Candidate Profile

Anjali Kumar

(She/Her)

Hello College of LAS! My name is Anjali Kumar and I’m running to be one of your representatives within Illinois Student Council for the 2024-25 school year. I am a current freshman minoring in Classics and majoring in Political Science, which has given me an appreciation for the power of unity and positive change. I have enjoyed getting involved in both social and academic clubs this year, and I hope to use my prior experience and everything I’ve learned on campus to help me serve you all with passion and dedication. Words have power, but actions will always carry more weight. The first platform I will be running on is student engagement and transparency. The youth are often ostracized within political issues, at the front of movements yet accused of being politically apathetic. We are dismissed before we are ever even properly heard. If elected, I promise to work hard to bridge that gap and foster a connection between the student body, Illinois Student Council, and the administration. One way I’d accomplish this is to advocate for continuing the momentum of ISC’s rapidly expanding social media presence. I’d also like to utilize a community-based strategy and work with RSOs to increase voter engagement for both on and off-campus elections. One of the reasons I decided to attend the University of Illinois was because of the incredible diversity of the student body. Exposure to diverse perspectives isn’t just a way for individuals to grow, it’s a way to promote fairness and inclusivity. As the largest college on campus, LAS has the good fortune of having the most voices, but that doesn’t mean all those voices are being heard. I promise to do everything within my power to dismantle systemic barriers and create a more just and equitable campus where everyone has the chance to thrive. Hostility and antagonism are not the way to creating a better campus and a better environment for you all, the student body, to achieve your fullest potential. I’d like to create an anonymous feedback form where students can submit issues they face in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion and work to help our administration address those issues first. At the end of the day, college is meant to be a gateway to your future, and academics play a huge role in that. The last platform I will be running on is academic support and resources. I am originally from Iowa, a state where, similar to Illinois, rural communities are deeply underrepresented in the field of academia. Day1Access is an existing program that was established to help students receive textbooks at a lower price, and I will continue to promote its mission so textbook prices will never again have to be a barrier to higher learning. If elected, I promise to represent you all, the foundation that our college and community are built on, with not just empty words but intentional actions.