USG CANDIDATES PART TWO 

John Guthrie (P) and Isabelle Cola (VP)

John Guthrie and Isabelle Cola have both been outspoken in their commitment to make USG a more transparent body, and to streamline processes like securing funding for Tier II organizations. 

“I have been actively involved on campus since my first semester, taking on leadership roles that have given me firsthand experience in advocacy, club funding and community engagement…My biggest motivation comes from recognizing the urgent need for change,” said Guthrie, who was the president of the EcoHusky club at UConn Avery Point and currently represents the Hilltop Apartments as a USG senator. He also founded the Surf Club at Avery Point from-the-ground up. 

“USG is forced to navigate an increasingly difficult balancing act to secure funding for Tier II organizations, making it harder to support the diverse student groups that define UConn’s campus life. This isn’t sustainable,” he said. “When I talk to students who aren’t actively involved, most of them don’t even know what USG does or how it impacts them… [my prior] roles taught me how to navigate leadership challenges, secure funding and build organizations from the ground up. I balanced these responsibilities while commuting to school and working full-time as a personal trainer in my local community.” 

They’re both committed to increasing the campus’ environmental outlook, and one of their campaign promises is to create an email bulletin that USG will send to the entire student body and ensure “every Husky has a voice.” The two candidates expressed that they want to increase engagement. 

“As an undergraduate myself, I felt like I was under-informed and un-active as a student as I rarely heard of USG policies and plans. I want to make sure no other students feel as if they aren’t heard and I want to be the leader that doesn’t just talk about change but acts on change, making real progress with real results,” Cola said. 

She is new to the world of USG, but has been involved with numerous clubs, including HuskyTHON and the student-run Law Society Journal. 

“I work with students daily whether it is at the USM dining market, Law Society meetings or attending HuskyTHON events. I represent all students and the community that feels they don’t belong in government decisions; because the truth is, everyone deserves to have a voice and have a leader who cares about people on an individual level. Compassion, empathy, respect and transparency are all things I can guarantee as a candidate,” Cola added. 

As a current senator, candidate Guthrie expressed concerns regarding a USG referendum surrounding UConn’s involvement in the defense industry. He says it’s a bigger issue than USG should be handling, but that there is a responsible way to serve the student body when it comes to controversial issues. 

“I struggled to justify its purpose. As a Hilltop Senator, my responsibility is to represent the diverse and unique student body of Hilltop, ensuring that our actions serve their best interests. The referendum called for UConn to divest from the military-industrial complex—an issue far beyond the jurisdiction or influence of student government,” Guthrie remarked. 

Over the years, some student activists have expressed concern regarding UConn’s relationships with military contractors and related industries, with some students taking to protest and other adverse actions online and on-campus. Some groups attach UConn’s tangential relationship with these larger corporations as meaning that they are taking an apparent stance on worldwide political issues, such as the ongoing situation in the Middle East. 

“While activism has its place, I believe student government should focus on tangible issues that directly impact our campus community…My focus would be on real, impactful change—addressing tuition costs, campus life and student well-being—rather than symbolic gestures that distract from our core mission,” Guthrie said. 

“I strongly believe that it is important to discuss controversial topics as leaders but to do so in a manner that reflects a respect for all communities on campus. As leaders, we are there to advocate for not just the ‘majority’ but also the ‘minority’ and implement policies that equitably benefit and protect all,” added Cola. 

Guthrie and Cola say that they’re armed with the ability to make USG a more valuable resource for students. 

“Since [becoming a senator], I’ve gained valuable insight into how USG operates, and I’ve seen firsthand both its potential and its shortcomings.  At the end of the day, I’m just like all of you—a student who wants real change, not just promises. From this campaign, I have pledged myself to continuous encouragement of initiative, responsibility and energy in serving the public interest. I hope that is there for all to see,” Guthrie stated. 

“When leaders care about their communities on a personal level, that is when the real collaboration and action begins. I will make change happen, I act on what I say, and I have proven-so through my previous initiatives on-campus and off,” Cola said. 

Andy Zhang (P) and Haritha Subramanian (VP) 

Andy Zhang and Haritha Subramanian both want to ensure USG operates proactively, and to make sure the bridge between students and UConn administration is structurally sound. 

“We decided to run for USG President and Vice President because we believe in a student government that works for every student—not just in name, but in action. Too often, student organizations struggle with funding barriers, and university policies don’t reflect student needs,” the two said. 

“We believe leadership is about bringing people together, listening to student voices and ensuring that every decision we make is guided by the needs of the community. To do so, we have made it a priority to rebuild trust between USG and the larger student body,” they added. 

Both candidates have prior experience with student groups and have made an effort to support different student populations and needs. Zhang, currently a leader of the “Plant Futures” club and an intern in the university’s Office of Sustainability, wants to leverage his prior experience to create a guideline USG can follow to make UConn a better campus. 

“We don’t just talk about making changes—we’ve already been doing the work. From expanding food accessibility on campus to creating safe spaces for marginalized communities through the Pan Asian Council & Women in Politics, we have a proven track record of delivering results, both on campus and across the state in various political and activist roles,” the two said. 

Vice presidential candidate Subramanian also serves as a publicly-elected official in the Connecticut town of Farmington, and wants to address UConn’s housing crisis with programs USG can sponsor to help students. 

“On the state level, we have been involved in advocating for housing and land use policy reform that allows for more affordable housing and public transportation, while also fighting for and implementing the Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies mandate bill,” they said. 

“Both of us are incredibly involved individuals on campus, so we have also had valuable conversations with numerous student organizations and have already built close relationships with the cultural centers—all of which is step one to connecting students to their government. Our administration will be transparent, accountable and focused on making tangible improvements to student life,” they added.  

In running for office, the two candidates recognize that they should be representing student issues but would like to see all types of voices at the table. 

“We believe that USG’s role is to provide a platform for student voices and to facilitate open discussions on issues that impact our community. The referendum process is one of the ways students can engage in these conversations, and our priority is ensuring that it is conducted in a way that is fair, inclusive and representative of the diverse perspectives on campus. It is our responsibility as USG to have a pulse on what matters to the students and one of the best ways to do that is by collecting accurate data, which is why we were strong supporters of passing this referendum,” Zhang and Subramanian said. 

Even though military-related concerns are shared by a number of students, they support that the proposed referendum is in need of an adjustment: One that frames USG’s position as an advisory body on behalf of students. 

“We recognize that the current referendum is biased as written, but we have also been involved in the process of amending the language, so it is more neutral in nature. Still, we are committed to working with the committee to reach an agreement that upholds the data-driven integrity of the process…It is also important to note that with the strong need for a referendum to gauge student perspectives, this is just the first step to representation and action, which is what we plan to take on if elected into office,” they added.