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When Tyler Toledo was interning at the House of Representatives last summer, one of his colleagues asked if Syracuse University had a College Democrats chapter. Toledo said it didn’t, but admitted he had been thinking about getting the organization started again.

Encouragement from his colleagues was the final push Toledo said he needed to start the organization.

With the help of three friends, Toledo, a dual major in policy studies and television, radio and film, reinstated the club, taking on the role of its president early last fall before becoming an official registered student organization. On April 26, he was elected as president of the College Democrats of New York.

“It’s incredibly important for people in our demographic to make sure their voices are heard,” Toledo said. “And that people understand that we care and we can change what’s happening by voting and getting involved.”

The group recognized a need for an on-campus organization helping students engage in political activism, especially during election seasons. Toledo said he intends to help create chapters at other New York schools through his newly elected statewide position.

Cassidy Snyder, a senior and secretary of SU’s College Democrats, said when the initial members first came together to elect an executive board, she knew she didn’t want to be president because of the position’s demanding responsibilities.

“I could just tell that this was really going to be something he took seriously,” Snyder said. “And, not only politics in general, but Syracuse politics and local politics, were something that really mattered to him.”

Toledo first became interested in politics through his oldest sister, who worked in the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. He said she always encouraged him to be aware of the country’s political climate. Both of his sisters encouraged him to take on leadership positions in college and continue to support him in his journey, Toledo said.

Reinstating SU College Democrats and becoming an official registered student organization was especially difficult in the midst of election season, Toledo said. The group aimed to support Rep. John Manion’s campaign in flipping New York’s 22nd congressional district, but was limited by its membership and resources.

Without access to reserved rooms, digital signage or other resources RSOs receive, the organization was forced to mobilize and build a following through word of mouth and social media, Toledo said.

Toledo hosted congressional debate watch parties in his living room, and with no access to SU’s catering services, Snyder brought pizza for everyone. During canvassing efforts, Toledo said they organized members to go phone-banking and door-knocking for Manion’s and Rachel May’s campaigns.

“We got people to engage in this organization, and by the time it was recognized at the end of the semester, we had already had people doing work and committed to this mission,” Toledo said.

Snyder said Toledo’s ability to work around not being an RSO shows his dedication to the mission of College Democrats.

“You can pretend to be dedicated, you can come up with good ideas,” Snyder said. “But it takes someone who actually has the drive and energy to really throw themselves into something. And Tyler always has.”

Toledo also serves as president of Delta Kappa Alpha, a professional cinematic arts fraternity, which he said gives him an outlet for his TRF major. Toledo said he finds himself wanting to be as involved as possible in organizations he’s passionate about.

Alexandra Nikou, an SU sophomore dual majoring in English and Textual Studies and TRF, served on the DKA executive board while Toledo was president. His leadership made a noticeable impact on the organization, she said.

She first met Toledo during her DKA rush process and was immediately struck by his kind, friendly, yet professional demeanor. Toledo has an “innate ability” to be professional while still making everyone around him feel welcomed, Nikou said.

Eventually, Toledo became her “big” in the professional fraternity, cementing their bond as friends outside of DKA. She cited Toledo’s leadership and guidance as the reason she wanted to join the executive board.

“Part of the reason I wanted to work on the e-board was because I knew I would get to work with Tyler,” Nikou said. “I absolutely could not have done it without him.”

Nikou said Toledo’s work ethic, drive, humor and kindness would take him far in his potential political career.

“He’s definitely kind and funny, but also super compassionate. He cares about everything so much whether it’s people or a movement or an organization,” Nikou said. “It is very rare to find someone who just cares about, you know, everything around him as much as he does.”

Toledo said his two diverging majors help him understand how to communicate political agendas effectively and ensure people understand the importance of what an organization is advocating for.

“I think messaging is the best way you can do that. It’s how you build a base, that’s how you get people to understand things,” Toledo said. “And I like to think that my two majors have uniquely put me in a situation where I understand that very, very well.”

Jennifer Stromer-Galley, a professor at SU’s School of Information Studies, has worked with Toledo on several research projects and grants. She said his public speaking skills help Toledo’s leadership. Stromer-Galley attended the Hands-Off! Rally on April 5 and said Toledo’s speech demonstrated both charisma and passion.

“He’s able to clearly articulate the ills that he sees in a way that I think other people appreciate, can get behind, can understand, and that’s a powerful skill that not everybody has,” Stromer-Galley said. “It was clear on that stage, the moment moved him to really rise in pretty powerful ways.”

Toledo said his speech given to the 4,000 people in attendance was a moment that reaffirmed his interest in political activism. In his speech, he recounted his first protest, the Women’s March in New York City, held the day after President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration.

When he was in eighth grade, Toledo said he realized that if so many people were coming together to take a stand, something must be wrong. When he closed his speech at the rally and gave his call-to-action, he remembered seeing two younger kids holding signs, reminding him of his younger self at the 2017 march.

“There are so many people out there that will grow up in this world, and we have a responsibility to make it the best we possibly can for them,” Toledo said. “So that when they’re my age, they don’t have to be protesting against the same thing that I was back when I was in eighth grade.”

Stromer-Galley said Toledo’s ability to motivate people extends beyond public speaking. She noted that she intentionally selects students with diverse ideologies and perspectives for her research projects to ensure unbiased data and create a collaborative environment — something Toledo always respected by being mindful of others’ opinions.

“He was really good about hearing others’ perspectives and incorporating those and making suggestions for them on how to move forward in a positive way,” Stromer-Galley said.

She said she believes his traits of teamwork and respect will help Toledo succeed in his new role as College Democrats of New York president.

Toledo will attend SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs for his master’s degree in public administration next year. He said one of his first goals is to increase chapter membership in all parts of the state and hopes SU College Democrats will grow as he continues to plan meetings for the statewide chapter.

He also hopes its new executive board will continue to push the SU administration and Chancellor Kent Syverud to sign the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ letter condemning President Donald Trump’s administration’s advances on higher education.

“Knowing that people now are part of this organization and get to talk at these meetings and interact with the community or local politics in ways that they weren’t before, means a lot,” Toledo said. “And while it’s incredible to see, the only other thing I’d want to see is it continue.”

Published on May 8, 2025 at 12:17 am