The Plans for Progress from our New Union President and VP Academic

On January 29, the StFX Student Union’s 2025 general election results were made official. The students have decided, voting in Jacob Cruchet as the Student Union president and Alessandro D’Aquino the VP Academic. It’s with great enthusiasm that we get to meet the fine people leading our students for the next calendar year, hear their experiences, and see their vision.

Support for students was a massive part of the new VP Academic’s platform while campaigning. D’Aquino not only emphasized the importance of this support while running for the position but has also embodied that belief during his time here at StFX. The student experience is not only one of learning but also of molding ourselves into the best version possible to thrive in later careers. D’Aquino’s expressed commitment towards enhancing the student experience at StFX ensures this experience for all students. Communication between faculty and students is key in our ability to receive the best experience we can; D’Aquino believes the same and he is committed to improving this communication.

D’Aquino’s resume is extremely telling for someone who has only spent two years at StFX. He has been a community Advisor, a founder of both Open Kitchen and the Water Polo Society, the Director of Campus Engagement for the Schwartz Business Society, and has membership in many other societies. This is a resume that tells students we will have someone already deeply engaged in student affairs and is committed to further engagement in student life. D’Aquino’s vision of a more inclusive environment that promotes peer tutoring and affordable educational resources will be to the benefit of many students at StFX.

Commitment to affordability is not only found with our new VP Academic, but also with our new President. Jacob Cruchet understands that with rising prices, increased tariff related costs, and the massive investment involved with going to university, students deserve a break. One of Cruchet’s main concerns is the cost of student housing. To rectify these issues, Cruchet plans to partner with Antigonish Affordable Housing on behalf of StFX students. He hopes that with their assistance, students will have to worry less about housing fees and availability in the coming years. Affordability is not the only platform Cruchet ran on, however. Accountability within Student Union governance was a major portion of Cruchet’s election campaign. Cruchet’s mission is to make the usage of student fees as transparent as possible. In the wake of last year’s referendum on the raising of student fees, this move seems particularly relevant.

Strong leadership and measurable progress are essential for a well-run student government. Both Jacob Cruchet and Alessandro D’Aquino have outlined their plans to make this progress, but only time can tell of their success.