Senior Caucus: Andrey Sokolov and Erica Li

RECORD: Sokolov and Li have more than enough student government experience under their belts in order to lead the student body. Sokolov has served as the Sophomore Caucus Outreach Director and Sophomore Caucus Chief of Staff, and he currently serves as the Junior Caucus Co-President. On the other hand, Li was both a Caucus and Student Union (SU) External Outreach member, and she is now serving as the Director of SU External Affairs.

DYNAMIC: The Lov-Li ticket consists of a passionate, close-knit group of friends who have worked together to ensure that they are the optimal campaign to serve the rising seniors. The team has launched a website, which includes a letter to the student body, the duo’s experiences, and the policies that they plan to implement if elected. Beyond the fundamentals of their platform, the pair have great chemistry, having worked with each other in student government since their sophomore year. Sokolov and Li have balanced skill sets; Li is better at managing social media and outreach initiatives, while Sokolov excels in his experience with team collaboration and web development.

PLATFORM: The Lov-Li ticket believes that they are the platform that the student body needs as current juniors transition to their final year at Stuyvesant. Their platform primarily focuses on the four pillars of CARE: collaboration, advocacy, reliability, and experience. For each of these pillars, the pair has detailed plans they hope to implement that will benefit the senior class.

“We will ensure that senior year will be memorable, fun, and unforgettable. If elected, we will be the needed voice for you all.”

This quote embodies the essence of the Lov-Li ticket quite well. Not only does the Lov-Li ticket possess a strong record of experience within the SU, they are able to recognize certain issues within the student body and advocate for solutions. Their faith in their ability to do so is reflected in the plethora of thorough initiatives they have planned, all of which align with their platform’s four core values.

Regarding collaboration, the pair aims to work with a variety of extracurriculars and clubs throughout the year. Some examples include working with the Stuyvesant Indicator for yearbook photos promotion and continuing the tradition of working with the Writing Center for college essay reviews. The ticket also wants to represent other facets of Stuyvesant by holding an Art and Music showcase, as well as a Spring or Fall Fest, and by featuring smaller cultural clubs such as the Japanese Students’ Association and the Jewish Student Union in monthly e-mails. Another unique idea that the duo have planned is working with the Health Department to advocate for more sexual health education and resources such as providing condoms, Plan B, and birth control.

Advocacy is another priority for Lov-Li ticket, as the pair seeks to represent important issues that have persisted throughout recent years. This includes addressing the lack of mental health resources at Stuyvesant and increasing accessibility to reliable therapists. To advocate for environmental issues, the ticket plans to set up a school flea market that aims to help seniors declutter their closets, an event which has never been done before. Furthermore, through a College Pen-Pal initiative that pairs students with alumni in their accepted schools, the college transition process will be made easier. Lov-Li hopes to push for changes through one-on-one talks with Principal Yu and Student Leadership Team meetings, where students are able to express their concerns.

Sokolov and Li put more emphasis on implementing feasible policies instead of appeasing the student body with unrealistic ideas. Some of their plans focus on honoring annual traditions for the senior class, such as senior merch for the departing Class of 2023, a letter capsule, and senior sunrise. Other plans that they hope to enact focus on renovating and accessorizing certain areas around the school, including the senior bar, the Student Union room, and the senior atrium. Finally, the Lov-Li ticket hopes to continue the tradition of releasing Elective Guides and is working on the production of a new Stuyvesant Schedule Widget app.

Though each of these wide assortment of initiatives may sound feasible individually, the sheer quantity and scale of all of them combined raises the question as to whether they can all be achieved in a single year. Taking note of Li and Sokolov’s many extracurricular activities and leadership roles outside of the SU, it is questionable whether the pair can handle the immense responsibility that comes with being Senior Caucus Co-Presidents without making heavy sacrifices. It is also important to remember that Sokolov’s past involvement in the Junior Caucus occurred during the same time as alleged claims of corruption arose. The current campaign’s lack of acknowledgement as to how instances like these may be prevented suggests that it may possibly happen again if precautions are not taken.

However, the Lov-Li ticket’s comprehensive and well-thought-out initiatives that revolve around continuing senior traditions and advocating for the student body, along with the pair’s compatible dynamic and familiarity with the inner workings of the SU, makes it a well-rounded candidate for this election, which is why The Spectator endorses this ticket.