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The Student Representative Assembly (SRA), the governing body of the MSU, is composed of 35 undergraduate students elected by their peers, inside each academic faculty. Together, they work to provide the best possible MSU services and departments, represent and address the concerns of undergraduate students, and lobby the University to improve McMaster’s academic quality. The MSU exists to represent students and to help build a better community for the undergraduate community. You can find out more about the expectations of the position here.
Please note: There will be a mandatory training session held for the incoming SRA members on March 22, 2025, with time and location TBD.
Important Dates:
Extended timeline:
Proclamation: February 10, 2025
Nomination Period: extended until March 10, 2025
All Candidates Meeting: March 10, 2025*
Votes of Confidence Election: March 13, 2025
Campaigning Period: March 11 – 20, 2025
Polling Dates: March 19 & 20, 2025
Proclamation: February 10, 2025
Nomination Period: February 10 – March 3, 2025
All Candidates Meeting: March 3, 2025*
Votes of Confidence Election: March 6, 2025
Campaigning Period: March 4 – 13, 2025
Polling Dates: March 12 & 13, 2025
*In order to be eligible to run, it is mandatory to attend the All-Candidates meeting.
The following will be going to a Vote of Confidence on Thursday, March 13, 2025:
Business (4 seats total, one seat up for VoC)
Chanice Olokesusi
The following will be going to an Election on March 19 & 20, 2025:
Engineering (3)
Arib Ashhar
Harel Belmont
Omar Kamel
Alice Liang
Archish Sadeesh
Adam Storger
Humanities (1)
Yael Erlich
Violet Randle-Bragg
The following will be going to a Vote of Confidence on Thursday, March 6, 2025:
Arts & Science (one seat total)
Amelia Glaab
Business (4 seats total, one still available – extended until March 10)
Gabriel Muratha
Aisha Mahmoud
Josh Pickering
Engineering (7 seats total, two still available – extended until March 10)
Hosam Abd-Alal
Raghav Arora
Harel Belmont
Jessica Ricafort
Avery Zeiler
Humanities (3 seats total, one still available – extended until March 10)
Danoya Thomas
Edward Zhang
Nursing (one seat total)
Finn Cheung
The following will be going to an Election on March 12 & 13, 2025
Health Sciences (2)
Lubna Ismail
Larissa Long
Ausuf Mirza
Matthew Olejarz
Tiya Patel
Shardae Sinclair
Kinesiology (2)
Isabella Bolca
Maxwell Schaub
Aditya Sharma
Makye Wilkinson
Science (7)
Jazzlyn Abbott
Krish Arora
Issac Begun
Arya Ebadi
Nadav Emerson
Omar Fouda
Mary Llera
Liya Monfopa
Benjamin Neiterman
Joseph Newman
Radin Raeisi Sistani
Subah Rahman
Simran Ram
Avery Rotstein
Ishan Sharma
Fares Qannam
Sameer Varma
Yana Vaynberg
Social Sciences (4)
Kate Blumberg
Kashish Modi
Logan McLean
Danielle Plener
Samrit Rull
Laraib Saleem
Colin Scott
Ibrahim Tazkarji
Important Documents:
Click here to access documents related to the SRA General Election.
Results:
Click here to view the most recent SRA General Election results
Nominations are now open! The Vice-President & Speaker elections will take place on April 5 & 6, 2025 inside Council Chambers, Gilmour Hall room 111. Nominations will open first SRA meeting in March. If you wish to be considered for any VP or Speaker role, please email speaker@msu.mcmaster.ca by 9am on April 5 to declare your nomination. Also, be prepared to present to the Student Representative Assembly on April 5 and/or 6. VPs and the Speaker are elected directly by the members of the SRA.
Any MSU member (an undergraduate student enrolled in 18 academic units or more) is eligible to run for these seats. Elections are typically held the first weekend in April. Nominations will be opened at the first meeting in March, and will remain open until the elections occur. The SRA has adopted parameters to govern how the election will be run, you can find that information here.
Together with the MSU President, the Vice-President’s (Administration), (Finance), and (Education) comprise the MSU Board of Directors (BoD). The BoD has vast responsibilities within the organization and to the undergraduate students of McMaster University. Together, this team of four individuals are employed full-time for a year-long term, governing the daily operations of the McMaster Students Union. The role of Vice President is a full-time contract position. The successful candidate will start on May 1 with their contract concluding on April 30.
The election process gives each candidate the opportunity to speak to their qualifications and ideas and then Assembly members will have the ability to question the nominees. To learn more about the specific responsibilities of the Vice-Presidents and Speaker, please refer to Bylaw 4 – Board of Directors & Speaker. The Speaker is paid part-time over the course of an academic year to manage the bi-weekly meetings and duties of the Student Representative Assembly.
If you would like to reach out to the 2024-25 SRA members to discuss your platform, you can reach out to the Speaker by emailing speaker@msu.mcmaster.ca.
The MSU President is elected annually by the MSU membership as outlined by the procedures in the MSU Constitution and Bylaw 7. The elected candidate will hold office from May 1st to April 30th. The President may carry a course load of not more than three (3) units per academic term. This course load restriction may be waived by a two-thirds majority vote of the SRA.
The President is to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Spokesperson for the McMaster Students Union and be a voting member of the SRA, the Executive Board, and an ex-officio member of all other MSU committees. As well, the President will chair the Executive Board, Board of Directors and the Presidents’ Council. Furthermore, the President will represent the MSU to the University Administration, Hamilton community as well as local, provincial, and national governments and organizations.
Important Dates:
Proclamation: November 29, 2024
Nomination Period: November 29, 2024 – January 16, 2025
All Candidates Meeting: January 16, 2025*
Campaigning Period: January 17 – 30, 2025
Polling Dates: January 28-30, 2025
*This meeting is mandatory in order to be considered eligible to run. If you cannot make this date, please contact the CRO to arrange another time.
Elections Trivia Night (new event!): Monday, January 13, 2025 – 6-8pm in the Grind
Meet the Candidates: Monday, January 20, 2025 – 6-8pm in TwelvEighty. Come join us for treats while meeting with your Presidential Candidates!
Campaign Marketplace (new event!): Monday, January 27, 2025 – 10am-3pm in the Hub. Join the MSU in learning more about your Presidential Candidates, as well as finding out more information about our Referenda questions, while picking up some cool MSU items.
Presidential Debate: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 – 2-4pm in MUSC Atrium. Come listen to your Presidential Candidates debate key points in their platforms to help you decide who your next MSU President will be!
Candidate Information:
All candidates have been given the opportunity to submit information about themselves or their campaigns, along with social media information.
Simon Mills
Simon says vote! Hi Marauders, I’m Simon, and I’m running for MSU President to amplify your voice. From vibrant events and better study spaces to stronger club engagement and networking opportunities, my platform is all about elevating your McMaster experience. Let’s make campus life as bold and dynamic as you are.
Email
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
Olami Olalere
Hi, I’m Olami and I’m running to enhance the McMaster student experience through Student Life, Engagement, and Expression. I’m committed to making campus more inclusive, vibrant, and supportive. From hosting a McMaster Housing Fair and improving transit to creating MSUTV and celebrating diversity through events like Culture Week, my vision is all about amplifying your voice and fostering community. Together, we can build a campus where every student thrives.
Piper Plavins
My journey at McMaster University is a reflection of the vibrant community that shaped me. I began uncertain, but through experiences like First Year Council, Welcome Week, and roles within the MSU, I discovered purpose and leadership. My platform centers on fostering inclusivity, inspired by lessons of integrity, empathy, and resilience. If elected President, I will champion student voices and build a community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive authentically.
Important Documents:
Click here to access documents related to the MSU Presidential Election.
Results:
A referendum of the general membership of the MSU may be called on a question of policy or any other matter, that may be held and voted on during the October By-Election, MSU Presidential Election, or SRA General Elections. It may result in the adoption of a new policy or fee increase.
There are different ways for a referendum to be called:
- A petition signed by three percent (3%) of the MSU membership delivered to the Vice-President (Administration);
- A resolution of the General Assembly;
- Or a majority vote of the total members of the SRA shall initiate a referendum.
All referenda called once the above conditions are met shall be administered by the Elections Committee, as outlined in their policies and bylaws.
Once a referendum has been called, and nominations have opened, students are able to put campaign teams together to advocate for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ side of the referendum.
The minimum number of ballots in a referendum must be equal to ten percent (10%) of the membership of the MSU for the results of the referendum to be a binding resolution on the SRA.
2025 Referenda:
This year the MSU will be sending three questions to referendum to be concurrent with the MSU Presidential Election:
Food Accessibility Initiative – On February 4, 2024 (minutes linked), the MSU President brought forward a motion (memo linked) to the Student Representative Assembly (SRA), asking for its approval in sending a $5.00 increase to the MSU Organizational fee to referendum to support the Food Accessibility Initiative. This referendum did not reach quorum (10% of the total student body) and, therefore; the results could not be opened.
After revising the operating framework, the MSU President reintroduced the motion (memo linked) to create the Food Accessibility Initiative to the SRA on November 17, 2024 (minutes linked). This year’s referendum fee has been updated to $6.50, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Homecoming & Large Events – Last October, McMaster’s Homecoming was held on campus for the first time since 2019 and received positive feedback from students and staff.
Due to this positive feedback, the MSU President brought forward a motion (memo linked) to the Student Representative Assembly (SRA) on November 17, 2024, asking for its approval in sending a $20.00 increase to the MSU Organizational Fee to referendum to support Homecoming activities and other large-scale events held on-campus.
This fee will allow the MSU to continue hosting large-scale events while keeping it affordable for students.
McMaster Engineers without Borders (EWB) – Every year, non-MSU or non-McMaster University groups on campus, who collect fees, are subject to a yearly review to ensure that these groups are using student fees responsibility and transparently. These groups are governed by MSU Bylaw 9 – Financial Affairs.
EWB presented their budget to the Student Representative Assembly at meeting SRA 24J on November 6, 2024, you can find their documentation and recommendations here from the Finance Committee under ‘For Information – Delegations from the Floor’. The proposal to send their fee to Referendum was brought forward at SRA meeting 24K on November 17, 2024. You can find the memo from that meeting and the minutes linked.
Engineers Without Borders is a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging engineering and technology for systemic change. Through community-driven collaboration, they strive to create an equitable and sustainable future.
You can find all the important dates and documentation below. If you have questions about the procedures, please reach out to the Elections Department.
Important Dates:
Proclamation: November 29, 2024
Nomination Period: November 29, 2024 – January 16, 2025
All Candidates Meeting: January 16, 2025*
Campaigning Period: January 17 – 30, 2025
Polling Dates: January 28-30, 2025
*In order to be eligible to run a campaign side, it is mandatory to attend the All-Candidates meeting. If you cannot make this date, please contact the CRO to arrange another time or see if another campaign member can go in your place.
Important Documents:
Click here to access documents related to the MSU Referenda Sides.
Results:
SRA By-Elections may take place several times throughout the year, if spots on the SRA become available outside of the SRA General Election process. As such, these elections are run as needed to ensure that each caucus is fully filled.
You can find more information about SRA here.
We have one Business seat open! Nominations have been extended until January 31. You can find the job description of the position itself here.
Important Dates:
Extended Nomination Timeline:
Proclamation: January 13, 2025
Nomination Period: January 13-31, 2025
All Candidates Meeting: January 31, 2025*
Vote of Confidence Polling (if needed): February 5, 2025
Campaigning Period: February 3-6, 2025
Polling Date: February 6, 2025
*This meeting is mandatory.
Important Documents:
Click here to access documents related to SRA By-elections
Results:
MSU First Year Council (FYC) is the unique representative body for McMaster first year students that serves to inform and speak for their distinctive needs and concerns. The council represents both current and future first year McMaster students, and ensures that their issues and interests are addressed by acting as a voice, and as a guiding body.
First Year Council Positions:
Chair — The primary spokesperson, liaison and advocate for the MSU First Year Council. This person will maintain relationships with other student/university organizations and oversee all FYC meetings. This person is responsible for reporting on the First Year Council to the SRA.
Vice-Chair (Internal) — acts as spokesperson for the organization and liaison between the First Year Council and the Residence Advisory Council. This individual will act as a primary lead on advocacy related to the living conditions and the students experience of first year students living on McMaster campus.
Vice-Chair (External) — acts as spokesperson for the organization and liaison between the First Year Council and the Faculty Society first year representatives. This individual will act as a primary lead on advocacy related to issues with respect to academic and off campus student experiences perspectives.
Vice-Chair (Events) —acts as a spokesperson for the organization and is the primary planner for events planned by the council. This Vice-Chair (Events) will work with MSU Spark, the MSU Maroons, MSU Campus Events and Residence Life to raise first year spirit within the school and improve the student experience at McMaster University.
Residence Chairs — will act as advocates for students in residence at McMaster University. They will be elected among their peers within their residence and will serve on a variety of Residence Life consultation committees. Further, residence chairs will be responsible for collecting feedback on the perspective of students in residence and running events within their particular building.
There are 13 positions available; one representative for each residence on campus as follows:
- Bates Chair
- Brandon Chair
- Edwards Chair
- Hedden Chair
- Les Prince Chair
- Mary E. Keyes Chair
- Matthews Chair
- McKay Chair
- Moulton Chair
- Peter George Chair
- Wallingford Chair
- Whidden Chair
- Woodstock Chair
Off-Campus/Commuting Students – There will also be two (2) seats for off-campus/commuting students available to run for. They will act as advocates for students living off-campus at McMaster University. They will be elected among their peers.
Please reach out to Elections if you have any questions about the procedures. Find out more about First Year Council here and here
Important Dates:
Extended Nominations Timeline (for Brandon and Moulton only):
Proclamation: September 3, 2024
Nomination Period: September 3 – 30, 2024
All Candidates Meeting: September 30, 2024*
Campaigning Period: October 1 – 10, 2024
Vote of Confidence Polling Date: October 3, 2024
Polling Date: October 10, 2024
*This meeting is mandatory.
Extended Nominations Timeline (for Brandon, Edwards, Moulton, Les Prince, and PGCLL only):
Proclamation: September 3, 2024
Nomination Period: September 3 – 23, 2024
All Candidates Meeting: September 23 2024*
Campaigning Period: September 24 – October 3, 2024
Vote of Confidence Polling Date: September 26, 2024
Polling Date: October 3, 2024
Proclamation: September 3, 2024
Nomination Period: September 3 – 16, 2024
All Candidates Meeting: September 16, 2024*
Campaigning Period: September 17 – 26, 2024
Vote of Confidence Polling Date: September 19, 2024
Polling Date: September 25 & 26, 2024
*This meeting is mandatory.
Important Documents:
Click here to access documents related to the FYC election.
The following Candidates will be sent to election on October 3, 2024!
Edwards:
Madeline Taylor
Ruaridh Dobson
Les Prince:
Omar Fouda
Radin Raeisi Sistani
PGCLL:
Maliaka Chaudry
Shreya Subramanian
The following Candidates will be sent to a vote of confidence (VoC) on September 19, or election on September 25 & 26, 2024!
Chair – Election
Darcy Lynn Boyd
Lubna Ismail
Joshua Kishner
Vice Chair Internal – Election
Krish Arora
Kobe Li
Ausaf Mirza
Vice Chair External – Election
Cianne Coutinho
Kuda Sithole
Vice Chair Events – Election
Sambhavi Dubey
Alice Liang
Bates – VoC
Patience Kieswetter
Hedden – Election
Areej Bhajikhara
Lucas Kozij
Mary Keyes – VoC
Snehal Jain
Matthews – VoC
Saad Hussain
McKay – VoC
Aditya Sharma
Wallingford – VoC
Shayla Karghosian
Whidden – VoC
Detavia Henry
Woodstock – VoC
Colin Pyne
Off-Campus – Election
Emma Baglione
Khaled Hajmousa
Arsh Khalid
Ameera Ali Khan
Results:
The MSU Elections Department can hold online elections on behalf on faculty/program societies or student groups, using our Simply Voting platform. If you would like support in hosting and facilitating an election, email the elections department for more information.
Please note: The Elections Department will have the following blackout dates for external elections: September 27-28, October 21-25, 2024, November 18-22, 2024, January 13-30, 2025, February 24-March 13, 2025. Your request will not be honored if it’s during this date.
Please fill out this form and send back to the Chief Returning Officer if you are interested in holding an external election.
Are you interested in running for a position in the MSU but have no clue where to start? Start by following the steps below:
Step One: Nominate Yourself
This is the easiest step. Once the nomination period opens for your election, just download the nomination form respective to the election you are running in from the MSU Elections website and fill out the required information. Once complete, submit it to MSU Elections through email by sending it to elections@msu.mcmaster.ca before the nomination period ends.
Step Two: Read the Rules
Part of your nomination package will be the rules for your election that you (and your campaign team if you have one) have to follow as a candidate. A very important part of these rules is that you cannot campaign before the start of the campaign period. If you break the rules you could be fined so make sure you know them!
Step Two-and-a-Half: Assemble a Campaign Team (if applicable)
This is a half-step because not everyone uses or needs a campaign team. Most often candidates assemble them to help them out during the Presidential Election. This election can involve a lot of effort from the candidate to try to reach all MSU members, so a campaign team can be an invaluable resource. If you wish to assemble one, make sure that you register your campaign team members with the Elections Department, that your team knows the rules just as well as you do, and that no one campaigns before the campaign period!
Step Three: Attend the All-Candidates Meeting
This mandatory meeting happens the evening each nomination period closes and is where you will get information about your election, can meet your fellow candidates, and can ask any questions you have to the Chief and Deputy Returning Officers. (You might even find out that you’ve been acclaimed!)
Step Four: Campaign
There are many ways that you can campaign. The most common methods include posting posters, talking to classes, making a Facebook page, and talking to people around campus. You can also get creative with campaigning, just make sure you’re always following the rules!
Step Five: Get the Results
At the end of polling for an election, the Elections Committee will meet to discuss complaints against all of the candidates and to levy fines if they so decide, before anyone has found out the results. At the conclusion of the fines meeting the Elections Committee will view the results, the MSU will publicize them, and you will be notified of any fines that you have.
Step Five-and-a-Half: Appeal Your Fines
If you wish to fight your fine(s), you can submit an appeal to the Elections Department following the election and then make your case to the Elections Committee at their appeals meeting. If they decide not to accept your appeal, you have one more opportunity to appeal and that is to the Electoral Appeal Board.
Step Six: Relax
Whether or not you are successful, you deserve a break! And keep an eye out for the next MSU election around the corner.
Tips & Insight
Former MSU President, Mary Koziol created a guide on running in MSU elections, focusing on presidentials. This guide includes Mary’s insight as well as insight from other students who have participated in elections. Please click on the link below to view her handy guidebook on Issuu.
All elections held by the MSU use a secure online voting platform, called SimplyVoting. Visit SimplyVoting at any time and login with your MacID to see available elections.
Check often, as in addition to the elections of the MSU president and SRA members, many clubs and faculty societies utilize the election services of the MSU to host their own elections.
For detailed instructions including screen walkthroughs, please download the guidebook below:
To view past elections results, please click here.