Enzo Estrada was elected vice president of St. Edward’s University’s Student Government Association, while Emilio Cano, Janeen Smith, Joey Casas and Roger Guardiola won senate seats in elections that closed Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The election followed candidate debates held Monday in Jones Auditorium, where seven senatorial candidates and two vice presidential hopefuls outlined their goals for improving campus life and shared their visions for the year ahead.
Senate race, features diverse platform focus
The senatorial debate featured candidates Emilio Cano, Janeen Smith, Alma Cruz, Alonzo Estrada, Ariel Renae Medina, Joey Casas and Derik Haynes, with SGA election commissioner Nicole Haley and student body president Angelica Scheer as the moderators.
The candidates kicked off with their opening statements, followed by questions taken from the audience through scanning a QR code.
In their opening statements, candidates gave background as to their qualifications that make them fit for the position as well as their call to action.
Cano, an international student and student athlete, is focused on pushing for connections across campus with a goal to create an environment that brings the student body together and gives students an opportunity to use their voice.
Smith hopes to become an advocate for fellow students by expanding employer connections to the university as a way to help give students a pathway to navigate life post-graduation. She also aims to provide more mental health resources to students.
Cruz wants to help alleviate students of financial stressors. She outlined her plan to hold workshops to teach students how to find scholarships, manage money and have a better understanding of loans.
“I want (students) to feel like we’re actually doing things when there’s an issue,” Cruz said.
Estrada, who has experience in non-profit work, believes that within the school there’s a need for cheaper textbook alternatives and increased engagement with student organizations.
Medina, a first-year student, strives to use the position as a way to give a voice to first-year students. She believes in focusing on smaller issues l across campus through building connections with students.
“I want to hear what everyone has to say here on campus,” Medina said.
Casas wants to put forth the leadership experiences he’s learned being a part of campus fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. He believes that the campus needs to be more transparent with students. as well as pushing towards student connection to help aid networking.
Haynes, a sophomore, hopes to use his experience as an officer in high school into the new role. He is also an advocate for university transparency amidst recent and sudden changes to the university.
“I think it’s important for the university to be transparent with its students,” Haynes said.
Following the senatorial debate, vice president candidates Enzo Estrada and Mason Moore gave their opening statements.
Moore hopes to use his prior experience as parliamentarian and is committed to providing representation, development and legacy. He wants to make lasting changes to the association as a whole by providing beneficial resources for the senate and student body. One of his goals includes implementing town halls to provide a forum for open discussion across campus.
”We want you to feel welcomed, we want you to feel at home,” Moore said.
Estrada wants to use the experience he’s gained by being in SGA for about a year, with his main goal being to serve students first. He wants to help lead the SGA into being a true voice for the students.
“As students and leaders on campus it’s our responsibility to acknowledge the unpleasant things that are going on,” Estrada said.
Students voted through a link located on SGA’s instagram page, with voting closing Sep. 24 at 8 p.m.
