top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now

About Me + My Work

Facetune_10-11-2020-17-41-01.JPG

Hi! My name is Ranen, like the weather.

I'm a second-year committed to creating a WashU that works for all students – not just the wealthy and privileged.

​

I am the proud, gay son of two Asian immigrants. I'm studying political science and sociology because I believe policy has the power to better people's lives, create belonging, and build a world founded on our shared values. In the past year, I had the profound honor of serving as the student body president at WashU – and I'm running again to continue the work I've done.

​

Here's what I've worked on in the past year, and what you can expect from a second term:

WHAT I'VE DONE

​

  • Secured $50,000 to expand access to menstrual products across WashU for the 2021-2022 academic year

  • Created a $74,000 Food Security Fund in partnership with Dining Services

  • Coordinated fundraising efforts for anti-racist groups this summer that raised $85,000

  • Voted to allocate $50,000 for COVID Relief Fund

  • Fought for pass/fail grading (winning full pass/fail flexibility in Spring 2020 and academic flexibility in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021)

  • Added pronouns to Student Union election ballots

  • A reduction in laundry prices from $1.50 per cycle to $1.00 per cycle for the 2021-2022 academic year

  • Advocated for more wellness days and mental health resources for COVID-19

  • Organized 7 town halls about Greek Life, policing, anti-racist initiatives, tuition increases, and COVID policies

  • Published reports and research on Greek Life, printing credits, menstrual products, mental health resources, open-book exams, mental health academic accommodations, and programming amidst COVID-19

  • Pushed for sustainability initiatives on campus, including the expansion of compost bins, decreasing the usage of single-use paper bags, and 

  • Aggregated voting resources, civic engagement materials, and community service opportunities for student body​​

    • Find post-election mental health resources here

    • Find community service opportunities here

    • Find civic engagement materials here

    • Find donation links here

  • Implemented transparency measures for students to track student government initiatives

  • Created constituent service system and supported dozens of students regarding registration, academic accommodations, mailing, and financial aid

  • Publicly condemned racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination and bigotry on campus​​

  • Connected with 200+ student governments across the United States to push for national reforms to Title IX policy, mental health licensure reciprocity laws, pass/fail policy, and protections for international students

    • National advocacy efforts led to the creation of the National Coalition of Student Leaders (NCSL) and features by the Washington Post, Forbes, and local newspapers​

  • Wrote op-eds pushing for menstrual equity, academic flexibility amidst COVID, dehousing fraternity houses, and increasing mental health resources on our campus

  • Connected with all SU entities and created partnerships with Graduate and Professional Student Advisory Council (GPAC), WashU parents, and dozens of student groups

  • Appointed diverse cohorts of students to the Election Commission, University Sexual Assault Investigative Board, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Student Conduct Board

​

MY EXPERIENCE 

​

  • Student Body President (2020-2021) 

    • University Student Affairs Advisory Board​

    • Gender Neutral Restroom and Campus Renovation Committee

    • Co-Curricular Advisory Board

    • University Management Team

    • Dining Services Advisory Team

    • Multiple Senate Committees

  • First Year Class Council President (2019-2020)

  • PR Director of CS40 (2020-2021), President of Wayman Crow Residential College (2019-2020)

    • Residential Student Advisory Board​

OUTSIDE OF WASHU:

​

  • You know I'll be able to speak up for your voices because I was a two-year member of the United States Debate Team, doing public speaking engagements and debates in Germany, Singapore, Slovenia, Taiwan, and over 20 American states.

  • I've cared about student government since I ran to be the student council class representative since 3rd grade – and the two dozen re-elections I've had since then to leadership positions.

  • My passion for political change is rooted in my studies of Political Science and Sociology, and in my time here, I've interned at:

    • The ACLU advocating for the decriminalization of sex work and HIV, ending surveillance programs in St. Louis, and protecting 1st Amendment protest rights 

    • The Environmental Working Group compiling reports about PFAS contamination in consumer products, outreach to Black-run agricultural organizations, and COVID-19 transmission in American farms

    • The Brady Campaign, working on communications strategy to protect our nation against gun violence

    • NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, fighting for reproductive freedom for all Missourians

    • The Tishaura Jones for Treasurer campaign to re-elect our city's most progressive Treasurer in history

    • The St. Louis Community Foundation, working to support non-profits in our region in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

bottom of page