First-years begin campaigning for Class Council

Freshman Class Council campaigns are in full swing as of the morning of Sept. 28, the first day of campaigning. Eighteen candidates are running for five spots. Their platforms advocate for more student events and an increase in dining options, among other issues. 

There are three Undergraduate Student Government election cycles each academic year during the fall, winter, and spring. The fall election cycle elects members of the Freshman Class Council, a part of the class government. Two other election cycles are held, one in the winter for USG executive members and class senators, and the other in the spring for U-Councilors and Class Government officers. 

Voting for the Class Council will open on Monday at noon and close at noon Wednesday, with ballots sent by email. 

Each election cycle begins with rules meetings for prospective candidates, held by USG’s chief elections manager. Then, the candidates for the class officers must obtain at least 25 signatures from undergraduates in the corresponding class year for their candidacy petition. The candidates are then approved by Chief Elections Manager Emi Ren ’29. 

The 18 candidates campaigning for Freshman Class Council marks an increase by one from last year. In an interview with The Daily Princetonian, Ren said, “We’re actually glad to see that big of a turnout because there’s only five positions. That means that everything’s not just contested, but also contested heavily.”

Class of 2030 candidates have employed a diverse range of campaigning strategies to build connections with their classmates: holding conversations, hanging around late meal at Frist Campus Center, and advertising via flyers and social media. Twelve of the candidates provided written statements about their campaigns to the ‘Prince.’ 

Esther Atolaiye is running on the campaign platform G.A.M.E., which stands for Garnering Spirit, Accessibility of Resources, Mobilizing Spirit, and Exploration and New Endeavors. Atolaiye’s platform includes initiatives across residential colleges, shared academic resources, and a newsletter with service initiatives.

Candidates Juan Revolorio and Magda Rajszewski highlight dining policy with their platforms. 

Revolorio proposes allowing unused late meal budgets to “roll over” to the next day once a week. Rajszewski said she plans on advocating for late meal extensions during peak study times and introducing a dining request form where students can suggest and vote for Friday’s main entree and an ice cream addition at Choi Dining Hall.

Their proposals for late meal reform comes after the University scaled back the weekday hours of late meal from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. last August.

Another common thread amongst the candidates was a push for more fun, community-building events. Candidates Eric Ayivor, Joann Kim, Anysa Medrano, and Revolorio expressed plans for class field days, tournaments, watch parties, study breaks, and formals. 

Both Kim and Medrano said they want to create traditions that continue all four years. Ayivor wrote, “I want to see events that people will remember when they’re 80.”

Kim is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ 

Revolorio wants to introduce socials like paid trips, optional mentorship, cross-college dining nights, and class merch “so good, they’ll have it on the runways.” 

Kyle Wu seeks to launch “fun new socials like look-alike contests during Halloween, costume contests, and an Olympic-styled (field day) event with pie-ing, colored powder, and more.” 

Many of the candidates expressed a desire to cultivate class community through both traditional and unorthodox methods. 

“I believe the best we have to offer to those around us are three things: empathy, enthusiasm and action,” Marie Casares wrote. 

Mohammed Alyafeai wrote, “There is nothing I want more than to fulfill not just the needs but the wants of the class. I know some people might not like my marketing strategy of the free boba and free playa bowl posters, but as a freshman class officer, I WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN!!!”

Hannah Goldsmith said she wants to build a supportive Princeton community by hosting coffee chats to talk about issues or ideas and centralizing a Class of 2030 events calendar. Adeline Law wrote that she wants to create “an event where first years are able to meet the staff that works on campus.”=

Alyssia Pope hopes to bring good energy “through fun events, meaningful connections, and moments we’ll remember long after graduation.” 

Candidates Andrew Stepanyan, Ariella Adjangba-Baker, Fay Yip, Ipichiesimhe Inaughe, Jasmin Abu, and Sophia Li did not respond to requests for comment.

Voters will be able to vote for at least five candidates by indicating their approval of each presented candidate, according to the USG elections handbook. In the Spring 2026 USG elections, the use of an incorrect voting system resulted in some races being voided, causing some victories to be overturned. 

The five candidates who obtain the most votes will be elected as class councilors. After the votes have been counted, the annual USG celebratory welcome dinner will be held for the newly elected candidates.

Learn more about the 2030 candidates and their platforms here. 

Mia Chen is a News contributor for the ‘Prince’ and a member of the Class of 2030.

Sophie Wang is a News contributor for the ‘Prince’ and a member of the Class of 2029.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.