WLUSP’s president and student directors are elected by our membership (all Laurier students) each year in February. Members will also have an opportunity to learn more about each candidate and their platform at our Open Forum. The new president will be officially elected at our Annual General Meeting on Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. EST. Please follow us on social media or check out wlusp.com to learn more.
Abdullah Zafar
I’m Abdullah, an international student at WLU, and I am submitting a nomination to be President/Publisher and Chair of WLUSP.
Experience
I am Currently the Keystone Yearbook EIC for the year 2024-25. I have worked with WLUSP as Video Editor for Blueprint Magazine along with Production Assistant at Keystone during my 2023-2024 academic year.
I have been appointed to various roles under WLUSP and have seen how the organization operates from my volunteer and Editor in Chief positions.
Personality
As a Leader at WLUSP, the President must have values on which they base their decision to make the right choices for the organizations best interest. Being resilient while challenges occur and ensuring I’m collaborating with the Board of Directors at WLUSP to foster new ideas & maintain standards is essential.
Structure to Achieve the Goals
Building a schedule/timeline for Board of Directors to sustain the published newspapers, yearbook, radio stations, etc. Conducting monthly check-ins on the work that was scheduled to be done. Having deadlines and due dates beforehand to ensure deadlines are not missed.
Improvements
Using past publications to improve the quality of work and conduct case studies for progress. Collaborate with other Laurier Campuses: Milton, Brantford and Waterloo to encourage students to join, and teach them about the benefits of WLUSP and the opportunities that can be added as experience for student portfolios.
Changes I Wish to Implement
Help students develop their skills within the department by training and enlightening them about WLUSP’s opportunities for Laurier students to learn with talented individuals through collaborating openings.
Thando Bhebhe
My name is Thando Bhebhe and as of now, I am the current Creative Director at the Sputnik, under WLUSP.
I majored in English and graduated with an honours degree in the fall of this year, 2024. I am applying for the role of President, Publisher and Chair, a role where I will be in charge of supervising multiple Editors and Directors of the diverse media, print and online publications under WLUSP. I will be overseeing all these mediums, leading everyone toward successful operations, all under the supervision of the Board of Directors.
As President, Publisher and Chair, I will maintain the overall structure of the organization with aims of also maintaining the high standard of operations left by my predecessor, Umaymah Suhail. Inheriting from her legacy, I will attempt to guide the organization onto new unchartered horizons, braving the unique novel challenges that I believe our tomorrow holds.
Grounded in my numerous years of experience working at almost all levels of the publication chain in the Sputnik as first a volunteer writer, section editor and founder, and now current creative director.
I believe the coming semesters are going to be ones of change in the culture of journalism and student media on Laurier campuses and broader landscapes in line with recent updates to how news media is distributed regarding free speech, fact checking and censorship.
Now more than ever our student voices are needed, and I will ensure that they can continue to be heard, clearly and factually.
