2025 Sophomore Caucus Endorsements

Elly Wu Feng and Tenzin Chosang

DYNAMIC: The Wu Feng-Chosang ticket showcases experience, dedication, and compatibility. The ticket met before coming to Stuyvesant, and the two candidates share a very close bond. They both have a year of experience working together in Freshman Caucus, with Feng serving as co-president and Chosang as caucus secretary. Although they conceded that they weren’t satisfied with the productivity of the Freshman Caucus this year, they appear very optimistic about the future and agree on specific plans for how to improve. Instead of dividing responsibilities equally, the ticket stresses the importance of dividing the workload based on each person’s strengths and weaknesses. Feng plans to take on the brunt of responsibility externally, while Chosang plans to take on a larger role in managing internal affairs. The ticket also seems to enjoy working with each other, spending countless hours preparing their campaign and policy document together while also working together on numerous Freshman Caucus affairs over the last year. 

PLATFORM: The platform of the Wu Feng-Chosang ticket focuses on quality events and feasibility, as well as implementing policies that aim to improve transparency between the student body and the Sophomore Caucus, which they expressed was a problem for this year’s Freshman Caucus. For example, the ticket intends to allow all students to attend cabinet meetings and even share their own opinions, which they hope will allow for improved communication. In addition, they plan to reorganize the caucus cabinet through merging departments such as Socials and Graphics, as well as restructuring roles like the Chief of Staff. Their events have a clear amount of thought and planning behind them, and the ticket knows what they want to do and how they will execute their plans. The two have already reached out to a venue in which they intend to hold their Sophomore Semi-Formal Dance, for which they have planned several fundraisers, such as the SophMunch table, to lower the cost. Finally, through events such as the Monthly Unwind and college tours with the Junior Caucus, the ticket wishes to offer more opportunities to the class of 2028 in both career development and community building.

OVERALL REVIEW: Overall, the Wu Feng-Chosang ticket is very well-thought-out and highly dedicated to creating a well-rounded sophomore year for the class of 2028, offering a balance between college preparation and fun, relaxing events. Their ability to execute feasible policies as well as utilize their connections to the administration is advantageous. Responding to setbacks in the Freshman Caucus, the two have brainstormed solutions to bolster communication within the grade, as well as between the caucus. Moreover, the pair has strong compatibility, cultivated by their time in the Freshman Caucus together, with clear roles for both Wu Feng and Chosang. Thus, The Spectator endorses this ticket.

Daniel Li and Nathan Lee

DYNAMIC: The Li-Lee ticket has a clear sense of coordination and motivation. They met while working on a project in biology class, and they instantly connected through their self-motivation and work ethic. Their first and foremost priority is being a voice for the sophomore student body, as they immediately stated: “A vote for us is a vote for yourself.” The ticket has a clear division of responsibilities based on each of their strengths. Lee plans to focus on leadership, problem-solving, and planning. He describes his experience raising money for the visually impaired as transformative in terms of his desire to help and advocate for others, which he plans to bring to his support of the sophomore student body. Li is currently a member of the Freshman Caucus finance team, where he deals with budget responsibility and cost-efficiency. His strength is details and feasibility; he calls himself a “magnifying glass.” The ticket has a strong three-step approach for any policy idea or issue brought to them by students. First, they will determine whether it’s a good, feasible idea. If they determine that it’s a popular change that’s within the power of the sophomore caucus and the budget, they’ll organize a presentation and deliver the idea to Ms. Ingram, where they will gain approval from the administration. Finally, they will evaluate the cost-impact ratio. How beneficial will this policy be while also not eating up too much of the year’s budget?

PLATFORM: The Li-Lee ticket has a clear set of platforms that aim to advocate for the sophomore student body and provide efficient and transparent messaging. They plan to increase the utilization of Instagram and social media for planning and announcements, as well as provide summaries of Mr. Blumm’s weekly list and other school opportunities. They seek to use a digital Sophomore Suggestion Box, where students can voice their concerns, suggestions, or feedback via a Google form. They are currently working with Mr. Grossman and Principal Yu to secure a new English AP or elective class for sophomores despite possible budget restraints, and want to change some classes’ AP selection processes away from a lottery and solely utilize grades for selection. Some of their other policies include providing MetroCards that cover express bus payments, a sophomore buddy system, which would pair sophomores with common interests, and free periods to work together and keep each other on task. They also look to hold new events at Stuyvesant, including an end-of-year sophomore party, an energy drink sale, a Lunar New Year Festival, a Halloween Bake Sale, and group cram study sessions for important tests.

OVERALL REVIEW: Li and Lee are a cohesive duo that has a clear knowledge and awareness of their respective skill sets and focuses. They are committed to creating an open environment that takes the needs and concerns of every sophomore into account, and they have solid experience in advocacy and budget management. Their ongoing communication with administration and their clear understanding of roles and responsibilities backs up their ambitious policy goals and their clear sense of self-drive and initiative. Thus, The Spectator endorses this ticket. 

Inshrah Qaisar and Grace Liu

DYNAMIC: The Qaisar-Liu ticket shows a clear ability to work together through their strong friendship and solid communication skills. With their different experiences—Liu being on the varsity volleyball team, and Qaisar being her middle school Model UN secretariat—they bring a variety of perspectives to the table. However, their group dynamic lacks a certain level of enthusiasm and natural flow. 

PLATFORM: The Qaisar-Liu ticket focuses on improving the sophomore experience by fostering a safe and inclusive environment, reducing stress, and encouraging students to get out of their comfort zone and try new things. Some of their most notable ideas include a “focus station” with fidget toys to relieve anxiety, a bulletin-board time capsule, and karaoke events. For academics, they plan to introduce more college-readiness fairs and self-study AP materials. In addition, they hope to increase outreach to the student body through surveys to gather feedback and guide their initiatives.

OVERALL REVIEW: The Qaisar-Liu ticket brings some unique and fresh ideas to the table, focusing on emotional support and school-bonding activities. However, they do have a noticeable lack of student government experience, and we feel that some of their ideas weren’t fully thought out. Thus, The Spectator does not endorse this ticket.

Gianna Guenther and Dean Piao

DYNAMIC: The Guenther-Piao ticket became fast friends through shared interests and passions, with Piao eventually working in Guenther’s non-profit tutoring organization, Empower-ED. They are relatively comfortable working with one another and allow each other to have a voice, though Guenther seems more outgoing. The Guenther-Piao ticket is eager and dedicated, seeming committed to improving the rising sophomore student body’s experience for their next year at Stuyvesant. Both Guenther and Piao have abundant leadership experience to bring to the table—Guenther being the current Freshman Caucus Event Director—but there is a concern that while they are ambitious enough to take on this opportunity, they may not be able to completely handle the workload while managing their other commitments. Furthermore, their experiences overlap a lot, and there isn’t a clear plan to delegate work between the two. Overall, the Guenther-Piao ticket is strong in their dynamic, with the ability to work together well, though there are some concerns.

PLATFORM: The Guenther-Piao platform revolves around reducing the discrepancy between the student body’s interests and the ambitions of caucus presidents. Prioritizing the academic success of sophomore students, they curated a campaign centered around aiding students in self-studying for APs, generating research opportunities, and providing organized, condensed study resources. They are an ambitious duo and have already coordinated with ACS (a chemistry club created to mitigate the lack of AIS chemistry tutoring), Dr. Tu, and Mr. Grossman, respectively, to implement these initiatives. Guenther and Piao’s platform is clearly organized and outlined in a timeline, a clear indication of both their ambition and organization. 

OVERALL REVIEW: Overall, the Guenther-Piao ticket has good chemistry and is well-planned. They place a large emphasis on academic support for the Stuyvesant community, as well as transparency. However, some of their initiatives, such as the “Sophomore Success Drive,” lack uniqueness and have been implemented by previous tickets, while others, although unique, are just not feasible. Thus, The Spectator does not endorse this ticket.

Nayoung Lee and Helena Suh

DYNAMIC: Lee and Suh have known each other for four years, dating back to middle school, where they started a tutoring group together. Their experience working together creates a comfortable and energetic dynamic. While Lee is a more people-focused leader, Suh has a more logistics-oriented approach. As friends with complementary skill sets, they are well-positioned to navigate the intricacies of the SU.

PLATFORM: The Lee-Suh ticket demonstrates great attention to detail in their policies. Their chief concern is transparency in student governance, something they’d plan to address with a caucus transparency board. They’d also plan fundraisers, such as a back-to-school beverage cart and photoshoot nights, to raise money for attainable goals such as seating in the sophomore bar. To foster a sense of community, the ticket also wants to have international nights, a semiformal dance, themed movie nights, and an end-of-year picnic. Lee and Suh would also like to help self-studying AP students with opportunities that would emulate a classroom-like environment. They plan to hold college workshops to assist sophomores in furthering their understanding of the college process as well. 

OVERALL REVIEW: Overall, while Lee and Suh’s close relationship, division of responsibilities, and well-thought-out policies demonstrate that they are dedicated candidates, they lack unique opportunities for students and tend to focus on surface-level issues. Thus, The Spectator does not endorse this ticket.

Mohammad Rashed and Tiffany Wang

DYNAMIC: Wang and Rashed have a warm, face-to-face energy, preferring in-person conversation to digital detachment—an attitude that shows their sincere desire to connect with their grade. They met through a mutual friend and described their collaboration as organized and balanced, though in practice, the dynamic felt slightly uneven. Wang’s experience and fluency with campaign logistics stood out; she answered most questions with confidence and depth, while Rashed, though charismatic and kind, appeared less informed on some key components of their campaign. Wang currently serves as the Director of Finance for the Freshman Caucus, where she budgets major events such as Freshman Festival. She also works on The Spectator’s business department and helps run her family business—skills that lend her a clear aptitude for financial management and execution. Rashed, while lacking comparable caucus or organizational experience, contributes to the community through his work in SING! and student-led fundraisers. His strength lies in outreach and approachability, though he may need more grounding in the policy side of caucus leadership. Despite the imbalance, both candidates emphasized mutual respect and strong communication.

PLATFORM: The Wang-Rashed ticket’s platform is rooted in approachability and a “less is more” philosophy that sets them apart from tickets that overpromise. A major emphasis of their campaign is organization: they noted how many events at Stuy feel rushed or reactive, and they want to change that by instituting more structured planning in caucus initiatives. One of their standout ideas is the creation of a website hub specifically for sophomores, featuring resume templates, cold email samples, and curated internship opportunities. This reflects their focus on reducing stress and implementing realistic, student-driven solutions. One of their more unconventional proposals is to bring a microwave to school, a quality-of-life improvement that came directly from conversations with students. While the idea is lighthearted, it is supported by a well-thought-out funding plan that includes SU support, bake sales, grant applications, and outreach to the Alumni Association. The initiative demonstrates their attention to the needs suggested by students themselves. Another key policy is the implementation of homeroom representatives, students who would regularly gather feedback and help homerooms feel less impersonal. What sets this ticket apart is their direct communication with a wide network of school figures, from Mr. Polazzo and Ms. Ingram to cafeteria staff, alumni, and members of student government. This outreach speaks to their initiative and authentic investment in representing student concerns.

OVERALL REVIEW: The Wang-Rashed ticket presents a thoughtful campaign built on a friendly dynamic, actionable goals, and a clear sense of what sophomore year lacks. Wang's qualifications and initiative are impressive, demonstrating strong leadership, budgeting skills, and institutional knowledge. Rashed brings enthusiasm and friendliness, but his relative lack of experience and policy familiarity left some gaps in the ticket’s cohesion. While their emphasis on in-person outreach and realistic planning is commendable, the imbalance between the candidates raises questions about long-term collaboration. Thus, The Spectator does not endorse this ticket.