The Students’ Union Okanagan (SUO) announced the results of their 2025-26 election on March 6. With a turnout of around 20% of the student population, the polling numbers saw a record high post-pandemic. To top this, the election results were surprising. The Union has often been criticized for its lack of diversity, as a small number of women run for executive positions every year, and even fewer get elected. However, this year, three women managed to be successful. Olivia Lai, Shreya Patnaik, and Ashley Kyei-Badu swept votes for the positions of Vice President- External, Vice President- Internal, and Vice President- Campus Life respectively. The other positions, President and Vice President-Finance, were won by Peter Idoko and Rajat Arora.

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Discussions around the results were interesting, as the famously aggressive UBCO subreddit was quick to point out the lack of campaigning on Ashley’s part. One user even went so far as to say she should be fired. Despite all the hostility, Ashley wishes to start her term as VP-Campus Life on the right foot:

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“I wasn’t really aware of all the controversy at first. I know, personally, that I am more surprised than anybody that I won. I wasn’t really expecting it. So I completely understand some people who don't necessarily know who I am or what I am about. And that’s one of my pitfalls, that I did not give people the information and that chance to get to know me prior to the election. I am so grateful that people voted for me. [...]I feel like if you’re working in the SUO, your employers are the student body, so it’s super important for them to know what’s going on, who I am, and what I want to do.”

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This is not the first time a person has won despite active campaigning from their competitors. However, this is the first time there has been so much vitriol. In my opinion, questioning a woman’s competence when she has not even started her term tells us how uncomfortable it makes people when a woman is in a position of power. Ashley is a lot more empathetic than me as she gives people the benefit of the doubt and hopes to win them over by telling them about her campaign, even after winning.

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“My platform points were focusing on diversity, specifically cultural diversity, in the events we have on campus.[...] I know post-covid, it is really difficult to bring people together in the same way. I know a lot of us were affected by the pandemic, and many people don’t really show up, or feel like they belong on the campus or at these events. I want to change that. It is a gradual process that I want to contribute to, to bring people together so they can experience different world views and truly experience a diverse campus. It is really important to have that sort of unity and stick together and really understand each other.”

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Ashley says that the campaigning process was difficult for her, as she hated the idea of bothering people. She explains that she has experienced invasive campaigning many times and did not want to be another example of that. She recognizes the hard work of her fellow candidates and thanks everyone who knew her, supported her, and voted for her. She hopes to reconcile with all the hostility by proving herself through her actions during the term. 

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The VP-Campus Life position is associated with hosting parties, but Kyei-Badu hopes to go beyond that to highlight and showcase important things on campus and in the community. She ends the interview by saying, “I really want to apologize to everyone who felt frustrated with my campaign. Trust me, I was frustrated too. [But] I really hope to do a good job.”

With many union executives historically hesitant to engage with the student body, it is refreshing to see someone like Ashley Kyei-Badu take the initiative to listen, reflect, and communicate even before her term begins. It is crucial that the student community learns how to express dissatisfaction constructively, without resorting to prejudice. As Ashley herself acknowledges, this is a journey, and her actions in office will be the true measure of her leadership. The upcoming academic year will be telling in whether the student body embraces the change they voted for, and how they respond to the leadership of these newly elected executives.