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The Student Trustee Candidate Forum took place on Wednesday evening at the Illini Union, featuring current student trustee Ariana Mizan and fellow candidate Dylan Sarsany. The forum aimed to highlight the candidates’ priorities for campus policy, with the Board of Trustees being the highest governing body for the UI System, comprising 13 members, including three student trustees.

Dylan Sarsany, a freshman in Engineering, emphasized his goals of lowering the cost of education and expanding health initiatives. “We need to work on … more scholarships for under-represented groups, more endowment funds,” Sarsany said. “Another big thing is health—we need to focus on expanding McKinley’s services.”

Ariana Mizan, a junior in business, listed her accomplishments as the current student trustee, including establishing the cultural liaison board. “I established the cultural liaison board, so there’s a cultural liaison at every cultural center working with me on various projects,” Mizan said. She also highlighted her work on pitching a University dining dollar transfer app to address food insecurity.

Both candidates agreed on issues like increased transparency of the board and the need for greater student involvement. Mizan passionately discussed advocating for minority voices, stating, “I want to make a distinction—marginalised people on our campus have a voice. Whether or not that voice is being listened to is a different story. I want to elevate people’s voices.

Mizan also addressed concerns about the impact of the Trump administration on the University, including the closure of the University’s Soybean Innovation Lab due to USAID funding cuts. “We’re seeing a lot of concerns … about defunding all sorts of programs, not just our cultural centers but research programs,” Mizan said. “What do decisions coming from our current federal administration mean for day-to-day life for us?”

In his closing statement, Sarsany questioned the University’s investment choices, emphasizing the importance of divestment from fossil fuels. Mizan concluded by expressing her commitment to the role and her qualifications to continue serving as trustee. “I really can’t disagree with much of anything that Dylan said,” Mizan said. “Ultimately, I am qualified to continue in this role and would be, again, more than honored if you entrust me with the responsibility of serving as trustee.”

The winner of the upcoming election will hold official voting power on the board, a privilege that switches between the three UI System locations. According to Mizan, Gov. JB Pritzker selected the University for the upcoming year. The election for the student trustee position will take place on April 3rd and 4th.

In a final statement, Dylan Sarsany emphasized his commitment to representing students’ interests. “I want to make sure that every student has a voice and is represented on the board,” Sarsany said. “I’m passionate about making a difference and creating positive change on campus.”

Ariana Mizan also encouraged students to participate in the election. “It’s crucial that students make their voices heard and vote in this election,” Mizan said. “As student trustee, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that students can have on campus policy, and I want to continue to amplify students’ voices.”

The Campus Student Election Commission, which moderated the forum, encouraged students to attend the upcoming debates and to cast their votes in the election. “This is an important opportunity for students to shape the future of our university,” said the commission’s chairperson. “We urge all students to participate in the election and to make their voices heard.

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