Each year, members of the first-year class at Fairfield University have the opportunity to run for Senate in the Fairfield University Student Association, better known as FUSA. This year, five first-years are running for five positions in the Senate. The election closed on Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
As members of the Senate, students listen to the concerns of their peers and work with the administration, staff and faculty to make improvements at the University. They meet frequently, with committee meetings occurring weekly and Senate meetings occurring twice each week.
In preparation for the election, the candidates have had the opportunity to share their platforms and meet the peers who will be voting for them.
Sophia Bellini, a first-year Finance and Economics double major from Long Island, New York, has been part of student government since the third grade, which culminated in her role as student body president her senior year of high school. “I was the voice of all the students,” Bellini says about her previous experience.
St. Anthony’s High School, where Bellini attended, is a large school, with about 2,500 students. While there, she planned events and worked with students on a variety of issues. “In a big school, you often feel like you don’t have anything to say or you feel like no one’s listening to you, but I was able to bring their voice to [administration],” Bellini says.
At Fairfield, Bellini wants to be able to achieve similar things. She wants to plan events on campus and continue to be “that go-to person” for her peers. And, it seems Bellini has already made lots of connections with fellow first-year students. She’s met many other students by joining clubs, such as Women in Business, and she also plans on running for the Inter-Residential Hall Association (IRHA).
Evan Molé is a first-year Politics major from Carmel, New York. “Who better to represent you than a Politics major?” he jokes. He plans to enter the Senate as a “blank slate,” focusing on what his fellow students want to see happen around campus.
To best maintain this “blank slate,” Molé says, “I’ll have people be able to send their requests to me, either anonymously, or they could attach their name to it if they want.” Additionally, it’s important to Molé that his peers are aware of everything he does as their representative, so he plans on maintaining transparency with them via an outlet he’s working on. This will also be where students can submit their feedback or concerns.
Molé hopes to gain experience as a representative for a future in politics during his time in the Senate. “It’s something I care about … I want to hear what the people want, and I want to give them what they want,” he says.
James Stiehl is a first-year Accounting and Finance double major from Westchester, New York with prior experience in student government. He was active in his high school’s student government, where he was the Senior Class President.
Stiehl also had many other leadership roles, as president of the technology club, treasurer of the English Honor Society, and founder of the debate club.
“I’ve always had [an] interest in connecting with my fellow peers and advocating for what they care about,” Stiehl says.
Christopher Nuzzolo is a first-year student from Freehold, New Jersey, majoring in Integrated Business Engineering. “I am here to talk to and immerse myself with my peers and the student body to further our common interests and beliefs,” Nuzzolo says. It’s important to him that his fellow students reach out and share what they want to see happen around campus. If elected, he plans to send surveys to students as a way to hear their ideas.
“I believe that you need somebody who is honest, who is truthful and who is willing to put in the hard work and dedication to be able to get things done,” Nuzzolo says.
Nuzzolo has already started getting involved and connecting with other students on campus, thanks to what he describes as a great first month at Fairfield. So far, he has participated in various service opportunities and joined the Italian club.
Kyla Santulli is a first-year Politics major from Woodbridge, Connecticut. “I love finding new ways to get involved in my community… I’ve always been interested in politics, as that is my major. I see this as a learning opportunity and a way to make a difference on campus,” Santulli says.
She also has prior experience, as she was part of her school’s student council. Recently, Santulli completed an internship at a law firm, and via FUSA’s Instagram, she says, “I plan to utilize what I learned at my internship to actively get involved on campus.”
The results were announced on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at an election party held in the Lower Level BCC for the winners. Sophia Bellini was elected class president, and Christopher Nuzzolo, Kyla Santulli, James Stiehl and Evan Molé filled the remaining seats in the Senate.