Aysha Seedat announced Wednesday her candidacy for Student Association president in front of a group of about 30 people, becoming the first student to announce a campaign for the presidency.

She made the announcement at 5:30 p.m. outside of Maxwell Auditorium. Jane Hong will serve as Seedat’s running mate in the election, which will take place in April.

Seedat, a junior policy studies major, and Hong, a junior broadcast and digital journalism major, are the first two women of color to run for Student Association president and vice president, respectively, at Syracuse University. Seedat and Hong’s campaign platform has two main pillars — support and safety.

“Under support we hope to provide a stronger on campus support for transfer students, on- and off-campus residents, international students, athletes and exchange students,” Seedat said in a speech during the announcement.

Through the safety pillar of their campaign, Seedat and Hong said they hope to promote resources that address sexual assault and rape on campus, including an escort service for students returning to their homes on campus.

Seedat and Hong are the only pair to announce they will run in the SA presidential election, and Paulina Colon, chair of the Board of Elections and Membership, said they will be the only candidates in the election. However, a candidate could run a campaign as a write-in vote, and 10 percent of the student body must vote for the election to count.

“We plan on running normally and as we would if we were opposed,” Seedat said in an interview after the announcement.

Seedat has been the chair of the student life committee for the past three consecutive semesters and is currently the director of student life. Hong has been involved with SA since her freshmen year and has served on each of SA’s four committees.

“Throughout my time, I’ve come to notice that individuals involved with SA are true leaders and have the greatest potential to achieve beautiful things in our world – they just need the right leadership,” Seedat said in her speech. “And I believe Jane and I are the perfect candidates for that job.”

Published on February 25, 2015 at 8:33 pm

Contact Sara: smswann@syr.edu | @saramswann