Transcripts curated by Giulia Porcu and Hannah Schepers
Clementine Bouev Dombre ( Head of Partnerships)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I’m Clementine and I’m running for head of partnerships for The Crew for BDE.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I’m not scared to get all of these coupons and to put myself out there for all the sciencespistes. Plus I love writing emails, so I’m the one you should vote for!
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. I want to reinforce the partnerships we already have, find new partnerships for students at Science Po and try to have more interactions with other schools in Le Havre.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I’ve already got a lot of projects in mind whether it be with local cafes for revision periods and way more so if you want to know all these projects then vote for me for next year.
Angelina Chams ( President)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. My name is Angelina and I am running to be your president for the BDE.
Q.Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. The main reason why I chose to run for the BDE as the president is because of the fact that I feel like the president is such an integral role in the BDE and I‘d like to make a meaningful contribution to student life through the BDE. I believe that from my past experience, previously being a secretary for the student council, I’ve organised an MUN before, for a year, acted in multiple events and contributed towards them. I believe that I have the relevant experience to make a good BDE and lead them well.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. I‘d say my top three priorities would be promoting inclusivity, making this campus a big community, a family-like community that we all come to value and cherish; making sure that events are targeted to all people, not just consistent parties but also having more, let’s say not as active events, more passive, more calming ones also for people who don‘t prefer the party-lifestyle; and then also just making sure that everybody is as updated as possible, making the BDE‘s overall planning a bit more transparent for everybody.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. I‘d say that I‘d like you to take away the fact that I am very motivated towards doing this role, I am very glad to have the opportunity and I am genuinely sure that every single candidate is great for their position but I would greatly appreciate it if you could consider me as well for the role. Thank you.
Gabin Bernard (Treasurer)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. I am Gabin and I am running for BDE treasurer.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose the treasurer position because I already have experience as a French Red Cross treasurer and also because I want to carry an impact, a true impact and foster transparency before all. I feel like this is also part of a broader project that I want to contribute to on campus.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. The very first will be fostering transparency. I would like to implement a report that is very easy to read, for all students as well as for admin, in order to have a bigger picture of the expenses and the revenues of the BDE. I would also like to work together with the head of partnerships to expand the scope of partnerships that we may already have and to have more to improve student life. Finally I would also like to implement a common form where students can drop their ideas and work with them
from the bottom up and not only from the top.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. If you want changes and if you want transparency and a rigorous management of your funds,
please vote Gabin!
Lynne Mizushima ( Head of Communication)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, my name is Lynne Mizushima and I am running for head of comms’ for BDE.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose to run for this role because I really enjoy creating and even though this past week has been very busy it has been very creatively fulfilling and I have had so much fun making posts, posters and videos. I just really enjoy creating and I will make sure that BDE has the best communication ever.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First would be to have a clear communication of both essential information and fun events. Second would be to make a lot of creative posts and videos and the third would be: I would love to bring French and internationals closer together.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. I hope you guys go check out boulangerie BDE‘s instagram because these are the idk of posts that will be waiting for you if you vote for me!
Nahia Onchalo-Meynard ( Head of Partnerships)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I am Nahia and I am running for head of partnerships.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. Because I wanted to run for BDE to be really invested into the student life and something I really love is building a community. Especially with people around because I feel like the Sciences Po campus is a bit isolated and we are all pretty close together, there is a lot of solidarity but I feel like there’s a lot more to discover in LH, especially with other schools, special shops and traditions. Being a student in a new city means trying to really belong to the city and building partnerships is the best way to get to know your favourite spots. Because I feel like getting to know your surroundings is also getting to know yourself better. Evolving in the city where you study is a really good way to expand your student life and to make the most out of the uni life by also going outside our Sciences Po world because ultimately this is a really small circle so expanding and seeing above is a great thing and I wanted to be able to do that. I really just love bonding and meeting new people and discovering new things all the time so head of partnerships seemed ideal to do that and to build interesting, solid and long-term bonds with Le Havre.
First, I think that experience is essential and I had the opportunity to do that a lot especially in some associations, even in an association that we are going to launch soon, which is a mental health association and I am head of partnerships in it, so I am in contact with health professionals. I was in the high school student council and I am used to talking with people to negotiate. I think experience is a big point and also being aware of what makes a good head of partnerships, so trust, reliability and good knowledge of your surroundings. I think I am a pretty open person and I love to get to know people and to get to discover. I am really curious so I think that my curiosity and my wish for bonding with people to get closer and to make people discover interesting things is what makes me a solid candidate.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. There is no order but one of my priorities is for sure building a wider student community, because
we had events like the International Students Night, which were really great because we got to
discover people from outside of Sciences Po, discover cultures that we may not have in Sciences Po, even if we have a lot of cultures and to discover just other students from Le Havre. Even at dinners like the first one at Odalys, we got to meet people from the University of Le Havre, girls that were really nice and interesting. I think one of my priorities will be to build a wider student community with schools outside of Sciences Po and to make inter-school events to build a community of Le Havrepeople, not only Sciences Po Le Havre students.
Also, maintaining local businesses, I feel like we have an interesting diversity, a pretty diverse environment in terms of shops, of local businesses that we do not necessarily sustain because the student life is really busy, Sciences Po is also quite far away from the city center. One of the mainshops, Ace Tea is now closed, so developing new contacts with local businesses and local shops to revive them and to expand the student life in Le Havre to make it a more comfortable area because it will be more known and there will be places where people will be welcome because of the partnerships. Strengthening bonds with other Sciences Po campuses and other important institutions could be very beneficial to Le Havre. A lot of clubs take this initiative but it takes a lot of effort and it is also pretty restrained, there are really limited slots. So I think developing stronger bonds nationally, especially since Le Havre is in the north west, it is pretty far away from everything, there is only one train, Paris is the only way to go to other places so developing stronger bonds with other Sciences Po campuses and other institutions will be beneficial to our campus.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. I am a very committed and curious person and I am also pretty dynamic. This is something that I genuinely love. I applied for head of partnerships because this is born out of real envy and it will not stay as a student role to elevate my profile, this is really something that I care about and have a deep affection for. This is what will make the partnerships strong because the bonding behind it will be really tight and long-term. We‘ll make strong partnerships and a strong position within the BDE.
Stanislas Martin Stephan (President)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi I’m Stanislas and I’m running for president of the BDE.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose to run as president because I am very eager to help all the new Mushus next year, I deal very well under stress and I love managing a team and promoting coworking.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. Make the campus as inclusive as possible, host as many events as possible including more themed club nights and spirit week and the last one is really making sure the team sticks together no matter what.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I think I am the best sea captain they could hope for!
Elena Hayashi (Secretary)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, thank you for having me, I’m Elena and I’m running for secretary for My Little BDE
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I’m running for secretary because I think I’m the type of person that anticipates what’s to come. So I think I’m really good at organizing things and making sure that everything goes efficiently. I really want to be part of the student campus, being the one that actually organizes the events, but being the organizational anchor behind that so that I can help make sure that everything goes smoothly and every voice is included. I think that makes me the perfect candidate as a secretary because I really know how to organize things, but also get people together and make sure that nothing gets overlooked.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My top three priorities: first I think it’s to make sure that no voice gets overlooked and I think I really want to ensure the fact that I feel like every idea is important so that we should reflect upon those ideas and make sure we have the time to reflect upon them. Two, I really want to foster inclusivity; as an international student I think it’s really important that every student feels safe on campus and feels included in whatever activity we do. And three, I really hope that I’m the supportive person that anyone can reach out to. If they have any problems, they can always feel free to reach out to me.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I think I am really committed to my goals and whatever goal we have as the BDE or as a school,
I’ll definitely be responsible for whatever we do. I really hope to be part of a team that can really help make the student campus a really beautiful and supportive environment.
Nutsa Iaganashivili ( Head of Communication)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi everyone, I am Nutsa and I am running for BDE as a head of communications.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?A. I chose to run for this role as I think it fit me the best, I wanted to run for vice president but I think communications is more my thing. I am very communicative, I am very
“loud“
and I think based on my past experiences I will be the best at this job, based on my personality as well.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First of all, more house parties because I love house parties and I think the majority of this campus also. More of a better communication with the French bureaucracy because it‘s the worst and I think more integration events to really help 1As and 2As integrate with each other and become more friendly.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. I think it is better to be safe and happy than sorry and I think you should try new things whenever you can, even if they are out of your comfort zone, which is what I am kind of doing right now.
Levi Sandblost ( Vice president)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. My name is Levi and I’m running for vice president in the BDE with the crew.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose to run because I was met by Stan with a very great vision for a very great BDE board and I was so taken by this grand vision that he presented that I really wanted to be part of it and so I was hooked on the idea of really making a great BDE for every student. I have no doubt that all of the candidates and whoever gets elected for Vice President at the end of the day will be good at their role.I think what’s important to me and what makes me stand out is that it’s really important to me to be available to all the students, inclusivity especially. And so if you want a vice president that makes it easy to voice your concerns or your ideas for the school, then I think I’m the vote that you should cast.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. So my number one is of course, as I mentioned, inclusivity. Number two, I think, is conducting the BDE in an eco-friendly way. That means that when we arrange events, either day events or over multiple days, we make sure that it’s conducted in the most eco-friendly way possible. Number three is arranging for trans-associative events. That means that we want to make events that go across different associations more often to promote the inclusivity and the united campus feeling.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. Once again, I would like it to be that I want to be close to you, whoever you are, and I want to be the vice president that is always there to listen to your concerns and to implement them.
Paul Gassmann ( Treasurer)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi everyone, I’m Paul Gassman and I’m running as treasurer for the BDE.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A.I have a past experience in my former high school and it’s a role I’m comfortable with. I think because I’m committed and I’m willing to collaborate with the other position, I had ideas and to collaborate with the head of partnerships, to find new partnerships and I want to be as transparent as possible.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. Being a treasurer is transparency, so I want to publish how the money was managed for each event.
I feel collaboration with the other members of the board and inclusion: include the other students in in the decision of the events to raise money, to gather new ideas from everyone in the campus
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I think if I had to take one thing it would be commitment because I think I would be a very committed candidate and I would take my time as treasurer to make sure everything is running fine and also I have a very good relationship with the other members of the board.
I think that’s very important.
Axelle Le Garec ( President)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I am Axelle and I am running for BDE President.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose to run for this role because I felt really inspired seeing all the things that BDE did this year, and I know coming into a new city/country for a lot of people is really stressful. So, after helping us so much, I want to do my part. I also really love this campus, so I really want to be involved in everyday life and do my part. I think I’m the best possible candidate because I am very reliable. When I say I’m going to do something, I do it immediately. I’m also very detail-oriented. I always make sure to put 100% of my energy into everything I do. I think I’m very organized, which makes me a good candidate for president since I’m able to coordinate tasks, and delegate, while also not just supervising things but also helping out whenever I can.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. It might sound a bit cliche but I want to bridge the international and French gap. I think I could be good for this because I consider myself in the mid-point. I’m French but I’ve gone to British school my whole life, so I want to act as that mid-point while working on bridging that gap. Secondly, I want to continue having fun events where everyone feels included. One of my priorities is that at the start of the year, if there are ways to do that, I would like to make club nights accessible to minors, or if that’s not possible for legal reasons, I want to always have an alternative for minors since I can imagine it’s very frustrating to come in as a minor if you’re missing out on all these integration events. Lastly, Iwant BDE to keep being the fun, bubbly place it is, I want to just continue that legacy.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what would you want it to be?
A. I want them to remember that I’m motivated, and that I’m 100% dedicated to this role, this is really something I want to do for our campus, and I’m just really motivated.
Sonia Stephan ( Event Manager)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I’m Sonia and I am running to be your BDE event manager
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. Because I believe that Sciences Po-Le Havre is a really small campus, and sometimes it can feel a little less spirited compared to rather large universities, for example in the States. So I believe that events are really an opportunity to connect students outside of academic contexts. So I’m someone that’s really creative, I have a lot of ideas, I’ve done a lot of arts throughout my childhood, and so I’ll never lack ideas for interesting events or things that can bring people together and create more of a school spirit on campus.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. So keep the school spirit ongoing, connect 1As with other students and as well as 2As, and finally make the most memorable two years of our life in Le Havre because it’s very short.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I’m someone that’s creative, dedicated to my work, and all I want to do is to bring people together outside of academic contexts.
David Cretu ( President)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hey, I am David and I am running for BDE President.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I chose this role because I have been BDE President my entire high school and I think campus life and events are the most important part because it is what helps you bring the community together and since I had experience I think I would be really fit for this position.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. My three priorities would be to bring close together the french and internationals to bring a strong, really solidary community inside of the BDE as well as creating more events and also maybe creating BDE pass in the model of BDA one.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. Let’s build Sciences Po!
Prunelle Adou ( Vice president)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi guys, my name is Prunelle and I am running as Vice president for BDE
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. At first I wanted to be in every single role at one time, so I was like:‘ if I want to be Head ofIntegration, Head of Partnership maybe I should be vice president so I could do every single thing at the same time. Also I like responsibilities so I think it was the best role possible for me. I am an overthinker, so if you need something I will already be one step ahead
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. I think it will be communication, inclusivity and most of all… fun!
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I know most of you guys know me as the girl that will slay her outfit, so the question I asked myself was:
‘why slay in one domain when I could slay in both?’ So vote for me!
Maeva Rouby ( Head of Integration)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi guys I am Maeva and I am running for Head of Integration with Boulangerie BDE.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A.I decided to run for this role because I think it is very important to make everyone feel as integrated as possible as someone who lived in Vietnam her whole life but also grew up partly in France and knows how it feels to be far from home, especially during this period. I feel very sad right now because I am really far away from my family during Lunar New Year, but it’s fine. I really want everyone at home here so that’s why I’m running. Personally I feel like I am really sociable and I always try my best to make everyone feel included so in my opinion I am a good candidate for this role.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A.First of all I want everyone to understand that integration is not only about 1A but also about 2As so I do my best to make everyone feel as good as possible. For the 1As that can come from far away or even from another city in France or even 2As that need to move from a residence to a coloc, then make sure that everyone feels at home in Le Havre because I know how it feels to be in a differentcountry. I’ll do my best to make every event minor-inclusive and include everyone
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. One of the most important thing is that integration is not only for 1As but also for 2As and I’ll do my best to help you guys next year
Tanu Singh ( Vice President )
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. My name is Tanu and I’m running for vice president
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. The reason I am running for this role is that I think I can work really efficiently as a bridge between the students, the BDE and also the admin. I am potentially a very good listener and I never ignore what other people are saying so I think that is something that is very required!
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. To ensure safety to all the students, especially during late night events even for the ones that live very far and the second is to make it super inclusive, not just sometimes. A lot of times there are some parties that just include drinking but some people don’t drink so it should be equally fun for them as well and the third is to make it super fun and bring new ideas to the table.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I am the best hyper so I am going to hype all the events a lot so it’s going to be fun!
Kodrey Jin (President)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. I’m Kodrey and I’m running for BDE President.
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I have gotten taken care of by so many people, this is a new country for me and everyone is so enthusiastic and kind and friendly and willing to help and I want to spread this love to the next students.
A. I’m funny, I can comprehend/emphasize and am open to every voice, and I really want to make things better.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. First of all, I will have an online feedback link so that everybody who wants to share their ideas/feedback or give advice, they can contact us and we will make the change happen I promise.
Secondly, I also want to do cultural exchange events like making dumplings for lunar new year, or just combining cultures so people can share and bond together and discover the diversity. I want to also just have bonding, like bonding across cultures and friend groups to just bond as a whole family.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. I am Kodrey, pick me!
Shinwon Jeon ( Secretary)
Q. What is your name and what is the position that you are running for?
A. Hi, I’m Shinwon and I’m running for BDE secretary
Q. Why did you choose to run for this role? What makes you the best possible candidate for it?
A. I want to become the secretary because I want to use my organizational skills to contribute to diversity and inclusion on campus. I think what distinguishes me from other candidates is my experience at managing administrative tasks independently. I have lived alone in France for more than two years and this allowed me to develop my sense of responsibility and also understand the importance of punctuality, flexibility and commitment.
Q. What will be your top three priorities for next year?
A. Firstly, I want to ensure continuity and transparency of the BDE by implementing clear communication and a well-organized archive. I also want to strengthen the internal organization of the BDE by for example planning out well structured ideas and lastly, I want to support the coordination of different associations as one of the BDE members.
Q. If readers could take away just one thing from this interview, what do you want it to be?
A. Vote for me, I’m truly committed to making BDE impactful during the next academic year and I hope to see you during election night.
Le Dragon Déchaîné 