Arts & Science Council Candidates

Ryan Assaker

Dave Plant
SCPA major looking at the most valuable ways to get involved
in important causes that have the most effect possible.
Main issues:
Holding the administration accountable on messaging to do
with Gaza and the latest tuition hikes Building on
relationships and networks between other uni’s incl. French
schools to effect change Pushing for a non-renewal of the
2026 contract for Aramark – Multinational / super-capitalist
company Ensuring students have their voice heard in any and
ongoing issues, ears to the ground + solidarity!

Yara Abu-Baker

Jenin Alafranji

Adan Alhjooj

Ken.dra Downe
Ken.dra Downe (they/them) is a queer and trans
student,artist, and activist from Epekwitk (so-called Prince
Edward Island). They are in their fourth year at Concordia,
studying in the Honours in Human Environment program with a
minor in Philosophy. Ken has extensive experience in
community organizing, policy advocacy, program development,
and community-led research around the issues of food
sovereignty, basic income, climate resilience, and queer and
trans healthcare. They have worked as a steering committee
director for the Basic Income Canada Youth Network and the
Green Resilience Project, a program coordinator for Cooper
Institute and QPIRG Concordia, and a logistics and content
coordinator for Sex[Med]. They currently work as coordinator
for QPIRG Concordia’s alternative library and as a research
assistant for Research on the Front Lines, where they
support research projects led by Indigenous communities
fighting for environmental justice in so-called Canada.
Ken’s election platform is designed to reflect their
commitments to decolonial environment justice,
cross-movement solidarity, and community-led approaches to
policy and governance. Their platform priorities include
anti-colonial solidarity with Palestine and the
Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) in Kahnawake and Tiohtià:ke
(so-called Montreal), institutional divestment from fossil
fuels, and food sovereignty on campus. Ken hopes to
represent students in the faculty of Arts and Science with a
focus on strengthening existing student movements in the
Concordia community, which has a long history of student
mobilization. You can find them on Instagram @icrylikeagirl.

Danna Ballantyne

Noor Al Afranji
Hello everyone,
My name is Noor Al Afranji and I am a passionate and driven political science student with a deep commitment to advocating for women’s rights and combating tuition hikes. My journey in this field began with a strong desire to make a meaningful impact on student life.
From a young age, I was inspired by the women who have broken barriers and fought for gender equality. This inspired me to pursue a degree in political science, where I could delve into the policies and systems that shape our world. My academic journey has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to understand and address the complex issues related to gender discrimination. My dedication to women’s rights has translated into active involvement in various organizations and campaigns that empower women and challenge societal norms.
Simultaneously, I have been a vocal advocate for affordable education. Tuition hikes have made higher education increasingly inaccessible, and I believe that education should be a right, not a privilege. I have collaborated with fellow students to raise awareness about this issue.
Through my academic pursuits and advocacy work, I am determined to create a future where women’s rights are protected and education is affordable for all. My journey as a political science student has been a powerful tool in the pursuit of these goals, and I am excited to continue making a positive impact in these areas.
Thank you!

Dara Younes

Chana Leah Natanblut
Hi my name is Chana Leah Natanblut, I am first year student at Concordia. I am doing a major in child studies and double minor in early childhood and elementary education and inclusivity and diversity. My goal is to become a speech pathologist for special need children.
I am running to be on the csu council to represent student minorites, to ensure inclusion and to make sure every voice is heard.
I want to strengthen the unity between students and promote equality.
I want to be your voice. Vote for me for CSU council.

Giancarlo Laurieri
I’m Giancarlo Laurieri, an enthusiastic student at Concordia
University, currently pursuing a degree in Political Science
within the Faculty of Arts and Science. My strong commitment
to making a difference has led me to consider contributing
to the Concordia community by becoming a part of the CSU
(Concordia Student Union).
I believe that there’s a significant opportunity to enhance
the accessibility and relevance of CSU services for our
student body. The primary issue I’ve identified is that many
students find it challenging to connect with or fully
understand the scope of services provided by the CSU. To
address this, my goal is to streamline and simplify these
services, making them more student-friendly and easier to
resonate with. Furthermore, the aim is to make CSU more
transparent with the students about their plans. The lack of
communication has created the illusion that the CSU is not
for students anymore, a rhetoric that must be corrected and
set back on the right track.
My skills in debate, promotions, and public relations equip
me with the necessary tools to initiate positive changes at
Concordia. I am confident that by implementing these
meaningful improvements, we can significantly enhance the
university experience for all students. I’m genuinely
excited about the opportunity to be a catalyst for this
positive transformation within our university.

Lumina Kitaura

Ali Salman

Zina Chouaibi
Dear fellow students,
I’m Zina Chouaibi, and I’m on a mission to ensure that our university experience is nothing short of incredible. As a dedicated journalism student, I’ve always believed in the power of effective communication, and now I’m ready to put that belief to work for you.
I firmly believe that an inclusive, student-driven environment is crucial for a thriving educational community. I’m committed to ensuring that the council represents and addresses the needs of every student. My goal is to create an environment where every student feels valued and heard, just as I value and appreciate each one of you.
I believe there’s a significant opportunity to enhance the accessibility and relevance of CSU services for our student body. To address this, my goal is to streamline and simplify these services, making them more student-friendly and transparent. The lack of communication has created the illusion that the CSU is not for students anymore, a rhetoric that must be corrected.
With my skills in debate, and public relations, I am confident that we can initiate positive changes at Concordia. By fostering open communication channels and creating initiatives, I hope to improve the liveliness of our campus with events that represent our multicultural community.
As your representative, I promise to be approachable, dedicated, and always ready to listen to your concerns. Together, we can make our campus a better place for everyone. I humbly ask for your trust and support to work towards creating a more vibrant and supportive campus for all. Thank you for believing in our shared mission.

Guillermo Sebastian Anderson-Diaz
Hello, I’m Guillermo Sebastian Anderson-Diaz and I am eager
to make a lasting impact within ASFA. I have decided to
throw my hat in the ring for a position on the CSU Council.
With this position I hope to be able to effectuate positive
change towards forming a vibrant and inclusive campus. My
leadership roles in various student organizations have honed
my ability to effectively listen to diverse perspectives and
craft creative solutions. I firmly believe that an
inclusive, student-driven environment is crucial for a
thriving educational community. I’m committed to ensuring
that the council represents and addresses the needs of every
student. By fostering open communication channels and
creating initiatives I hope to improve the liveliness of
campus with events that represent the multicultural
Concordia Community. I will aim to create a more vibrant,
supportive, and engaging campus. Throughout my time at
Concordia, I’ve garnered experience in
collaborativedecision-making, and student governance. I
understand the challenges that students face and am
dedicated to implementing policies and initiatives that
support their academic, social, and emotional wellbeing. My
vision for the Student Union Council involves creating an
environment where every student feels valued and heard. I
intend to collaborate closely with students, faculty, and
administration to create programs that promote student life
on campus. I’m asking each of you to trust me to work
towards creating a more vibrant and supportive campus for
all. I love you all. Thanks for reading this.

Julian Silverman

Salma Hashem

Zeyad Abisaab
Fine Arts Council Candidates

Adey Singer
I am a 3rd year Art History and Studio Arts major, and the current Finance Coordinator for the Fine Arts Student Alliance (FASA). My goal this year is to improve student life by helping create a stronger connection between Fine Arts and the other faculties. I want to help make art more accessible to students by working together with other student groups to foster inter-departmental collaboration.

Isabella Providenti

Gabriel Makinde

Carleen Loney
My name is Carleen, I’m a Film Animation and Human
Environment student, and I’m so happy for the chance to run
to represent Fine Arts students as a CSU councillor. I’m a
very politically active person, and am particularly engaged
in combating Montreal’s housing crisis, protecting queer and
trans youth from in response to an uptick of discrimination
and hateful conduct in Montreal, dismantling systems of
power that create unlivable circumstances for working class
students, and responding to the dramatic price gouging of
food across all boroughs that creates rampant food
insecurity, for Fine Arts students in particular. As a
councillor, I would act with these values in mind to
advocate for increased ease of living for Fine Arts
students. I want us to have better access to mental health
services, no food deserts on our campus, free or low-cost
food options, better resources for post-graduation and
navigating life as an artist in opposition to capitalist
structures, and no tuition increase for out-of-province
students. Capitalist and individualistic socialization has
made us too willing to accept averse and difficult living
conditions, but we do not have to accept these realities
while Graham Carr enjoys a $466,882 yearly salary. I would
love to raise hell for you, Fine Arts students, so be sure
to vote for me as Fine Arts Councilor.
JMSB Council Candidates

Ouswa Ben Rejeb

Abdullah Al-Kabra

Diana Levitin
My name is Diana Levitin. I am a third year Finance major and International Business minor. I am hoping to represent the full diversity of the John Molson School of Business student body on the CSU. My goals are to increase CSU’s involvement with business matters and their collaboration with business students and associations. I want to help local and international JMSB students feel more connected to their university and to the rest of the student community outside of their faculty. Moreover, I want to promote inclusivity and empower the voices of marginalized student populations, ensuring that everyone feels seen and heard.

Salma Abuaysheh
GCSE Council Candidates

Rohan Kumar

Omar Hassanein

Nizar Sukah
Independent Council Candidates
