VISIAN for Student Union

With a combined half a decade of experience in the SU, we have spent our Stuyvesant careers working to create meaningful change for the student body. Outside of the SU (and even outside of Stuyvesant) we have been involved in our communities and in local organizations that have given us the skills necessary to excel in leading the SU. Here is a list of some of some of the work we’ve done and our accomplishments:

• Vishwaa and Julian have worked on the Manhattan Borough Student Advisory Council for a combined three years, collaborating with other students from high schools around the borough to draft school and city-level policy initiatives.
• Vishwaa and Julian have collaborated with the DOE Department of Community Affairs to improve the transitions of students in the Discovery Program into Stuyvesant.
• Vishwaa and Julian have worked with COSA Mr. Polazzo to bring a Tea’s Tea beverage machine to Stuyvesant.
• Vishwaa has served as the Freshman Caucus President, Sophomore Caucus President, Student Union Vice President and the Student Representative on the School Leadership Team (SLT).
• Vishwaa has planned multiple profitable dances. Under his administration, the Freshman/Sophomore Caucuses were able to host the most successful Freshman Snow Ball and SophFrosh SemiFormal in terms of both attendance and overall profit.
• Vishwaa fought to ensure that all students could wear sweatpants for physical education if they didn’t feel comfortable wearing shorts for religious/cultural reasons.
• Vishwaa has been highly successful in obtaining sponsorships since freshman year. These include deals with Dos Toros and the Brookfield Place Ice Skating Rink.
• Vishwaa has worked to institute Sexual Misconduct workshops for freshman in conjunction with the External Affairs department and guidance counselors. Vishwaa has reformed the club pub chartering process by implementing StuyActivities. This website not only allows students to charter their activities but also provides them with resources to manage their activities.
• Vishwaa has increased transparency at all levels within the Student Union. Under his administration, the SU has instituted monthly newsletters with department and Caucus updates. He has also collaborated with the Spectator to release a complete SU Budget Report and a mid-year SU Check In.
• Vishwaa has worked alongside the administration and Physical Education department to ensure plausibility when drafting the PSAL Physical Education (P.E.) Frees proposal. He has succeeded in having the proposal presented at SLT this year and is currently working towards reaching a compromise by creating a subcommittee with all stakeholders.
• Vishwaa was able to resurrect StuyVantage for the first time since 2006, providing Stuyvesant students with discounts at local eateries.
• Vishwaa has been successful in reforming the Cell Phone Policy alongside other members of the School Leadership Team to allow more areas of access for cell phones.
• Vishwaa has been successful in not only starting a dialogue at the School Leadership Team for the need of a new and improved homework policy but also drafting a new homework policy that will severely impact the lives of students.
• Vishwaa has managed and grown a budget of over $180,000. He has also been able to increase the amount of funds allocated to activities and hold club-pub allocations twice a year.
• Vishwaa has promoted school spirit by organizing the Pep Rally and working to unify Stuyvesant athletics under one banner.
• Vishwaa has been able to give Caucuses more power within the Cabinet, allowing the elected officials to make their voice heard and not overshadowed by appointed members.
• Vishwaa has helped devise the Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) goals with the Student Leadership Team by analyzing key data collected by the administration and DOE.
• Vishwaa has helped plan the logistics of SING! by managing concessions, security, apparel, ticketing, allocation and helping out with administrative duties.
• Vishwaa has served on Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s where he advises the Congresswoman on the problems faced by the youth. He was been able to tackle various issues such as but not limited to gun reform, health care accessibility and educational reform.
• Vishwaa has served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Tahseen Chowdhury’s campaign for State Senate.
• Julian has served as the Director of External Affairs of the Student Union for the past two years, where he has worked on numerous projects with public and private organizations.
• Julian has led the Civic Engagement Course, a series of bi-weekly emails to enrolled Stuyvesant students explaining different aspects of local and national government and providing opportunities for students to become involved in their communities
• Julian has made progress on opening the 5th floor balcony to students with a seating area and greenhouse. As a part of this work, he has collaborated with the Manhattan’s Borough President’s Office in applying for grants and funding, and has worked closely with the administration to organize designs, blueprints, and cost-estimates.
• Julian managed Security for SING! 2019, overseeing check-in, concessions, merchandise, and SING! Video sales.
• Julian regularly represents Stuyvesant at Community Board 1 meetings and at Battery Park City Authority Meetings, where, amongst other topics, he has advocated for Stuyvesant’s escalators to be replaced to the DOE and government officials.
• Julian serves on the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council, a group of 30 youth from around the city, where he advises the NYC DOE Chancellor on changes in school policy. He has spent the past year advocating for more equitable practice in education. These includes culturally responsive pedagogy, implicit bias trainings, PSAL for all, and restorative justice.
• Julian was a founding member of the Youth Technical Assistance Center on Addressing Disproportionality (YTAC-D) under the NYU Metro Center. Since, he has continuously advocated for elevating student voice in the effort to foster inclusive, humanizing and critical learning environments with equitable practices. Julian has presented his research and work at Columbia University and NYU.
• Julian is and has been an active member in New York City politics. He has interned for Daisy Paez (District Leader, AD 65), Alison Tan (campaign for City Council District 20), Joseph Garba (campaign for Democratic State Committee), and Yuh Line Niou (State Assemblywoman, AD 65).
• Julian helped found and is the current communications strategist for the West 65th-66th Streets Block Association, which advocates for neighborhood change and coordinates with elected officials, Community Board 7, the 20th Police Precinct to serve the local community.
• Julian has also interned with City Council Member Helen Rosenthal (District 6) in helping implement Participatory Budgeting throughout the district.