A.S. Director candidates face trial by fire at the Corsair’s Election Forum
Students amassed in the Cayton Center for the Corsair’s annual Associated Students (A.S.) Election Forum on Thursday evening, moderated by Editor in Chief Adriana Brady and Managing Editor Jenna Tibby. All candidates vying for a 2025-26 student leadership position at Santa Monica College (SMC) were subject to a high-intensity series of questioning, including those running unopposed.
In 2024, David Duncan ran for A.S. president and won unopposed. This year, the presidential candidates include Valeria Castillo, Ailsa Ortiz, Rico Santana and Sameer Wason.
Sameer Wason, a 19-year-old Mathematical Economics major at Santa Monica College (SMC) and candidate for President of the Associated Students (A.S.) said, “If I didn't think I could put my 110% into this position, I wouldn't do it, because I know the responsibility that it requires, I know the time, the dedication, and the diligence that are required. So, if I knew I couldn't dedicate 120, 150, 200%, let me tell you I wouldn’t do it, but that's just me,” at the Corsair’s annual Associated Students (A.S.) Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at Cayton Center, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair).
Wason, current A.S. Primary Commissioner for Budget Management, is majoring in mathematics, economics and political science, and is a supplemental macroeconomics instructor.
“I feel like I’m qualified for A.S. President not just because I can be a conduit for information, but because my voice is strong,” said Wason. The candidate has also volunteered with voter registration at Venice Family Clinic, researched data with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., and attended DPAC and budget advisory meetings at the college.
“I embrace conflict - I think conflict is a telltale sign that people care about what they do. I think arguments can be restructured as debate. I think that conflict is a crucial learning opportunity for all of us,” said Wason.
However, he said, the district’s budget crisis overshadows smaller conflicts. When cuts are made to course selections, he said, students flee to other colleges, which in turn reduces funding.
To address issues trickling down from national and local governments, Wason plans to form a Student Lobby Corps that “takes up arms to the capital, the State capital, to local, federal… have a team to make sure that we’re talking to those representatives.”
“Associated Students seems like some far-away entity. People get elected, and you don’t really hear from them again,” said Wason. “What’s important is that we address people throughout the year,” he said, through face-to-face communication.
Rico Santana an Architecture major at Santa Monica College (SMC) and candidate for President of the Associated Students (A.S.) said, “Create a watch network, we should be standing together. ICE shouldn't be allowed to come into the campus and grab students and take them where they want to go, where they want them. That's not cool, and I think we as a community, as a community issue, we have to build that community like watch out. Hey, maybe even a Discord chat. Maybe even just hey, be careful. You know, asking directly, what do you fear,” at the Corsair’s annual Associated Students (A.S.) Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at Cayton Center, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair).
Santana is a proud emergent of SMC’s Architecture Program and National Organization of Minority Architecture Students.
Studying architecture, he said he fostered skills in teamwork, conflict resolution, and identifying individual strengths and weaknesses. He stated his strength lies not in providing intel himself, but personally directing students to the resources they need, and working with different talents.
Such hands-on action, he said, would also help eradicate student loneliness.
“We have the resources here, we have a lot of resources here, and I feel like they’re just not being utilized,” he said. “Sometimes even just walking with them to that building could be the life-changing thing that works.”
Santana wants to address homelessness, which he hopes to mitigate with campus resources like housing programs and the Bodega food distribution.
“I’m that guy that’s gonna reach out for you and actually talk to people for you,” he said.
“I’m someone who, I don’t know it all, I really don’t. All I know is architecture, and I’m 100% clear with that. But part of architecture is creating a plan, site analysis, massings, which is a process,” he said, that takes interpersonal understanding.
“I may not have the words, I may not be the most charismatic person to express these things, but I know somebody who can,” said Santana. “And if you point to that person, you give that person an opportunity to shine. And I think that’s what it takes to be a good leader.”
Ailsa Ortiz, a political science major at Santa Monica College (SMC) and candidate for President of the Associated Students (A.S.) spoke on how counselors at SMC are not case by case leading to issues enrolling into classes, which is causing students to drop out of classes and the school at the Corsair’s annual Associated Students (A.S.) Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at Cayton Center, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair).
Ortiz, a political science student in SMC’s Law Pathway, is the Indigenous Scholars vice president and the Community Outreach Supervisor for a public health nonprofit, where she’s tasked with spreading health messages from the governor’s office to high-need communities.
“I believe with my background in community organizing and activism outside of SMC, I know how to clean up a mess and connect with a community,” said Ortiz.
To Ortiz, this means investigating root causes of problems, and she criticized simplistic solutions. Ortiz spoke to a variety of students at Club Awareness, and said every grievance emerged from “the same systemic struggles that we all deal with… (in) community and student engagement.”
“Because there’s little students purchasing materials here, that’s why they raise the prices,” said Ortiz. “If we can’t address that through the state and institution level, how can we show up for each other?”
“When we think about, how do we show up for each other, how do we actually bring change, again, the change is us. It’s us showing up for each other,” she said. “And how do we engage students more? With having a community for them.”
She believes conflict can be mediated if community relationships are strong enough: “Having those discussions, being clear on expectations is how we can minimize conflict, but building community is recognizing everybody’s dignity.”
Valeria Castillo, a 20-year-old Mathematical Economics and Political Science major at Santa Monica College (SMC) and candidate for President of the Associated Students (A.S.) spoke on how to better help homeless students at SMC and provide more resources at the Corsair’s annual Associated Students (A.S.) Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at Cayton Center, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair).
Castillo, current A.S. Director of Equity and Diversity, is a Math Lab tutor and SMC track runner also majoring in mathematics, economics and political science.
Castillo served as caucus leader on the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (CCC), was secretary for Women’s Caucus and Student Research Caucus, and drafted a resolution on enhancing campus mental health resources to be presented to the CCC General Assembly.
As president, main focuses for Castillo are the Basic Needs department and student homelessness. “We don’t have a lot of resources here to support our students who are facing those challenges,” she said.
“We could have better resources for them to fulfill their basic needs in order for them to learn,” Castillo said, listing lockers, showers, and Bodega expansion. “We face a lot of challenges. We buy food that is too expensive for us, we buy textbooks that are too expensive for us. This is a community college. Why are we doing this?”
“My job as A.S. president is not to make them share my same belief or to make them like me,” said Castillo. “My job is to amplify their voices, to make sure their problems are being heard by administration and by Associated Students. I will work with them closely, talk to them personally and figure out what is the gap that we’re not reaching as A.S.”
Audience members questioned the candidates on credibility, their top issues, and balancing a full workload with the duties of the president. To the last probe, Wason said, “I got a full plate, but I love to eat.”
A.S. Secretary Tiffany Lee asked what the president hopefuls would do with an end-of-year surplus. Wason would revamp the cafeteria to make it “welcoming,” while Santana would arrange a grand collaborative project between clubs. Ortiz would use the funds for food, transportation and an Entertainment Center, and Castillo would send it to mental health resources.
Candidates spoke on their plan to address budget deficits, prompted by Duncan. Wason would use finance meeting experience to draft the right proposals; Santana would engage students across disciplines to form a plan of action; Ortiz wants to prioritize FAFSA and General Counseling departments; and Castillo emphasized the mental health aspect of service reductions and resisting unfavorable federal policies.
Bryan Hartanto, candidate for Director of Instructional Support, asked how the presidential potentials would uphold free speech and protection against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for F-1 visa students. All candidates spoke on wishing to defend that student community.
Wason plans to confront government representatives with immigration issues through the Student Lobby Corps.
Santana seeks to set up a task force for the college that uses online chat rooms like Discord to alert students about ICE activity.
Ortiz wants to set up Know Your Rights workshops and red cards in a wider variety of languages, and develop procedures to follow when ICE enters classrooms.
Castillo opposes increases in fees for out-of-state students and defends students’ free speech: “It should be common sense.”
The second contest is between students Yu Xian “Liz” Li and Ashley He for Director of External Affairs, who promotes civic engagement on campus and liaises between A.S. and local legislators.
Ashley He (Left), a 17-year-old Santa Monica College (SMC) Biology major Running for A.S. Director of External Affairs looks at Yu Xian Li ”Liz”(Right), an 18-year-old SMC Psychology major student, answering questions the Corsair’s A.S. Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025. at the SMC Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Jake Crandall| The Corsair).
With experience as both a domestic and international student in Taiwan and Saudi Arabia, He is looking forward to “represent(ing) the student body to its fullest extent.”
“I’ve always been a strong advocate for having students know what’s going on,” said He. Her goals include collaborating with the Director of Budget Management, Director of Equity and Diversity, and Director of Instructional Support, to support programs like Cal NERDS and involve marginalized groups in decision-making.
Along with promoting the Student Equity Center, Li is excited to network across professional fields. “Strong people, when they’re gathering together, I believe that it only makes them stronger,” she said.
This director role, she said, is a “foundation” of the campus that connects students with outside officials. She noted these connections will benefit both herself and the student body.
“If we have the strong foundation that students can hold on to, then it’s not only a benefit for me, but also the students,” Li said.
Ireedui "Ike" Munguntsatsralt a second-year Santa Monic College (SMC) student pursuing a Mechanical Engineering major, states he is running for the Associated Students (A.S.) Vice President position to help bridge the gap between student and leader at the Corsair’s A.S. Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at the SMC Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif. He formerly served as the Primary Commissioner of the AS President and is currently the chair of the Inter-club council; he runs unopposed for Vice President. (Jake Crandall| The Corsair).
Li and He disagreed on the importance of social media in outreach. While He finds social media the preferred outlet to appeal to as many students as possible, Li has observed quick disconnect.
A different solution, Li said, is to make sure to email all students, not only those enrolled in special programs.
Ireedui “Ike” Munguntsatsralt, current ICC chair and former Primary Commissioner for A.S. President, is running unopposed for Vice President. His two goals are to run a successful Directors board and involve more students in SMC decision-making.
Pressed by student Joahan Diaz Henriquez to specify how he will boost involvement, Munguntsatralt clarified he plans to continually appoint students to department subcommittees relevant to their interests and skill sets.
As ICC chair, “whether I like to or not, I’m interacting with a lot of students, a lot of leaders,” he said. “My job is to put the correct people in the correct positions… I’ve talked to a lot of people, and I know a lot of people, that would work well in certain positions.”
Bryan Hartanto, running unopposed for Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Associated Students (A.S.) Director of Instructional Support Affairs spoke on his reasons for running at the Corsair’s A.S. Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025. at the SMC Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Mr. Hartanto during the forum said, “I believe everyone's success is important, and I want to make sure no Corsair is left behind because every student deserves to succeed.” (Jake Crandall| The Corsair).
Lone candidate for Director of Instructional Support, Hartanto is a second-year engineering student from Indonesia and a tutor in the Science Learning Resource Center. Hartanto thinks tutoring services are underutilized, and resultantly on the chopping block amid budget cuts.
What causes underuse, said Hartanto, is “lack of knowledge, and also the fear factor,” which he plans to correct with flyers, peer mentors, and promoting tutoring services in the Welcome Center.
Another student inquired how Hartanto will address poor instructor performances and unfavorable attendance policies, which the candidate responded he will address on a “case-by-case basis” per student.
“We can’t just say a one-size-fits-all solution,” he said, but named supplemental instruction and developing an outlet for students to bring concerns to college administrators as his fixes.
“I want to make sure that no Corsair is left behind, because every student deserves to succeed,” said Hartanto.
Gabriel Hernandez Perez, who runs unopposed for Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Associated Students (A.S.) The Director of Equity and Diversity spoke about how he would engage the students to use the school-provided resources by holding events at the Corsair’s A.S. Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at the SMC Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jake Crandall| The Corsair).
Former Director of Publicity Gabriel Hernandez Perez is running unopposed for Director of Equity and Diversity, motivated to serve the disabled, POC and undocumented communities.
“None of them are being heard, and none of them are being seen. And we need to be heard. We need to be seen,” said Hernandez Perez.
“I’m a student with a disability,” said Hernandez Perez. “I’ve never seen anybody speaking up for students with disabilities. We do have the DSPS, but it doesn’t really do much for us.”
Hernandez Perez wants students to “be (them)selves” on campus, and pledged to uphold DEI initiatives regardless of federal policy. The candidate clarified he wants to bring awareness to existing campus resources, such as the DREAM program and Equity Center, rather than propose new programs.
“We do have a lot of resources actually, but nobody really uses them, if I’m being honest. They’re pretty hidden,” he said. “I would try to host an event where I can bring these people, these resources and I can expose them to everyone.”
Sophia Manavi, running unopposed for Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Associated Students (A.S.) student Trustees, spoke at the Corsair’s A.S. Election Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2025, at the SMC Cayton Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Sophia Manavi during the forum said, “ I believe even though I don’t have a direct vote in the decisions of the board, I believe I can still persuade and provide my opinion, not only my opinion but the students’ opinion on each individual matters.” (Jake Crandall| The Corsair).
Sociology major Sophia Manavi is running unopposed for Student Trustee, a role whose occupants have been removed twice within the last year, both for breaching eligibility requirements. Manavi stated she wishes to bring “every” student opinion to the Board of Trustees, “no matter if I agree or disagree.”
“If someone’s passionate about something, then I am their representative. So it should be heard,” she said. In student-trustee conflicts, she vowed to side with students in all cases, but address trustees with “humanity and humility” to remind them of their same obligation to the student body.
All candidates in contested roles appeared and spoke at the forum. No-shows running unopposed include Director of Budget Management candidate Sebastian Dennis Iuul, Director of Outreach candidate Iman Ali, Director of Basic Needs candidate Martin Orea, and Judicial Board Member candidate Saif Alnaqbi.
After general elections, all vacant positions, including Secretary, Director of Activities, Director of Publicity, Director of Sustainability and two spots on the Judicial Board will be filled in a Special Election.
Voting is conducted on Corsair Connect, where polls open March 31 and close April 3. Voting instructions will be posted to the Associated Students election website.
A full recording of the forum is on the Corsair’s YouTube channel, TheCorsairOnline.