Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator Samia Zahran intends to run in this year's election for TCU president, the Daily learned yesterday.
Zahran, a sophomore who became a senator on Thursday because her position was not contested, will most likely find herself running against Senators Chas Morrison and Brandon Rattiner. Over the last few weeks, both have been laying the groundwork for their campaigns for the upcoming presidential election.
Morrison, a sophomore, and Rattiner, a junior, were also automatically elected to the Senate on Thursday, because Senate positions for rising seniors and juniors were uncontested.
All three senators have indicated that they will seek nomination at the April 12 Presidential Candidates Meeting. The student body-wide presidential election will occur on April 22.
Zahran served on Senate during her freshman year but did not serve this past academic year. She is the only candidate not to have been on the Senate this past term.
"I wanted to do other things within the Tufts community," Zahran said, explaining her yearlong absence from the body. "I just wanted to further my growth on this campus and my knowledge."
That growth, she said, consisted of getting involved with cultural organizations that she felt she missed out on in high school.
During her time at Tufts, Zahran has been involved in several student organizations including the dance group Spirit of Color and the Tufts Burlesque Troupe. She is also involved with the Filipino Cultural Society, Muslim Student Association and the newly formed Arab Student Association.
As a freshman senator, Zahran submitted a resolution that encouraged the administration to extend the fall reading period by one day.
Zahran distinguished her candidacy from those of Morrison and Rattiner.
"I decided to run just recently because I felt like I could add more to Senate and more that Chas and Brandon can't necessarily," Zahran said. "I feel like I am very capable and have the personality for it. Chas and Brandon aren't bringing to the table what I can represent."
Zahran said that she plans to communicate with her constituency, a task she called "the most important thing a president needs to do."
"[The president] has to listen to what everyone else has to say," she said, adding that she plans to collect student input during her campaign. "My plan is to go out and find out what everyone else wants to be done and fit that into my plans for the Senate."
Zahran's campaign strategy echoes Morrison's and Rattiner's plans, which both center on the needs of student organizations and group leaders.
Junior Brandon Sultan, who will serve on the Committee on Student Life next year, described Zahran as a "connector" between the Senate and the student body. He said she would prove to be a challenging opponent for the other candidates.
"People will find out about Samia very quickly and she'll do very well for herself," Sultan said. "I think the two other candidates have something to look forward to and something to fear a little bit."
Tessa Gellerson contributed reporting to this article.
