus, such as racial justice, mental health, transitioning to college online, the LGBTQ+ community, and sexual and relationship abuse and violence.
2. Establish a legal advocacy program in collaboration with the DePaul College of Law, the Title IX Office, or other organizations that ensures students who are victims of sexual and relationship abuse that need legal assistance can attain it free of charge.
3. Make mental health resources more accessible. I want to establish a platform dedicated to providing resources and support regarding mental health. This platform can take the form of an app, website, etc, and will provide an organized list of resources offered by DePaul and external resources, an anonymous forum where students can post stories, quotes, pictures, or anything that can be considered motivational, and a DePaul-run mental health crisis hotline.
Steffany Donis
I am a first-generation college student and a bilingual Latina who was born and raised in Chicago. I am a political science major, and I hope to become a successful lawyer and politician in the future. I chose the following initiatives by asking first year students what they wanted to see done differently, and I will continue to do so. Please reach out to me with any questions and concerns.
Initiatives:
1) I plan to address the pressures first year students are facing while trying to manage school work in a virtual setting. I will create spaces where students can study together, and I will also advocate for students to get more flexibility on deadlines due to the drastic impact of the pandemic on our lives.
2) Due to the many acts of racism and discrimination occurring all over the nation, it is extremely important to me that every student at DePaul feels safe, welcomed, and respected. I want to focus on creating a more inclusive environment by having more safe spaces for POC and LGBT+ students and expanding the number of gender neutral bathrooms on campus.
3) DePaul is not doing enough to support faculty of color. They must increase diversity and put money into programs such as African and Black Diaspora Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, and Global Asian Studies, so they can hire more people of color. I would also like to push for the student body being able to give their input on faculty members getting tenure.
