“You have to make sure the students have the best campus, getting things provided for them,” Rodriguez said in regards to the SGA and their ability to communicate concerns and needs to the A&M-San Antonio faculty and administrators.
Rodriguez said standard procedure is for SGA elections to be finalized by June 1 each year, but the organization was not able to follow through in the spring because of lack of publicity and failure to release applications. Read related story.
Rodriguez said former SGA officers contemplated running elections during the summer but decided to hold off until fall when enrollment is higher, increasing chances that a greater percentage of the student body could run for officer positions.
Currently Rodriguez and Jennifer Faubion, former SGA secretary, are volunteering their time to hold elections and get the positions filled. Rodriguez said that she feels it is only the right thing to do. She said she would not want to leave office without a replacement.
New office space, staff adviser
Earlier this week, Jolene Des Roches, director of student life and wellness, became SGA’s staff adviser, replacing Dr. Jo Ann Gonzalez, former SGA adviser and director of recruitment and outreach. Laura Pantano, former assistant vice president for student engagement and success, and who left the University after the spring semester, was also a former SGA adviser during the spring.
Des Roches said, “SGA is the student voice of the University and I am the director of student life and wellness and we felt it was a better fit.”
Des Roches said the plan for SGA is to rebuild the organization and get it going again. She said they have a lot of support from alumni, students, faculty and staff.
“We are looking for a very positive reception of our SGA,” DesRoches said, adding that SGA is the voice for the students and her goal is to advise SGA and address problems and concerns so that it can gain momentum and be successful.
Campaign, voting schedule
SGA officer applications will be available starting 8 a.m. Sept. 10 in SGA’s office, Room 104 of Brooks City-Base Campus, which they share with the office of recruitment and outreach, and in Room 339 of Main Campus Building, also Campus Activities Board’s office. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. Sept. 14.
Rodriguez said she and other temporary student officers will oversee the elections process from their office space. She added that the application process will be handled securely and only hard copy applications will be accepted. There is no procedure for submitting applications electronically.
Sept. 10-14: Application period
Sept. 17-21: Campaign period
Sept. 21: Food and other incentives must be put away by 5 p.m. Posters and fliers can remain on campus for the duration of the campaign period.
Sept. 24-27: Polls open. Voting will be available Sept. 24 and 26 at Main Campus, and Sept. 25 and 27 in Room 104 of Brooks Campus.
After applications are submitted, candidates are allowed to campaign on campus Sept. 17 through Sept. 21. Candidates are permitted by the office of student life and wellness to distribute snacks and enticements. Fliers are allowed to be given out to allow the candidate to gain spotlight for the position during the campaigning period.
Once the elections have been finalized, the officers will attend a training day that will explain their responsibilities in detail.
SGA’s forums will continue and be available for students concerns and information and plan to be held in October, November and December. The dates and topics will be determined when the new offices has been elected.
“My hope (for SGA) is that they will be able to figure out the dates for the forums,” Rodriguez said. “And, what is the hot topic?”
For more information, email SGA at SGA@jaguar.tamu.edu.
