Elections for the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) are starting up on November 10th. The GUSA Class of 2026 Representative race is heating up as these strong-willed and strongly-opinionated candidates are working to represent the first fully on-campus freshman class since 2019. On the table? Dining hall issues, facility management, transportation, mental health, and, of course, the white tents. There are ten candidates running for seven open spots, and only members of the class of 2026 are allowed to vote. The GU Review has obtained personal statements from each candidate, and has synthesized all the candidates’ information into the following candidate profiles. These profiles hope to inform freshman voters on the candidates, their platforms, and their motivations for running. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Meriam Ahmad
- College/Major: COL Political Economy
- Hometown: San Jose, CA
- On-campus Involvement: Muslim Students Association (MSA), Georgetown Program Board (GPB), Hoya Blue
- Platform:
- GUTS bus times on the weekends
- Free and improved laundry services, address shower mold
- Late-night and weekend dining hall hours while ensuring fair compensation/conditions for dining hall staff
- Centralizing GUSA information online
- Why are you running to be a GUSA Senator?
- “I didn’t come to Georgetown thinking I’d run for GUSA, but I also didn’t realize how much I’d love this new community I’m part of. I’m running for GUSA because I think it is so important that we do everything we can to make this campus a better place, and I know I’ll be an advocate that the Class of 2026 can count on.”
- Instagram: @meriamforgusa
Rhea Ayer
- College/Major: COL Government and Economics
- Hometown: San Francisco, California
- On-campus Involvement: Saxa Strategies, March for Our Lives
- Platform:
- GUTS bus on weekends
- Increase funding for CAPS, GERMS, Facilities Management, more efficient Work Order system
- More efficient HOYAlert system and extending SafeRides zone
- Better, more diverse representation on the GUSA board
- Free printing and laundry services
- Why are you running to be a GUSA Senator?
- “There’s a culture at Georgetown of the university administration ignoring student voices. I’m running for GUSA to ensure student voice is centered in all projects the university embarks on. GUSA and the student population have an immense potential to influence the decisions made on campus because at the end of the day, we are the key stakeholders at Georgetown.”
- Instagram: @rheaiyer4gusa
George Currie
- College/Major: COL Undecided/Government
- Hometown: Hyattsville, Maryland
- On-campus Involvement: GU Orchestra, Club Ultimate Frisbee
- Platform:
- GUTS bus on weekends, better consistency, free metro passes
- Increase meal plan options, option to not require students to purchase flex dollars
- More transparency in the club appropriations process, more student involvement
- Address white tents on campus
- Improve dorm maintenance
- Why are you running to be a GUSA senator?
- “I am just an ordinary student. I have no ambitions of becoming a politician, or of bolstering my resume or reputation within the school. The only reason I’m running is because I keep seeing little problems throughout the school, and I know that I can be trusted to follow through and put in the work to solve them.”
- Instagram: @george4gusa
Dylan Davis
- College/Major: COL Government Pre-Med
- Hometown: Los Angeles, California
- On-campus Involvement: Saxatones member, captain of intramural soccer team, GERMS trainee
- Platform:
- Expand mental health support and resources
- Increase in freshman-specific resources for better integration into campus life
- Greater transparency in housing process
- Address need for timely work orders, facilities improvement
- Why are you running to be a GUSA senator?
- “I am motivated to run because I have experienced firsthand the lack of support that many of us freshman are facing from the university, making the transition to college much harder than it has to be. Whether in terms of the inefficient work order system, underfunded health resources, or lack of freshmen-specific resources, I know that I have the wherewithal, fortitude, and passion to be a strong advocate for the class of 2026. Like you, I have lived and experienced the effects of an imperfect system, compelling me to fight for change so that we can all thrive on campus.”
- Instagram: @dylandavis4gusa
Seth Edwards
- College/Major: COL Undecided
- Hometown: Rochester, NY
- On-campus Involvement: Work/study in Lauinger Library, former Hoya staff writer (conflict of interest with running for GUSA)
- Platform:
- Restore GUSA’s reputation, rehaul the GUSA website/online presence
- Prioritize students with disabilities in housing selection
- Continue push for transit funds
- Work to improve facilities’ response time
- Recognize the impact of GUSA initiatives on dining hall workers
- Why are you running to be a GUSA Senator?
- “In the short time I have been on campus, I have heard time and time again that GUSA is ineffective and not working for students. My priority is restoring the reputation of our student association in order to make it an effective entity to voice student opinion. My hope is a GUSA that looks out for all at the university, students and our much under appreciated faculty.”
- Instagram: @sethforgusa
Taeeon Kong
- College/Major: COL Biology Pre-med
- Hometown: Seoul, South Korea;Toronto, Canada;Massachusetts;Connecticut
- On-campus Involvement: Homelessness Outreach Meals and Education (HOME)
- Platform:
- Improve dining, surveying students and collaborating with dining hall employees
- Reduce textbook costs
- Increase hydration stations (water fountains/bottle fillers)
- Why are you running to be a GUSA Senator?
- “My time at Georgetown so far has been amazing, but like all other great things, improvements can still be made so that Georgetown can be everything students want and more. The people I’ve met here especially drive me to run, because I want to make Georgetown the best experience possible for my peers and others around me!”
- Instagram: @kong_for_gusa
Ryan Lee
- College/Major: SFS International Politics
- Hometown: Seoul, South Korea;Orange County, CA;Jakarta, Indonesia
- On-campus Involvement:Asian American Students Association (AASA), International Relations Club (IRC)
- Platform:
- Increased funding for CAPS, Facilities Management
- GERMS should not be funded through donations and having to pay rent
- Why are you running to be a GUSA Senator?
- In high school, I had the chance to rewrite the dress code as part of student government. The new dress code included a greater gender equality and a DEI statement. I hope to continue my journey in student government, advocating for change in a dysfunctional GUSA system.
- Instagram: @lee4gusa
Hilary Orozco
- College/Major: COL Government
- Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
- On-campus Involvement: Mecha (Mexican-American/Latine students group), Minority Pre-Law Society, Pre-Law Society
- Platform:
- Evenly distributed club funds, especially for cultural clubs, start-up small grants for new clubs
- Advocating for underrepresented/minority students, first-gen/low-income students, increase promotion for the Community Scholars program
- Office hours for better GUSA communication with students, regaining trust from community
- Why are you running to be a GUSA senator?
- “I’m running for GUSA because I want to represent the students in our community that are underrepresented. I want to assist the first generation community by allocating our resources to GSP (Georgetown Scholars Program) and cultural clubs that help minority students feel welcome within our community.”
- Instagram: @hilary4gusa
Dylan Phan
- College/Major: COL Political Economy
- Hometown: Irvine, CA
- On-campus Involvement: Mock Trial, Asian American Students Association (AASA), First Year Rep for Vietnamese Students Association (VSA), Club Swim
- Platform:
- Student advocacy
- Transportation improvements, Hoya Transit Pilot Program extended throughout entire time at Georgetown, increase access to DC
- Extra hour at Leo’s until 9pm
- Improve GUSA reputation, be more actionable
- Why are you running to be a GUSA senator?
- “Given that GUSA is a student advocacy organization here at Georgetown, it is imperative that the student body has strong representation in order to resolve issues and promote a better experience on campus for all. I am confident in my ability to lead and represent as a GUSA senator, and I promise to passionately advocate for the needs and desires of the Class of 2026 if elected. In the short time I have been here, Georgetown has become a home for me, and I hope to make sure all other students in my class feel the same way. Hoya Saxa!”
- Instagram: @phan4gusa
Andrew Wong
- College/Major: SFS International Politics
- Homewtown: Stirling, New Jersey
- On-campus Involvement: Hong Kong Students Association, GU Orchestra, Philodemic Society, GU Review
- Platform:
- Expand GUTS bus availability to weekends
- Tear down southwest quad tent, rebuild Georgetown’s beach volleyball court
- Expand GUSA budget and overall improve club funding distribution
- Why are you running to be a GUSA senator?
- “It’s evident there are some major problems that can be fixed at Georgetown, be it in transportation, lost social spaces, or poor facilities. GUSA is supposed to be the students’ institution to address these problems, but unfortunately, many of us have lost faith in the ability of GUSA to get anything done. I’m running to not only fix Georgetown’s problems, but also restore faith in GUSA, and empower the institution to become one that can build a better Georgetown for everyone.”
- Instagram: @wong4gusa
