Following Rabeel Patoli’s resignation from his position as Vice President for Multicultural Affairs, Binghamton University students can vote Wednesday and Thursday to fill the open Student Association executive board position.
Students living on campus can vote in their respective dining halls, with the exception of students living in College-in-the-Woods, who can vote in Appalachian Dining Hall. Students who live off-campus or in Hillside or Susquehanna communities can vote in the Old University Union.
Patoli resigned last June, citing personal reasons, and three candidates are now running for the position. Check out the interviews below for more information on the candidates.
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Pipe Dream: Between resignations and close elections, the candidacy for VPMA has been highly contested in recent years. How do you plan to commit yourself to the job?
Muqsith Ahmadi: ‘One very strong reason why people quit is that the duties given to them have become very tough. For me, I am always ready to overcome big challenges facing me. When I was eight years old, my father asked me to do rock climbing. Honestly, I was very scared, but he told me to let go of my fear. With that teaching from my father, I am currently the president of Toastmasters club, a public speaking organization, and own three business ventures. I will definitely not be afraid of the challenges I may have if I get elected to be VPMA. I will not quit in amplifying the student’s voices.’
David Redbord: ‘For two years I have been part of the Women’s Center’s executive board. When I first joined, the organization was not in good shape, lacking even an entire e-board ‘ now it has a fully capable e-board, and a student body. For two years I put hard work and effort into the Women’s Center and now I want to put that energy into the VPMA office. I have also been part of the Intercultural Awareness Committee for two years. That too could use a large amount of improvement, and at the helm of that committee, I could see that that gets done.’
Radhames Tejada: ‘In order to answer your question I feel that I must tell you a little about myself. I am a man with conviction and devotion; I am not the kind of individual who will walk out on my duties. I feel that it would be my obligation to serve my students. I have passion and conviction, I genuinely want to make a change on this campus, and the VPMA office can help me do that. For four years I have watched how increasingly segregated the campus community has become. For such a large and diverse campus with so many student groups, we as BU students do not seem to be leaving our comfort zone. I want my fellow black students to attend Hillel meetings, I want Latino students at China night. We as students need to start respecting and supporting one another. This is college, the place where we are to expand our horizons and think outside of the ‘box.’
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Pipe Dream: What are your goals if you win the position, and how do these goals set you aside from the other candidates?
Muqsith Ahmadi: ‘I see that lots of Binghamton students are paying thousand of dollars to the placement agencies to get internship or volunteer abroad. I will work together with the office of International Student and Scholar Services to develop our very own work abroad program. So far, they have been extremely successful in their study abroad program. The other goal is that I would encourage all the cultural groups to not only perform fundraising events at the school level but also go beyond comfort zone and perform a cultural showcase for companies in Binghamton or even New York City.’
David Redbord: ‘The VPMA has been a largely contested position because of its importance. Our campus is gifted with a very diverse community, and the amount of cultural groups that are part of our SA reflect that. Despite the amount of students, and the availablity of the cultural groups and the programming and atmosphere they provide, only a small percentage of students get involved and take advantage. I think this is largely due to [communication] between the SA and our communities, which could be improved substantially. I want to have a representative in each community who will work out of the VPMA office to bring the community notice of largescale events sponsored by the cultural groups. ‘ I want to go to the cultural groups themselves. ‘ I want to meet with them, help them plan their programming, give them additional funding if they need it. In addition to that, I want to create an environment in which the cultural groups have several cooperative programs over the course of the year ‘
Radhames Tejada: ‘I wish to reach out to all student groups. As previously stated I want different groups with different interest to support one another. Although our politics may be different we are all the same. How are we to understand one another and/or where someone is coming from if we have little to no interaction? A cultural dinner won’t solve any of these things, we need better forums with well-rounded speakers; we as students must engage one another on an intellectual basis. Only then will we begin to see a change on our campus.’
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Pipe Dream: Aside from the different events and forums held on campus each year, are there any alternative plans you have for encouraging multicultural unity at BU?
Muqsith Ahmadi: ‘Sports and talent competitions between cultural groups.’
David Redbord: ‘Yes. I plan to have banquets within each community sponsored by a variety of cultural groups. In this way we can get the communities more involved with the cultural groups, while fostering tolerance and awareness.’
Radhames Tejada: ‘Yes, I want to reach out to the greek community since they are such an important part of campus life. I also wish to work closer with groups like REACH, since they work so closely with the student body and tackle issues that affect all cultures.’
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Pipe Dream: What are you planning as your first project if you win the position?
Muqsith Ahmadi: ‘Developing our very own work abroad program, which will be beneficial in reducing the costs that the students have to pay for them to do volunteer or internship abroad. Hiring placement agency costs thousand of dollars. So, with our own work abroad program offered to students during winter/summer holiday, students will pay less compared to using a hiring placement agency.’
David Redbord: ‘I would like to see an open house in which all the members of the SA executive board are introduced to students, communicating their abilities and what their office handles so that students can get to know us. I think that students should know who represents them, rather then just seeing some faces that come out when it’s time to vote!’
Radhames Tejada: ‘I want to inform freshmen students about the SA and about the importance of voting. I feel that not enough efforts have been allocated to informing incoming students about the SA and how to become a part of it. This is especially true for students of color. I also want to organize a large, well-planned forum complete with a panel of professors and other intellectuals. My plan is to address difficult questions and issues not only on our campus but within our government. I also wish to plan several fun social events complete with foods from different cultures, and perhaps one party on campus.’