Previous SPGS Deputy speaker, Nan Ma, JD ’28, hopes to continue supporting the portfolio’s ongoing efforts until the winter elections.
Following the resignation of former Vice-President (Finance and Services) Oishik Bhattacharya, Ma joined the race in the final hours, due to the low turnout with no other candidates running, before the campaign deadline to ensure SGPS operations and financial services continued without interruption. The by-election will be held from Oct. 9 to 10, meaning she would’ve a reduced term—by roughly 4 months—until the role will undergo another election in January.
READ MORE: SGPS hosts by-election months after Vice-President’s resignation
Before announcing her candidacy, Ma served as the SGPS deputy speaker. She said she stepped down from the role immediately after deciding to run to avoid any conflict of interest. “I wanted to be transparent and make sure the process remained fair for everyone involved,” Ma said in an interview with The Journal.
Despite running for the position unexpectedly, Ma explained she’s ready to take on the responsibilities of the role and keep SGPS finances running smoothly until the next election cycle in January. “My main focus is making sure there are no issues for students and that the SGPS continues to run smoothly,” she said.
According to the SPGS website, the VP (Finance and Services) is responsible for ensuring that members’ fees are collected and allocated fairly through a balanced budget that reflects student priorities. The position also Chairs the SGPS Finance Committee, which oversees the distribution of bursaries, grants, sponsorships, and the review of mandatory fees.
Ma acknowledged that the by-election’s timing in September likely contributed to the low number of candidates. “People have just gotten back to campus and are still building their IKEA furniture—it’s hard for them to keep an eye out for these opportunities,” she said. “A lot of students might miss election news because it’s buried in their emails or they’re not checking Instagram or Twitter as much early in the semester.”
When asked about her goals for the position, Ma said the last-minute nature of her application meant she doesn’t yet have concrete plans. Instead, she hopes to ensure stability in the role until a new candidate is elected in the winter. She added that her background in organization, financial management, and student engagement will help her support the SGPS in the interim.
At Queen’s, Ma serves as a student caseworker at the Queen’s Business Law Clinic, providing free legal support to local small businesses and non-profit organizations. She also represents her class as the 2L representative for the Queen’s Competition Law Club and is helping organize the club’s annual oral advocacy competition.
The election results will be announced on Saturday, Oct. 11 at approximately 9 a.m.
Tags
by-election, SGPS, SGPS elections
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