This week, Bolu Taiwo will be on the ballot for next year’s University of Rhode Island Student Senate president.
Taiwo is currently a junior studying both cellular molecular biology and political science. In addition to Student Senate, Taiwo is a member of many campus organizations including Powerful, Independent, Notoriously, Knowledgeable (PINK) Women, Greek Life and the University’s track and field team.
“I’ve had the experience to work with a lot of different leaders in Senate itself, and outside of Senate,” Taiwo said. “I have so many great ideas for our student body, and URI is a place that I really love.”
Taiwo said that the many communities that she participates in have enhanced her experience at the University, and she hopes to provide incoming students and existing students the opportunity to enjoy their experience as well.
Taiwo has aspired to assume this position since she joined Senate her freshman year. One of Taiwo’s goals as president is to increase the voice of the students. In a public forum after Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting, Taiwo expressed that she does not believe spring break would have been canceled if the students’ voices were heard. In addition to boosting students’ influence over campus activity, Taiwo hopes to make important resources, including internship information, more readily available.
“I definitely want to make sure that we’re increasing the educational opportunities for freshmen, making sure that we’re offering the most internships that we can,” Taiwo said. “We want to make sure that we’re really allowing students to know the resources they have on campus because sometimes those resources can be hidden.”
A key priority of Taiwo’s campaign is working on improving students’ mental health. Taiwo said the current situation for most students has exacerbated student traumas, and she will work with Counseling Services to help solve this issue.
One of Taiwo’s prospective strategies for boosting student’s mental health is the implementation of mental health days.
“Mental health days are really important to us because going through the semester with no spring break has taken a toll on many students,” Taiwo said. “We are still in the planning stages, but essentially we would want there to be three or so days that a student can kind of just take off. Even if we are not in the same pandemic circumstances next year, we can try to advocate for those days because it is important for students to have days to recuperate so they don’t have to wait until spring vacation to get a break.”
In addition to promoting mental health programs, Taiwo is also currently involved in the URi-STANDer program that aims to prevent sexual assault. As president, she said she will work with Kelly Ryan, the coordinator of URI’s Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services, and let students know that they have resources.
Taiwo also emphasized the importance of being transparent and present as a Senate leader, especially while cooperating with and facilitating the success of student organizations.
“Student organizations are really at the root,” she said. “A lot of student participants may not have access to Senate directly, or may be scared to voice their opinions.”
Part of her platform also includes looking at helping organizations who want to change things in regards to finances and events and is looking to strengthen Student Senate’s connection with these organizations.
Taiwo also mentioned the importance of non-traditional students, and how she plans to tailor her actions as President to help members of that community as well.
“People of color, people in marginalized groups, student veterans; we really want to make sure that they’re getting the support that they need,” Taiwo said.
Taiwo is running with Madison Ramsay, the current student Vice President. According to Taiwo, Ramsey has a lot of great ideas to keep the Student Senate internally motivated and engaged.
Elections are being held Monday and Tuesday through their new online voting system, Campus Labs.