“I’m in my niche micro-celebrity phase”
University of Ottawa student and SoundCloud rapper Thomas Jones is elated after “finally getting recognition for his sick beats” after being followed by 26 University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) campaign accounts.
According to friends of Jones, he has begun referring to his rise in popularity as his “campus celebrity era.”
As UOSU elections draw near, candidates are exploring creative ways to engage voters, including deploying social media strategies.
Across campus, similar stories are unfolding as students experience the annual flood of campaign accounts following anyone with ‘uOttawa’ in their bio.
Third-year communications student Emily Parker said she wasn’t shocked by her own spike in followers.
“Popularity and charisma run in my family,” she explained. “During the 2025 federal election, my grandfather literally had politicians coming to his door and emphasizing the importance of his vote. It’s kind of genetic.”
When asked whether the recent influx of UOSU campaign attention influenced her voting intentions, Parker hesitated.
“I wasn’t planning on voting anyways,” she said, before checking what her new follower account was.
