Not all candidates responded to requests for comments by the time of publication.
Christian Galera
Christian Galera is running for re-election in students’ council “because of its role in shaping meaningful initiatives that improve student life in MacEwan.”
He believes that SAMU initiatives, such as student groups, can only be improved if there is someone actively advocating for students. Advocacy is why he started on the students’ council, and why he intends to stay on council.
Galera has three main goals for the term: affordability, accountability, and advocacy.
He points out that affordability was the number one concern in SAMU’s 2026 spring survey and the tuition increases and rising living costs will create more barriers for students. “The more we advocate on these underlying issues, the more we should be able to find avenues to help MacEwan students reduce barriers to their student success.”
In terms of accountability, Galera brought up the near-loss of reading week two years ago. “I am going to say this again: I believe that only if the executives are doing their job properly, then those things wouldn’t even surface.”
Lastly, he brought up MacEwan’s rapidly expanding population. Galera is going to advocate for greater support for students including more spaces where students can study or hang out in between classes.
During his time on student council, Galera has noticed the limitations on what councilors can do, but he believes in a bright future if those councilors do all they can to keep advocating for students.
Farhat Riaz
Farhat Riaz is a second-year social work student whose goal on students’ council is to take her passion for advocacy and representation and make a difference within the student community.
“I believe students deserve to have someone who will listen to their concerns, understand their experiences, and make sure their voices are represented.”
Riaz says her time as a political staffer informed her on how important it is to listen to concerns, understand the issues that are affecting students, and advocate on their behalf.
Her goal for the term will be to focus on affordability. From textbooks to food to parking, she wants to listen to what financial pressures affect students and bring them to the council.
She will also focus on fostering a “stronger sense of inclusion and belonging at MacEwan.”
“Students come from different cultures, backgrounds, financial circumstances, and life experiences, and I want students to feel that those differences are respected and represented.”
Riaz intends on being accessible to students. “I want students to feel comfortable approaching me with their concerns and ideas, knowing that I will listen, communicate their concerns clearly, and work collaboratively to turn student voices into meaningful action.”
Fatima Omar
Fatima Omar is running for students’ council in hopes of making a bigger impact on campus.
“As a dedicated volunteer, I want to be a strong advocate for my fellow students,” she says.
The 2026 Campus Champion award recipient says she has noticed a gap between students and their awareness of resources available to them — a gap she hopes to narrow. Omar aims to build connections for students “struggling to find a community of their own,” and increase awareness of existing resources.
Omar lists advising services, awards and bursaries, tutoring, the Peer Support Office, and the Writing Centre as services she hopes to draw students’ attention to.
She says that improving access to resources that alleviate personal and academic troubles would enhance student life, noting that one of the “biggest issues facing MacEwan students” is balancing it with other responsibilities.
“Adjusting to a new environment is already stressful, and additional life pressures can make it difficult to enjoy university while maintaining strong grades,” says Omar.
Omar also says she aims to advocate for greater affordability for students, citing textbook, class, student aid, and transportation costs.
Emmanuel Ogbondeminu
Emmanuel Ogbondeminu plans to advocate for more accessible networking opportunities on campus to relieve the challenges of the post-graduation job market and rising living costs. Ogbondeminu wants to give students more value from their campus experience — something he says many students don’t feel they are getting. He wants to ensure that “SAMU keeps student fees focused on impactful resources rather than unnecessary overhead.”
Ogbondeminu says he realizes that students feel disconnected from how their fees are used and from the decision-making process, which he aims to change. He hopes to bring a “grounded, reliable perspective to the council that focuses on practical solutions.”
As an international student, Ogbondeminu says he aims to expand “practical support” for both domestic and international students by ensuring student fees are being used to directly improve campus life.
“I want to make sure the student voice on council directly reflects what students are actually experiencing every day.”
Abdullah Benothman
After paying $391 in additional course materials for a single course, Abdullah Benothman decided to run for students’ council on a campaign centred on student affordability.
The fourth-year bachelor of commerce student aims to “offset the comprehensive costs of being a student,” citing inflation and tariff-related challenges that affect affordability.
Benothman also aims to improve the pricing and availability of on-campus parking, specifically during Oilers games.
To improve this, Benothman suggests that Park N’ Go parking lots on MacEwan property be limited to MacEwan students. As an Oilers fan himself, Benothman notes that it is a “minor conflict of interest,” but would be willing to prioritize MacEwan students over his love for the team.
“If enough students tell me that affordability means more financially and physically accessible parking, I’m willing to trade the orange and blue for the white and maroon.”
Benothman also hopes to safeguard the reading break after seeing the fall reading break nearly be removed during the 2024-2025 school year.
“Reading Break is both a non-negotiable rejuvenation period, and a vital lifeline for students before the peak academic season,” he says.
Benothman says his “most fulfilling” goal is to progress his previous work to advance campus inclusivity and equity initiatives. He says he is committed to exploring further opportunities to “enhance equity in proportion to equality” and learning from minority community leaders.
Marcus Taranger
Marcus Taranger decided to run for students’ council for one simple reason: he wants to see real change.
“Ultimately, how can I want a promising new chapter to unfold for students if I am not prepared
to write the first line?”
Taranger has three clear-cut goals for his term: make education and living costs more affordable for students, easy and sufficient access to mental health supports, and for students to feel safe taking transit, on campus, and when they walk to their vehicles.
Taranger cites the SAMU spring survey as a primary source for his campaign goals. The survey states that educational costs are the biggest barrier facing students today.
“Since the student council is the highest governing body at SAMU, I plan to advocate for reducing costs by raising the concern at every council meeting, approving bylaws and policies related to this goal, sitting in on relevant committee meetings, and scheduling personal appointments with elected SAMU representatives when necessary.”
Moina Bhatia
In her final year of university, Moina Bhatia wants to give back to the MacEwan community as a student councillor. Stating that university is about more than just a degree, she wants students to have the same experiences that she’s had: memories, lifelong friends, and life-changing experiences in a welcoming, positive environment.
“As a Student Councillor, I will ensure every beneficial opportunity for students is easily accessible and visible to ALL students.”
Throughout her time as a SAMU ambassador, Bhatia discovered opportunities, which she wished she knew about sooner. Her main goal is to make sure these opportunities are “more visible, accessible, and easier to navigate.”
Bhatia also learned from her experience as vice-president of the MacEwan FEM-STEM Club.
“I want to create more opportunities for students to connect with like-minded people and step out of their comfort zones. Navigating university academics alone can be difficult and stressful, but having other people to stand beside you and want you to succeed just as much as they want to can make a vast difference.”
Through this goal, she also plans to “connect directly with students, hear their concerns, [and] amplify their voices.”
Bhatia cites affordability and economic uncertainty as the biggest issue facing MacEwan students.
“It becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living and the recent changes to Alberta Student Aid Eligibility. Students should not feel the need to reconsider their studies and dream career to put food on the table or pay rent.”
Bhatia also took part in the ‘Don’t Budget Off Our Backs’ initiative conducted by SAMU last semester as a response to MacEwan’s increased tuition.
“I will continue to support and push for more initiatives to address the financial strain students face.”
Ibrahim Samad
As a fourth-year student, Ibrahim Samad is running for students’ council to give back to students and improve future student experiences with the skills he’s gained throughout his academic career.
Samad says he wants to encourage student participation in improving the academic experience and allow students to see how they can make a difference.
Samad also says his biggest goal is informing students about the events and resources available to them through MacEwan University and SAMU.
He sees these services as being essential to the academic experience of being a MacEwan student.
“Through teamwork, collaboration, and communication, I plan on working with the fellow councillors to make a change. I want to hear from students on what they need and want to see more of out of their academic institution, and be a part of making it happen.”
Beryl Guzman
Beryl Guzman is running for students’ council with a focus on reducing barriers to student success and making existing campus supports more accessible.
Guzman currently serves as co-president of both the MacEwan Women in Business Club and the Finance Club, and was appointed as a student councillor over the summer. She says her experience within the school of business has encouraged her to become more involved with students across the university.
“I want to be a voice for students beyond my own community and help create a university environment where students feel heard, supported, and empowered to succeed,” Guzman says.
If elected, Guzman says she wants to focus on education, living costs, and mental health, which she identified as significant barriers facing students.
Part of that work would involve increasing awareness of resources offered by SAMU and MacEwan University. Guzman points out that programs such as SAMU’s Breakfast Club and Farmers’ Market are initiatives that students may not know about or understand how to access.
Guzman says she also wants to hear from students across different programs about where gaps in existing supports remain, so she can bring those concerns to the council.
“I want my term to be focused on making students feel heard, supported, and represented.”
Soshana Muzein-Derso
More activities after 4 p.m. and easier access to campus information are among Soshana Muzien-Derso’s priorities in her run for students’ council.
Muzein-Derso says she decided to run because she wants students to feel they have a voice in decisions that affect their university experience.
“If elected, I want to be a councillor students can feel comfortable talking to,” Muzien-Derso says. “I hope to hear about students’ experiences, understand their concerns, and help bring their perspectives into campus decisions.”
One of Muzien-Derso’s priorities is encouraging more activities on campus after 4 p.m. She says students with evening classes, long breaks, or lengthy commutes can have fewer opportunities to participate in drop-ins, workshops, and other activities that often take place earlier in the day.
Muzien-Derso wants to increase awareness of wellness supports during the winter months, including SAMU’s monthly support kits and Peer Support, while encouraging more opportunities for students to connect on campus.
Another priority is helping students find ways to get involved at the university through volunteering, student groups, campus jobs, and other opportunities.
Muzien-Derso says her interest in raising awareness of campus opportunities stems in part from her experience completing a previous degree in criminology at a different institution, during which she did not always know which services were available on campus or where to find them.
“That is a big reason why I want to help students at MacEwan find opportunities that interest them while giving them a chance to build valuable skills and connections for the future.”
Abby Yanciw
Abby Yanciw says her experience in student leadership has motivated her to seek a seat on students’ council, where she hopes to address rising costs and barriers to student supports.
Yanciw, a member of the MacEwan UN Club executive team, says her experience representing student interests over the past year encouraged her to seek a larger role in student governance.
“I chose to run because I believe in pushing boundaries and advocating for what’s right,” Yanciw says. “Students deserve representatives who will listen to their concerns, stand up for their interests, and work to make meaningful change.”
If elected, Yanciw says she wants to make it easier for students to understand their rights and navigate existing resources, including financial aid, health care, and student services.
Affordability is another priority for Yanciw, who says that the costs of food, health care, transportation, and education can directly affect a student’s success. She hopes to advocate for measures that reduce those pressures while pushing for greater transparency around how student fees and resources are managed.
Yanciw identifies the combination of rising costs and limited access to resources as one of the biggest challenges facing MacEwan University students, particularly as many balance school with work, family responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and other commitments.
“Students are working incredibly hard to build their futures, and student governance has a responsibility to make sure they are heard, respected, and supported along the way.”
