Nafis Ahmed stands tall atop one of two stone pedestals thatform the foundation of The Arch, dressed in a tight-fittingSpider-Man Halloween costume borrowed from a friend.

“Go U,” Ahmed shouts to the throng of students gatheredbelow.

“NU,” the nearly 40 students enthusiastically chant inresponse.

If elected Associated Student Government president in theTuesday election, Ahmed said he hopes to bring a greater sense ofcommunity to campus — although he might not wear a Spider-Mancostume at every event.

“I want to get people excited about being on campus,” Ahmedsaid. “I think ASG has done a lot, but a lot of students on campusjust aren’t aware of that. If I can increase awareness of what ASGis doing and also increase student input, that will be a hugeimpact.”

Ahmed, a Communication sophomore who plans to graduate in threeyears and begin medical school, also drew plenty of attention onTuesday when he duct-taped himself to The Rock for three hours.

“I thought these publicity stunts would be a great way to get myname and my face out there,” Ahmed said. “They attract a lot ofattention. It’s a simple act but there’s a lot of symbolic meaningbehind it.

“I want to take Northwestern to new heights.”

Unlike the other three candidates, Ahmed never has been involvedin ASG. But Ahmed said he sees this as a major asset.

“As an ASG outsider, I have a lot in common with the majority ofstudents,” Ahmed said. “I want to go in there with an unbiasedoutsider’s perspective and refocus ASG’s priorities towardaffecting student’s daily lives. If I can have a positive affect ona few lives, I’ll be happy.”

In his platform Ahmed said he plans to begin electronic polls togauge opinions on target issues that students say they areconcerned about. He also wants to hold pep rallies, push for moresocial functions, and meet with the Residence Hall Association andResidential College Board to start initiatives among the halls.

Although he might have little experience with ASG, Ahmed is nostranger to leadership and responsibility. He spent the past yearserving as president of Willard Residential College.

“Living in a residential college, I learned the importance ofcommunity,” Ahmed said. “I want to take that same sense ofcommunity and apply it to the whole campus.”

His fellow residents from Willard know he is up to the task.

“Nafis has undying energy,” said Kevin Kearney, the new Willardpresident and a Communication freshman. “No matter what’s going on,he has a really positive attitude.”

Willard Master and biology lecturer Gary Galbreath also laudedhis residential college’s former president.

“As president Nafis has held everything in (Executive Board)together,” Galbreath said. “He’s imaginative and efficient,somebody students would be very happy with.”

Willard Sen. Grant Whiting said Ahmed’s inexperience with ASG isnot a liability.

“He’s very smart, engaging and aware of the problems on campus,”said Whiting, a Weinberg freshman. “I think he would be veryqualified.”

But Ahmed’s interests go beyond Willard — he also acts forNorthwestern Student Television, the sketch comedy group he hasbeen involved with for two years, and is a member of TitanicPlayers and the Residential College Board.

Even Rachel Chadderdon, outgoing president of Willard’sarchrival, Shepard Residential College, praised her colleague andsaid he’d be an asset to ASG.

“Nafis has a lot of spirit and a lot of drive,” said Chadderdon,a Weinberg sophomore. “He is personable and approachable. I thinkhe would be a great leader for the student body.”