After months of vacancy, Owen Crawford-Lem, ArtSci ’23, has been elected Rector for the 2022-24 term, beating out five opponents: Caitlin Sankaran-Wee, ArtSci ’24, Leo Yang, ArtSci ’25, Sahiba Gulati, ArtSci ’23, William Bruce-Robertson, ArtSci ’25, and Emils Matiss, MA ’22.
Crawford-Lem will succeed Sam Hiemstra, ArtSci ’21—who resigned as Rector last March—making him the 38th Rector in Queen’s history. With a turnout of 2,058 voters, Crawford-Lem came first under a preferential ballot.
The Rector, a position unique to Queen’s, is the third officer of the University below the Principal and Chancellor. They serve as a point of between students and the University.
At the revealing ceremony, 36th rector Alex Da Silva presented the rector robe to Crawford-Lem.
Da Silva said she was excited to see the rector role filled again.
“I know the University has become more invested in making sure that everything is set up for Owen to succeed,” she said in an interview with The Journal. “I think with the system coming from the University and the AMS, [the rector position] will come with success.”
Crawford-Lem ran on a platform that looked at student relationships with the University, the Office of the Rector, and the community.
“I want to thank everyone on my campaign team and all my friends that really ed me through this,” Crawford-Lem said in an interview with The Journal.
“I’m really excited for the change we’re going to make, and the relationship we’re going to build.”
Matt D’Alessandro, Crawford-Lem’s campaign manager, said the campaign was filled with “ion” for the students.
“I’m really excited for Owen, he blew me out of the water more than I ever thought he could,” D’Alessandro said in an interview.
“Everything from his campaign came from his heart and […] in student leadership in general, coming from the heart is the most important part—and Owen is going to lead with every single heartstring.”
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