Joseph VanGostein, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’22, was elected as president of the United Student Government (USG) for the 2021-22 academic year. There was a total of 360 votes cast this year for the USG spring elections, which is 38 votes higher than the previous year. VanGostein earned 204 votes while his opponent Joey Moyer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, earned 134 votes.

In his campaign, VanGostein promised to uphold accountability and accessibility in his role as president. He outlined specific plans to work toward social justice, COVID-19 activism, sustainability and Lincoln Center pride in the upcoming year. 

VanGostein also emphasized the many roles he has served within USG since his freshman year, which includes freshman senator, student affairs committee member, sophomore senator, secretary and Student Activities Budget Committee representative. According to VanGostein, no candidate has served longer or in more roles. 

Robert Sundstrom, FCLC ’22, who ran unopposed for vice president, was reelected.

VanGostein’s previous position of secretary will be filled by Aastha Aggarwal, GSBLC ’22. She previously served as a class senator for the class of 2022.

The roles of treasurer, chair of operations, chair of student affairs and chair of facilities will be filled respectively by Cort McElroy, FCLC ’24; Rachana Komatireddy, FCLC ’22; Melanie Sztulman, GSBLC ’23; and Gabriel Garcia, FCLC ’23. All of the students ran for their positions unopposed except Garcia, who received 152 votes — only 13 more than his opposing candidate Brigida Caruso, GSBLC ’24, who received 139 votes.

Djellza Pulatani, FCLC ’24; Inika Mishra, GSBLC ’24; Meg Schanes, FCLC ’23; Sean de Ganon, FCLC ’22; and Jackson Makl, GSBLC ’22, were elected as USG senators for their respective classes. Pulatani served as senator for the fall 2020 semester as well.