Two candidates are in the running to be the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society’s (ASUS) next Vice-President (Operations).
Jaiden Watkins, ArtSci ’27, and Seham Kettaneh, ArtSci ’28, are both vying for the position. If elected, the respective candidate will be responsible for ASUS’ finances and services, including Good Times Diner and ASUS Peer Tutoring. The elected Vice-President (Operations) will serve all Arts and Science students for one year.
Jaiden Watkins
“I want to be told something I’m doing wrong every day so I can come in better the next day,” Watkins said.
Currently serving as the society’s Deputy Governance Officer, Watkins aims to prioritize communication between student government and the student body if elected.
In an interview with The Journal, Watkins expressed concerns that many students in the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) aren’t aware of ASUS. In response to this worry, Watkins plans to speak directly to his peers in classes, increase the accessibility of information via ASUS social media s, and increase ASUS’ presence during orientation events.
He’s committed to communicating all finance-related decisions, stating his goal is for ASUS to break even or turn a profit. Watkins said while assessing the society’s budget, he’ll balance his financial goals with preserving vital student experiences without sacrificing large events.
Stressing the importance of informing students about FAS’ budget and ASUS’ operating budget, Watkins plans to share this information through Instagram posts, highlighting FAS’ ongoing financial struggles he believes students should understand better.
Building on the same momentum of transparency and community, Watkins aims to continue the work of current Vice-President (Operations) Silas Tamlyn, ArtSci ’25, by engaging alumni through fundraisers and speaking events to further enhance students’ experiences.
Seham Kettaneh
Like Watkins, first-year student Kettaneh wants to create change by making the ASUS general operating budget more accessible to students.
Kettaneh believes her background in finance, as a small business owner uniquely positions her to address the financial challenges of the society. If elected, she aims to approach the role with transparency, describing her goal as making the budget conquerable, rather than a taboo subject. She has plans to establish a student-led audit committee to allow the student body to see where money is being spent and identify opportunities for better allocation.
“People don’t want to read long reports,” Kettaneh said. She believes students will become ionate about fixing FAS’ budget deficit when they’re mobilized and given a reason to care.
Despite having no previous experience within ASUS, Kettaneh believes her role as an outsider brings a fresh perspective to build on the current team’s work. She wants to improve engagement, incentivizing students’ participation by offering food at ASUS events.
Kettaneh aims to cater to diverse learners during her term, emphasizing that her public communications are designed to engage both auditory and visual learners. She believes this approach will help ensure every student feels represented and connected.
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