VICE PRESIDENT INTERNAL CANDIDATE
The Vice-President (Internal) handles signing duties, liaises with societies. They attend Council and Executive Committee meetings, submit reports, and provide training to their successor. Additional responsibilities are assigned as needed. For more details, refer to Executive Policy.
Zain Abideen
Pronouns:
Platform:
Building a Stronger Student Community
Social Media:
Instagram-Zain4VPI
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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I am a third-year Bachelor of Applied Computer Science student. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and am originally Pakistani, but what has shaped me most is growing up in a diverse, global community that taught me the value of connection, inclusion, and collaboration from an early age.
Since joining Dalhousie, I’ve been deeply involved in student life as a society volunteer, executive, treasurer, vice president, president, student council member, and founder. I’ve also spent the past three years working in Residence Life and currently serve as a Community Assistant Lead in Howe Hall, supporting over 300 students. Through these roles, I’ve seen firsthand what works, what’s confusing, and where students need better support, which is why I’m running for VP Internal.
If elected, my priorities are:
1. Clear and Transparent Systems: I want to simplify processes like SUB event bookings and internal systems so students and societies can focus on building community.
2. A More Vibrant Campus Life: Drawing on my experience running events, I want to support larger, more consistent campus-wide events, including new initiatives of my own, while also working with you to bring big events to campus.
3. Expanding Access to Involvement: With over 368 ratified societies, we have strength in numbers. I’ll help students find societies that match their interests and if none exist, I’ll work with them to create something new.
I’m running to make the DSU more accessible, supportive, and connected because building a stronger student community starts from within. -
I love swing dancing and currently practice with dalswing! I am taking lessons right now and I am officially in level 2!!!
Marzan Chowdhury
Pronouns: He/Him
Platform: Informed - Engaged - Empowered! ; Societies First, Always!
Social Media:
Instagram; @marzan4vpi
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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Hi Friends! My name is Marzan Chowdhury, and I’m running for VP Internal of the Dalhousie Student Union because I believe students deserve a union that feels open, accessible, and truly connected to the people it represents.
Too often, students aren’t sure what the DSU is doing, how decisions are made, or how to reach their representatives. As VP Internal, I want to change that by improving communication and making student involvement a priority.
My campaign is guided by one vision: Informed – Engaged – Empowered!
I will introduce a weekly DSU digest so students can easily stay updated, and create a DSU Accountability Dashboard that clearly shares decisions, funding timelines, and upcoming council meetings. Students should never feel left in the dark about their own union.
I also want the DSU to be easier to access. That’s why I will set and advertise specific times and platforms where students can directly contact executives, along with monthly live Q&A sessions to ensure your concerns are heard.
Supporting student societies is one of my biggest priorities. I will meet regularly with society leaders, simplify ratification for returning societies, reduce unnecessary red tape, and advocate for stronger funding for student initiatives.
Simply put: Societies First, Always!
I’m running because I care deeply about building a DSU that listens, shows up, and delivers real results. I would be honoured to earn your vote.
Vote Marzan for VP Internal. -
I love learning random new things. If I see something unfamiliar, I often end up researching it for hours without end!
Suha Manal
Pronouns: She/Her
Platform:
Built for belonging. Every student. Every space.
Social Media:
my instagram account, @suhamanall
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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For the past three years, I’ve grown alongside the DSU, starting as event staff, then becoming a House Manager, and most recently working with the Events and Building Manager. Through these roles, I helped run everything from society events to O-Week, and I saw firsthand how powerful community can be when students are given the space to connect. This past year marked some of the highest student engagement the DSU has seen since COVID, and being part of that momentum is what showed me how deeply I care about this work.
I know the policies, the funding structures, and how societies operate, but more importantly, I know the people behind them. I’ve worked closely with society leaders and students who pour time and energy into building communities, often while navigating slow processes, limited funding, or a lack of visibility. Societies matter, especially for students who spend long days on campus but still feel disconnected. No one should feel invisible here.
I’ve been in the rooms where timelines, budgets, and space access either made events possible or stopped them entirely. I’ve seen how quickly engagement grows when those barriers are removed, and that’s what drives me because when internal systems work, student energy turns into real connection across Studley and Sexton.
The DSU should be where student energy turns into real connection. I’m running to protect the momentum we’ve built, push it further, and make sure every student at Dal can find a space, a community, and a reason to feel like they belong. -
I can rotate my shoulders all the way back
Alexander Tzovolos
Pronouns: He/Him
Platform:
Doing for societies what needs to be done
Social Media:
TheIllogical85 (personal Instagram),
Alexander.tzovolos4VPI (Elections Instagram),
TheIllogical85 (personal discord)
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE:
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Hi there Dalhousie Student Body!
My name is Alexander Tzovolos, I am a 4th year student doing a major in Marine Biology with a minor in Classics. I spend a lot of my free time at Dal checking out a variety of societies, and am a part of the teams for the Dal Anime Club (President), Dal Gaming and eSports Society (game admin, Rocket League athlete), and Dal Recreational Fishing Society (4th year rep), all which have given me insight about how societies operate and their many needs. I have talked to the leaders of other societies as well and aim to listen to any issues which the student body may have that a VPI would be able to work on.
This is all to say I have many ideas on how to improve the student body, namely:
- Society Expo: I think there are some significant changes which can be made to the way it is organized that can be improved.
- Large collaborative events: It is no surprise that some societies have overlap, this can be capitalized on with events such as the Games Expo.
- Sexton Representation: They represent a significant portion of the student body yet do not see most of the societies operate in a way that is accessible to them.
I firmly believe that if elected I will be able to accomplish these goals and hope students vote Alexander for your DSU VPI. -
I have a passion for sound design in games and one day hope to compose some rhythm-game inspired songs.
