Editor’s Note: While Victor Zhang is not ordinarily involved in any coverage relating to the USU, as he is an employee of the organisation, the editorial team has made an exception for matters relating to the 2025 USU Election given the intensive labour and time requirements demanded by student election coverage.
Content Warning: The policy analysis section includes discussion of sexual violence.
Board hopefuls, their supporters, watchful stupolites, student media, and hungry passersby on lunch break crammed into Hermann’s! Could you name anywhere else you’d rather be?
Chaired by the USU Director of Debates Charlie Ryan, candidates first delivered a two minute opening speech, then were grilled by a panel including Pulp editor-in-chief Hugo Hay, Honi Soit’s very own Charlotte Saker, and USU Board President Bryson Constable (Liberal). Strap in as we recount the many silly and serious things the Board hopefuls said.
Candidates Nabilah Chowdhury (Independent), Michelle Choy (Independent), Sally Liu (Penta), Lachlan Mansour (Independent), Leo Moore (Unity), Cassidy Newman (NLS), Annika Wang (Independent), Layla Wang (Independent), and Archie Wolifson (Independent), were present and spoke in that order. Emily Boxall, Thomas Fletcher, and Noah Rancan were still absent and unwilling to be scrutinised by the public.
Food & Hall
Affordability and food are at the core of every candidate’s campaigns this year. Layla Wang (Independent) spoke about the USU’s “$350,000 surplus from 2024” and believed that the USU could send more food trucks up to the Conservatorium and have the USU discount introduced at the Conservatorium’s Piccolo Me cafe. Sally Liu (Penta) spoke about the responsibility of the USU in “enriching the affordable life on campus”.
Leo Moore (Unity), Michelle Choy (Independent), Liu, and Annika Wang (Independent), are the candidates who have been pushing for the USU to introduce a food hall on campus akin to the campus canteen at the University of Melbourne. When queried by the panel about the revitalisation of Manning House, Choy made a dig at the new vendors stating that according to her friends “it doesn’t taste good or what”.
A Duty of Care
Another topic brought up by candidates was the USU having a duty of care to students and an obligation to act ethically. Nabilah Chowdhury (Independent) said the “USU [isn’t] stepping up in the way students deserve” with regards to ethical investments and partnerships. Layla Wang (Independent) and Archie Wolifson (Independent) spoke about the USU’s responsibility in preventing incidences of sexual violence and responding when it occurs.
Wang spoke to the USU needing closer “collaboration with the Safer Communities team” and the need for club executives to undergo “in person [consent and SASH] training as a part of the free leadership training” instead of the online Canvas module that club executives are required to do now.
Wolifson spoke about the USU’s “obligation to try and protect people” with robust reporting mechanisms. He also pointed out the need to platform and consult the recommendations of the Women’s Collective.
Annika Wang suggested a campus “heat map for sexual violence”. Wang also spoke of the need to reform “bureaucratic” reporting mechanisms that might involve reporting to “someone who is potentially of a higher power hierarchy that has power against you”.
What campus culture?
Another recurrent theme candidates spoke about was campus culture (or lack thereof). Candidates spoke of the decline in campus culture caused by the cost-of-living crisis, forcing students to work to support themselves through their studies.
As an oft-repeated point, candidates pointed to voluntary student unionism robbing student organisations of the fees and dues they would have otherwise received as part of the decline in campus culture. Cassidy Newman (NLS), when asked how he intends to fight for universal student unionism and if he intends as a measure to call the Education Minister, answered that he “will fight for it in the best way I can, without calling the education minister” aiming to “continuing to make it at the forefront of people’s minds”. It surely isn’t at the front of the Education Minister’s mind that’s for sure.
Choy suggested that a way to revitalise campus life is by providing things such as “birthday perks, campus photo booths and real time shuttle tracking, because small things make a big difference when you’re stressed, tired, or if you just need a good selfie”.
Less Tape Moore Beer
Pulp editor Hay queried Newman about which “overly strict rules around events including alcohol” need relaxing, given the already lax oversight around alcohol, especially at Faculty Society camps. Newman affirmed that there should be “rightfully…a certain number of people who are RSA trained” but stated “you can either only do them here [USU venues], [and] pretty much there is no BYO allowed”. He believes that relaxing these restrictions will “increase student engagement [and] make events more fun”. Clubs are in fact able to host events with alcohol off-campus provided that they submit an adequate risk assessment form.
Constable asked Moore why he advocates for cheaper beer when young people’s interest in drinking is dropping. Moore responded that the “reason it’s going down is because alcohol is getting more expensive”. In Moore’s opening speech he stated he wanted to “make Manning and Hermann’s bar great… because they should be the backbone of our campus life”.
It intrigues us that they would suggest that ‘engagement’, ‘fun’, and ‘greatness’ are measured by how much alcohol is flowing. No doubt people want cheaper drinks, but we find this policy a distraction from the underlying economic issues. Honi doubts that simply making beer cheaper will suddenly revitalise campus life and take away everyone’s financial stresses.
No Soap in the Box
You’re bound to run into the sea of campaigners in colourful shirts for the rest of the week. Our message remains the same: interrogate their policies and vision for the USU before you cast your vote for who you think should helm a $30 million dollar organisation funded by your money. Whoever is elected, hold them accountable to what they’ve promised you.
Voting closes at 5:00pm Friday, 16th May. The results are announced shortly after voting closes.
If you or any of your loved ones have been affected by the issues mentioned in this article, please consider contacting the resources below:
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline – Provides 24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling for anyone in Australia who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault, family or domestic violence and their non-offending supporters. The service also has a free telephone interpreting service available upon request.
Safer Communities Office – Specialist staff experienced in providing an immediate response to people that have experienced sexual misconduct, domestic/family violence, bullying/harassment and issues relating to modern slavery.
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Service – Provides legal advice and sort for a range of issues, including domestic, sexual, and family violence, to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander women, children and youth.
1800RESPECT – A service available 24/7 with counsellors that supports everyone impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence.
Lifeline – 24/7 suicide prevention crisis support hotline for anyone experiencing a personal or mental health crisis.
