AAS Candidate Statements for Special Elections, Spring 2024

This week, the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) will hold elections for senators in the classes of 2025 and 2026 and for senators representing transfer students. There are two open seats for the class of 2025, and one open seat for the class of 2026 and transfer students. Students can vote between 12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, and 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23. There will be two school-wide referenda sent to the student body at the same time.

The students below have announced their candidacies for these elections. All candidates are listed by position then alphabetically by last name. If the statements end in ellipses, it is because they have been cut off to fit the 100 word limit.

Class of 2025 Senators

Emily Kim ’25

I’m Emily and I’m running for Senate because I’m really passionate about how we, as students, can actively shape our own educational experiences. I’d like to serve on the Committee on Educational Policy, working with faculty and students to improve and maintain academic and cultural spaces that foster diversity, intellectual freedom, and creative expression. Our recent AAPI Studies cluster hires are a major example of how we can directly influence the quality, depth, and breadth of our inquiries, and by contributing to school policies I hope to help Amherst better embody its commitment to a “diversity of experience and ideas.”

Fritz Lalley ’25

My name is Francis Lalley, though most people call me Fritz, and I am a Junior majoring in History. Generally, I have a keen interest in things that have already happened, but I also have an appreciation for those things that could happen in the future. One thing I could see happening in the future is that Amherst College becomes a less inherently divided campus. Among other things, I believe that fostering a stronger social life on campus would lead us down a path of more community and less isolation. As a member of AAS, I would aim to incentivize […]

Gent Malushaga ‘25

My name is Gent Malushaga, and I’m running for re-election as a Senator for the Class of 2025. As a Freshman and Sophomore on AAS, I worked to address the issues facing the Amherst community through my participation on the Committee on Educational Policy, Sexual Respect/Title IX Committee, and the Committee on Education and Athletics. In the first “normal” years following the coronavirus outbreak, fostering a sense of community on campus was more important than ever. Through my work on projects like the Marriage Pact and Amherst SuperFan (my senate project), I helped do just that. This year, I [...]

Ali Sbeih ’25

My name is Ali Sbeih, and I’m running for the class of 2025 open seat. I have worked previously as a teaching assistant and a tutor. If elected, I hope to foster inclusivity, amplify student voices, and work to address the concerns of my fellow classmates. Together, let’s build a campus where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Class of 2026

Muskaan Bhansali ’26

Hi everyone! My name is Muskaan (Moose) Bhansali from the class of 2026. I am excited to be running for senator. I have witnessed our class come together in order to create institutional changes during a critical moment for the future of AAS. I hope to be a part of that change and be a voice for the community that has so rapidly become my home. I believe that my prior experiences in student government as president of my high school will guide me as I join our hard-working AAS senators mid-year. I hope you vote for me because: Moose-Can-Do-It!

Rachel Howell ’26

I’m a double major in Neuroscience and LJST, a coxswain for the Crew team, and E-board member for The Women’s Network, The Neural Network, and The Sustainable Solutions Lab. Through these interests, I interact daily with a diverse cross-section of our campus community and would be well-positioned to advocate for the many interests of the student body. If elected, I would reinvigorate the dormant Sustainability Committee. Given all the construction on campus, it’s vital we have transparency, as well as a way for students to play an active role in sustainability projects on campus.

Transfer Students

Damien Algernon

I am running for the transfer student senate seat because I want to advocate for the needs of the transfer students and make sure our voices are heard. I am excited about the prospect of organizing campus-wide events and helping to better the Amherst College community.