Bryce Maloney ’26
Opinions Editor
Disclaimer: This op-ed was written in a personal capacity and does not reflect an official endorsement on the part of the Student Government Association or any other club, organization, or campus entity at Holy Cross.
Since the dawn of the Republic, a series of once-in-a-generation visionaries have been touted for their brilliance and foresight: by the might of their wisdom and presence, these leaders have united people fractured by partisan intrigue and division. That being said, these unifiers are generally pretty hard to come by, revealing themselves during times of great crisis. They have helped to mold not only our society, but the idea of representative government as a whole. The mere proof that a leader whose roots derived solely from the will of the people could rise up and meet the challenges once left to autocrats and aristocrats fomented popular revolution and changed the world as we knew it.
I believe that Holy Cross is at such a point. The challenges which student leaders on college campuses face in the modern era are immense, and require once-in-a-generation leadership. This election cycle gives each voter the opportunity to prove that Holy Cross can be, and will be, different. Undefined by the forces which seek to divide us, we can show eachother and colleges across the country that true change only comes from those who are willing to work together and deliver.
It is my belief that Ashwin Prabaharan and Luke Cambra represent this change. Their principled style of leadership is one which is well known to all of us. Being strong forces in the student government since their freshman year, they have a track record of delivering for their constituents. This, however, does not shield them from the problems which still permeate throughout our system. Understanding the importance of change which comes from within, their experience provides them with the skills and know-how to shake up our student government for the better.
Therefore, it is no surprise that their policy platform outlines one of the boldest plans for the SGA in recent memory. From increasing support for the Green Fund and sustainability on our campus, to advocating for a wage rise for our hardworking student employees, they exemplify the idea of leaders who use their power not to loom above their constituents, but rather to walk alongside them.
As a nearly lifelong resident of the city of Worcester, I was also very excited to see the ways in which the Prabaharan-Cambra ticket has been emboldened to incorporate the local community into their platform. On my first day of fall orientation during my freshman year, I was told not to go into the city out of fear of “interacting with the locals” by my Orientation Leader. Unfortunately, this is not the only time this has happened to me. In fact, it is from what I gather, a fairly common experience for students from Worcester. Since that moment, bridging the cultural divide between the students on our campus and the city which hosts them has become extremely important to me. Therefore, their plan to fund Worcester-based student experiences which highlight, among other things, “recreation, athletics, and culture,” was deeply touching. I believe it will help to bridge the gap between perception and understanding: building a culture of respect and kindness towards the locality in which most of you are guests.
There is, in many respects, a common theme which emerges in the Prabaharan-Cambra ticket’s policies: the construction of a more well-rounded community. From understanding that student organizations should be funded adequately, to increasing the amount of food trucks on campus, even to the idea that paying upwards of $5 for a cup of coffee is extortionate when you are allotted only $425 dining dollars a semester, they understand the values which make our community strong. In other words, they live our Jesuit ideals of being men and women “for and with others.”
Therefore, it is because of these reasons and so many more that when polls open on MyHC from March 24-26, I will proudly be casting my vote for Ashwin Prabaharan and Luke Cambra. And, in my opinion, you should too.
Featured image courtesy of @lukeandashwinhc on Instagram
Copy Edited by Lily Wasmund ’28
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