Wesleyan Student Assembly Candidates Debate Platforms as Voting Begins

Presidential and vice presidential hopefuls discuss senator pay, University-Middletown relations, and administrative accountability

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:34am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary podium or lectern in an auditorium, with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the thoughtful, introspective nature of the WSA election debate.The WSA election debate highlighted the candidates' differing visions for student government and the University's relationship with the Middletown community.Middletown Today

Presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) discussed their platforms and debated senator pay, University-Middletown relations, and administrative accountability in a debate moderated by The Argus. The three presidential candidates and two vice presidential candidates answered questions from the audience and wider student body for approximately an hour, with some contentious moments around issues like increasing senator pay and the University's Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy.

Why it matters

The WSA election is a key event for Wesleyan's student government, with the winning candidates set to shape the University's policies and relationship with the Middletown community for the next year. The debate highlighted key differences between the candidates' priorities and approaches, giving students important information to consider as they cast their votes.

The details

The debate, held in the Frank Center for Public Affairs, drew a crowd of over 20 students. Candidates discussed a range of topics, from the recent controversy over raising pay for WSA senators to changes to the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy. Some candidates, like Andrea Herrera '27 and UsZee McKoy '29, positioned themselves as watchdogs of the administration, while others, like Eric He '28 and Gray West '28, focused on improving communication between students and the University. The candidates also addressed how they would advocate for underrepresented groups on campus if elected.

  • The debate took place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Voting for WSA President and Vice President, as well as Senior Class Officers, is open until Saturday, April 11 at 5:00 p.m.

The players

Noelle Crandell

A presidential candidate for the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

Andrea Herrera

A presidential candidate for the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

Eric He

A presidential candidate for the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

UsZee McKoy

A vice presidential candidate for the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

Gray West

A vice presidential candidate for the Wesleyan Student Assembly.

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What they’re saying

“What always happens is that [the University administration] tells us, 'Here's what we did, here's the decision we made,' and then [the students] are like, 'This isn't good.' It should be the other way around, where the students tell the administration what is wrong, and they make a decision based on what we say.”

— Andrea Herrera, Presidential Candidate

“One of the most important issues, in my opinion, is transparency. Many people might be too shy or too embarrassed to show up to Boger Hall every Sunday [for WSA General Assembly meetings]. I would like to suggest an anonymous feedback form so people don't actually have to come to the General Assemblies to express their issues.”

— Eric He, Presidential Candidate

“When I first saw this bill, I was mortified. But I personally will support this bill if there are more contingencies that force WSA senators to be in check with their attendance, make them do much more work, and make them engage more with the student body. If I do vote for this raise, and if I am Vice President, the WSA will not be a slacking body. No one will be there just for fun.”

— UsZee McKoy, Vice Presidential Candidate

What’s next

The deadline for voting was extended following an issue with the format of the form, which prevented students from ranked-choice voting. Students of all class years can now vote for both WSA President and Vice President via WesNest until Saturday, April 11 at 5:00 p.m. Students in the class of 2027 can also vote for Senior Class Officers via WesNest. Elected representatives will be announced on Sunday, April 12.

The takeaway

The WSA election debate highlighted the diverse priorities and approaches of the candidates, from increased transparency and accountability to stronger collaboration between students and the administration. As Wesleyan students cast their votes, they will have to weigh these differing visions for the future of student government and the University's relationship with the Middletown community.