Interviews conducted by Eva Billant, Giulia Porcu, Hannah Schepers, Margherita Greco, Nil Topcular, Paloma Vollery and Siri Manneri.
Antoine Vervier
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. Hello, I’m Antoine and I’m running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. So I chose to run for HD because I think what really interests me in HD is that the association both has a very intellectual part and also a more cultural one; and the mix of the two really allows us to broaden our understanding of the world. So what makes me the best possible candidate is that I have a bilateral view for HD that is both integrating students into, like international students into french politics and french environnements and also the creation of a, let’s say, fine-dining club that connects all of the students from all around the world through culture discovery.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My top three priorities will be to make sure that international students understand French politics, develop this culinary club that is focused on the whole world, and finally create conferences on journalism : I think it is very important for many students that want to work in this field.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. Okay so, from this interview I think people should remember that I want to integrate students both on more intellectual aspects but also on very cultural ones. That’s my project to link students through Havrais Dire next year.
Celine Sarraf
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. I’m Celine and I’m running for HD.Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. So I’m running for HD because I see HD as an association that really bridges and improves learning: from just inside the amphi and the classroom to beyond, and really can expand what we know. I think what makes me a great candidate for HD is that I am interested and focused on both intellectual and academic seriousness as well as the social and more fun and casual aspects of HD; and I feel like I can really balance those two.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My top three priorities as a member of HD will be to make the association’s events inclusive and accessible to everyone by having really different kinds and levels of events. Also, to expand all of HD’s clubs : both those related to intellectual activities and research and those related to culture. Finally, to really focus on the social events, such as networking events, bar nights and so on.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. If readers could take one thing from this interview, I want them to remember that HD will be a place both for fun and learning, and for real student interaction.
Le Xuan Yeo
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. Hi, I’m Le Xuan and I’m running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I’m running for HD because I feel that it’s one of the boards where I enjoy the activities and clubs the most. Activities-wise, when it comes to clubs, I feel like they’re very open to participation so long as you have an interest in what you’re pursuing and I feel like you can learn a lot of skills from them. And as for events, from the speakers, I feel like you can learn a lot of perspectives and I always feel very energized to hear about their wealth of experiences. I feel that I’m suitable for HD because I’m interested, first of all, in what HD is doing and also I feel that I have the motivation and drive to make HD achieve greater heights.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First one would be when it comes to clubs. I feel like there’s a bit of ambiguity, for example the fact that there are some inactive clubs. Also, about budgeting, how do we make sure that all clubs are active and able to contribute to student life, because there are also cases where some clubs don’t have enough funding or they just don’t seem to find their right opportunities to stand out. Second one would be when it comes to amplifying student voices. First of all, providing polls for students to vote on what they want to see on campus and who exactly, because I feel like there’s a differentiator between some events and other events where, as it tends to be the case, diplomats have higher turnout rates. And also having human libraries to enable students to actually share their passions and ideas because I feel like all of us are very unique. The last one would be to diversify opportunities available at HD. So first of all on the more career side of things: having career workshops such as CVs and interviews which I think will be very helpful for the civic internship as well as career paths. And lastly, I think one thing which I really want to do is to have this capping of the semester kind of big event on a weekend so that everyone can come together and learn about some global issues.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. Vote for Le Xuan because I’ll bring height and drive to level up HD for you!
Mathilde Monteil
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. Hi, I’m Mathilde and I’m running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I’m running for HD because I really like the association. I like the fact that it’s a big association with a lot of little clubs. In fact I am part of some of them, for example l’Hémicycle, and I’m also looking forward to joining some others next year. I would say that I make quite a good candidate because I am organized, dedicated, and I also like to make things happen, to create more clubs, even though we already have a lot of them. And also I would like to promote collaboration within clubs but also with other associations on campus.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First, I would like to create a history research club that would first start in LDD and then become independent. Second, I would like to explain to everyone the stakes of the 2027election, since it’s a big political event. And third, I would like to encourage more collaboration between HD and other associations.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. Just don’t hesitate to approach me and to talk to me because otherwise I don’t think you will vote for me and so don’t forget to vote for me!
Minyoung Song
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I’m Minyoung and I will be running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I find HD’s initiative of inviting guest speakers and professionals very distinctive and special and I would really want to contribute in the process of that. And also this is a personal take but I would really like to stretch my opportunities of networking with external groups and individuals. I think I’m a good listener and I think that’s something very important, not just for the students to listen to their opinions and their initiatives and concerns, but even within the HD board where we always have to collaborate and I’m always ready to be the one stepping out and to listen to the overall opinion.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. The first one is to provide resources to students such as by introducing guest speakers or new associations outside of school. The second one would be to provide the students with the skills to develop skill sets such as by allowing them to initiate events and stuff. And for the third one would be to disseminate knowledge. I think this is the eventual goal for the HD where we want to have the students be able to develop critical thinking and eventually spread that knowledge to the rest.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I think I could come out as someone who’s very shy or timid but I’m really looking forward to and passionate to collaborate and interact with people and even outside to provide a better space for people here.
Mithil Goyal
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. My name is Mithil Goyal and I’m running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I am running for HD because I believe that HD is the kind of platform that delivers two promises : one is the upgradement of cultural diversity and the second is the intellectual rigor. And I believe that I can be part of that journey which helps support various student initiatives and also improve them. I think people should vote for me because I’m genuinely interested in organizing events as well as making up initiatives that actually benefit the students in the campus.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My top three priorities for next year would be to introduce a program, named TEDx event, in which we’ll have a collaboration with TED Talks and we’ll have a local TEDx event organized in our campus. The second priority would be a nexus research initiative. Over here, we are aiming to bring students from diverse universities and backgrounds in order for a collaborative research. And the third would be green speakers series. I believe that HD could partner up with SPE in order to invite various environmentalists as well as climate leaders who can deliver talks on climate change and delivering climate justice.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. One thing about me would be that I’m not running for any title in this association. I am running for two things : one is efficiency and the other is inclusion. And I genuinely believe that I can make that work out in HD.
Uras Gonenc
Q.What is your name and what association are you running for?
A. Hi, my name is Uras and I’m running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for HD? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I’m running for HD because I think it has a lot of potential which is underutilized right now. I think I’m the best person to do it – and a lot of people will be saying the same – because I have both the experience and the vision necessary. I think I’m the best candidate to bring all the different visions people running for HD have and to create something fruitful out of it.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First up, it would be improving academics on campus; we have to add more opportunities for people to build up their CVs. Second up, it would be improving the fun side of HD: more events from the Cheese Club, more stuff where people can enjoy our association. Thirdly, more visibility for our diversity: we have a lot of diversity on campus and stuff like National Days, more of these cultural events would go a long way to making that
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. More is the single word which I think categorizes my campaign. I’m hoping to do more of the things we are already doing and more of the things where we are lacking some of this potential.
Zonglun Li
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I am Zonglun and I am running for HD.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I am running for this role because I love the intellectually curious environment of HD and I want to use HD as a platform to bring us opportunities that all of us want. My promise to you is exactly my slogan: that I will bring HD UP, U for understanding, P for professionalism. Understanding first in the sense that I will actually listen to you and bring events that you want, and understanding in the sense that I want to foster mutual understanding both culturally and through discussion. Professionalism first in the sense that I have profound experience organising large scale events, making me suitable to ensure that HD events will be of good quality, and professionalism more importantly in the sense that I will own up my mistakes and continuously develop so I can keep your trust.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My three priorities are one: to maintain HD‘s current efficiency by learning from our current board members. Two: to actually listen to you and bring events that you want, this will be done through google forms and individual interviews. Three: ensuring that HD is notjust about pre-professional development but also about mutual discussion and cultural understanding.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. Vote Zonglun for Understanding and Professionalism!
Le Dragon Déchaîné 