VP of clubs & Orgs
Meet the Candidates!
Shriram hedge
My name is Shriram Hegde and I am running for the Vice President of Clubs and Organizations.
I am currently a junior in the Honors College double majoring in Biology and Spanish on the pre-med track. With my leadership experience, I am excited to run for the position of your VP of Clubs and Orgs!
I had the privilege of serving as a USG senator this past year and understand the importance in our role for daily student life; I worked as a Probationary Budget Committee (PBC) senator working closely with USG members and understanding the work that goes on behind the scenes. In this position, I worked directly under the VP of Clubs and Orgs and truly got the experience of reviewing budgets, looking at the bylaws, and of course, helping clubs as much as possible. To add on, I served as a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee, and have worked at Wolfieland, Light the Brook, and have helped plan Club Social and Diversity Festival. Now, I want to play a bigger part in this.
If I am elected as your VP of Clubs and Orgs, I would focus on streamlining the process of communication between USG and clubs and advocating for changes you all want on campus. After all, student life brings everyone together and brings joy to the campus.
Some things I have planned are:
- Allocating budgets and resources more effectively for all clubs.
- Advocate for more storage space for clubs in convenient spaces across campus.
- Creating multiple types of Club Socials to promote collaboration between various clubs
- Hosting additional office hours for club leaders to reach out and receive the help they deserve
- Creating more enjoyable events throughout the semester!
- Establishing a permanent Hindu Spiritual Center, an initiative I have started as a USG senator
- Implementing more diverse dining options and extending dining times across campus
- Repairing the tennis courts and creating outdoor pickleball courts
In addition to my USG experience, I am the president of the cricket club, communications office of Watsi, Honors College Big Sibling, BIO 205 TA, volunteer interpreter at SB Home, work as a sports coach back home, and am a certified medical assistant. All of these experiences have helped me develop as a person, foster diversity amongst various groups, and of course, prepare for this role in particular.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to serve as your VP of Clubs and Orgs to bring change to campus. Please feel free to reach out with any questions at shriram.hegde@stonybrook.edu.
Antonios manolas
Hello Everyone!
My name is Antonios O. Manolas, and I am running to be your next Vice President of Clubs and Organizations!
I am a junior, and I have had the time throughout my college career to familiarize myself with USG’s operations and gain the experience to lead the Office of C&O in a way which will benefit the student body as much as possible.
This year, I have worked as the Executive Assistant at the Office of C&O, which means that I have firsthand experience with the operations of the office, as well as its flaws and shortcomings. As Vice President of Clubs and Organizations, I plan to make the following changes to ensure we can give the most back to the student body as possible:
PBC Changes
The number one function of C&O VP is to operate the Probationary Budget Committee, which gives probationary budgets to newer clubs to prepare them for a full Line Budget. This year, the PBC committee has reviewed over 90 different semesterly budgets, which is an absolute record compared to previous years. While this is a good accomplishment, it has revealed a number of faults in the current PBC system.
Firstly, I plan to increase the weekly output of PBC meetings. It is very difficult to accommodate as many clubs as necessary with a singular two hour meeting every week. Realistically, only four or five clubs are able to be reviewed in a week with that sort of schedule, which is ineffective when every club needs their budget reviewed and processed as soon as possible. For this reason I am proposing to add an additional weekly meeting to PBC’s schedule, to ensure that we are approving as many club budgets as we possibly can per week.
Secondly, I plan to streamline the PBC Application process. The current application process is to send an email to the C&O office with your budget materials, wait to be added to a waitlist, and then wait to be contacted weeks later to schedule their appointment. While this has worked so far, it can become very frustrating for clubs to be waiting for so long to hear back, especially if they accidentally made errors in their application. My plan is to use a google form in order to better track PBC applications, which will include its own checklist to ensure clubs are filling the proper information on their application. Budgets will still be reviewed manually, but the waitlist process will be streamlined and clubs can have confidence they are sending the proper material. Apart from the form, I also plan to have the office be more active in sending and replying to emails, so that clubs are never left in the dark about their current issues or application status.
Extra initiatives
While the current major function of the Office of C&O is to manage PBC applications, it is not the only function the office was created to handle. Currently, there are not too many resources for clubs that the office provides, and I would like to expand the office to manage more initiatives.
The first planned initiative is the Club Closet program, which we are currently working on establishing. This program would provide a lending closet with materials that are useful to club events and promotional materials, such as speakers, tables, construction paper, markers, and much more. While the Club Closet is still far from being fully realized, I believe that I will be able to take charge and have it ready to go as soon as possible.
Next, I want to expand C&O’s workshops to cover a broader range of topics that are relevant to clubs. Currently, the only workshop the office holds is the occasional PBC Workshop. While the PBC workshop is good for clubs that want to apply for a PBC budget, it is worthless to every other club. I want to create more workshops that are fit to help clubs host and manage their events. The current workshops I plan to create are a 25live workshop for reserving rooms, an SBEngaged workshop for creating and scheduling events, and workshops catered to common event types for newer clubs. I also plan to work with the Treasury department to create workshops for club grants.
Thank you all for your time and consideration, and I hope that you trust me to be Stony Brook’s Vice President of Clubs & Organizations! I will strive to. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out at antonios.manolas@stonybrook.edu, or my Instagram at Antonios_Manolas!
taher motiwala
Taher Motiwala: Seawolves Forward
Building a Better USG: A Platform for Clubs, Organizations, and Students
Dear Stony Brook Students,
My name is Taher Motiwala, and I am running to be your Vice President of Clubs and Organizations in the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) because I believe our clubs and student organizations deserve more—more funding, more opportunities, and more support. I am not running for power or a title—I am running because I genuinely care about making your experience as a student leader, club member, and commuter better than ever before.
Why Me?
As a Commuter Representative to the Senate and member of the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, I have worked on budget allocation, student engagement, and resource distribution—the very things that impact clubs and organizations every day. My internships in business strategy, marketing, and event planning have given me the skills to make big ideas happen. Most importantly, as a commuter, event coordinator, and club advocate, I understand the struggles students face, and I am determined to fight for real solutions.
My Vision: A Stronger, More Supported Club Community
More Funding, More Freedom
- Remove the cap on club funding—no more limits that hold your organization back.
- Create a new Student Initiative Fund to financially support students with ideas for social, entrepreneurial, or creative initiatives.
- Corporate sponsorships and ad sales to bring in more revenue for bigger and better traditions, so clubs don’t have to fight for limited funds.
- Streamlined fundraising support—making it easier for clubs to raise money, gain visibility, and thrive.
Cutting Waste, Investing in What Matters
- Stop wasting USG money on underused departments, and unnecessary expenses. Every dollar should be spent on students, clubs, and the things that matter to you.
- Shake up accounting processes to make funding requests faster and more efficient, reducing the time it takes for clubs to get money.
- Better resource sharing—introducing the Club Closet, a shared inventory of event supplies so clubs don’t have to waste money on one-time-use items.
Expanding Opportunities for Clubs & Organizations
- Reduce the SEA recognition-to-PBC eligibility gap from two semesters to one so new clubs can access funding sooner.
- Collaborate with campus departments to maximize resources and prevent clubs from having to jump through hoops for simple requests.
- Adjusting laws like the food cap to be more favorable to clubs
- Host skill-building workshops for students, offering certifications in Excel, software, soft skills, leadership, and professional development.
Making Stony Brook a More Engaging Campus
- Pop-up food events with diverse local businesses—bringing in exciting, high-quality food options every month.
A Stronger Voice & Support for Commuters
- More USG-funded commuter events to make involvement easier for off-campus students.
- A professional clothing station, allowing students to borrow suits and formal attire for interviews and networking events.
- A dedicated international student representative in the USG Senate to ensure their voices are heard.
Open Communication & Transparency
- USG Reddit—a space for students to voice concerns, ask questions, and share feedback without the red tape.
- Always open feedback forms so students can submit issues at any time, ensuring real action on student concerns.
Why This Matters
Clubs and organizations are the heartbeat of Stony Brook. They provide students with a sense of belonging, leadership opportunities, and a space to grow. Yet, many clubs struggle with funding delays, bureaucratic obstacles, and a lack of resources. That needs to change. As your VP of Clubs & Organizations, I will work to cut inefficiencies, expand opportunities, and ensure that USG serves YOU—not itself.
This isn’t about power; this is about fixing a system that should be working for students. I want to make sure every club gets what they need, every student has the opportunity to lead, and every commuter feels included. I am here to listen, to fight for what you need, and to make Stony Brook’s club culture stronger than ever before.
Let’s make it happen. Vote for Taher Motiwala for VP of Clubs & Organizations and all member of the Seawolves Forward party, and let’s build a better, more efficient, and more supportive USG—together.
Makala saldenha-raye
Hello Stony Brook students, my name is Makala Saldenha-Raye, a senior studying Sociology and I am excited to announce my candidacy for Vice President of Clubs and Organizations. As an individual who is enthusiastic about student participation, I strongly believe that the clubs here at Stony Brook University are a vital component of our institution. They improve the engagement and vibrancy of campus life, provide leadership opportunities, and foster student unity. Currently, I am the Event Coordinator for the Black Student Union on campus and this relates to the position of VP of Clubs and Organizations since it demonstrates my skills and abilities in organizing, coordinating, and arranging events. Also, I would provide creative ideas to boost student involvement, raise club awareness, and improve the overall experience. If elected, I would make it my top priority to enhance support for clubs, advocate for clubs needs, increase student engagement, and improve connections and collaborations. Overall, I am determined to provide every group and organization the encouragement, recognition, and tools they need to thrive. Together, let's create a more robust and cohesive campus!
