Updated on Feb. 4, 2025 at 10:50 a.m.
Ivana Drinziu, ArtSci ’26, Jaiden Watkins, ArtSci ’27, and Piper Veloso, ArtSci ’25, will lead as the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) executive come May 1.
The results of the ASUS election were announced on Jan. 31, following the closure of voting the night before. For the Society’s Presidential role, Drinziu secured 47.8 per cent of the vote, receiving 707 ballots in her favour, while her opponents, Edlira Ballaj and Leo Yang, both ArtSci ’26, garnered 387 and 385 votes, respectively. Watkins secured the Vice-President (Operations) position with 74.7 per cent of the vote, earning 860 ballots, compared to the 292 votes cast for Seham Kettaneh, ArtSci ’28. Meanwhile, Veloso received a strong vote of confidence, with 1,256 voters—93.9 per cent—expressing their .
Each candidate ran individually in a de-slated election, something the new Vice-President (Society Affairs), Veloso, spoke to in an interview with The Journal.
“I’m really excited to start collaborating with the other two just because it is like the second de-slated election. It’s a huge success to have this kind of outcome, so I’m just really excited to get working and start making an impact on ArtSci students,” Veloso said.
Drinziu, incoming ASUS president, echoed her excitement and added her overall plans going into this role.
“Small, meaningful changes can really go a long way. There’s already so many things in ASUS that are implemented that are very productive and they’re successful programs and just seeing how we can expand those programs and make them better for years to come is what my goal is,” Drinziu said in an interview with The Journal
The incoming Vice-President (Operations) Watkins added he is similarly excited for his role, hoping to have a positive impact on the society’s finances.
“[I’m] excited to move forward and hopeful about increasing the financial oversight, financial literacy within ASUS, I think that can avoid any problems going forward and fix a lot of what we’re facing here,” Watkins said.
In an interview with The Journal, current ASUS President Cole Olidis, spoke on the incoming executive team, praising their campaigns and wishing them luck.
“We’re very excited for the incoming exec team. We thought they all did a great job at the debate and with their campaigns and all their ideas they’re looking to bring into the role. Wish them nothing but the best for the next year,” Olidis said.
Other non-executive positions were also on the ballot with Jack Hickey, ArtSci ’26, elected as senator, Alice Le, ArtSci ’2,6 elected international representative, along with Isabelle Kosche, John Bae, both ArtSci ’26, and Allan Savini, ArtSci ’28, all elected as the next ASUS representatives to the AMS.
The mandatory ASUS fee was also voted on in this election, failing its intended increase of $6.12 from $31.55 to $37.67. While 632 individuals or 33.1 per cent of voters decided in favour of the increase, 1,277 or 66.9 per cent of students voted against it with 550 abstentions.
—With files from Allie Moustakis and Skylar Soroka
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