Representatives from across the city discussed plans to reorganize the San Antonio Higher Education Representative Assembly (SAHERA) at Texas A&M University-San Antonio on Feb. 22.
According to its constitution, SAHERA is a collective organization of student government officials who aim to represent college students in city affairs.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg asked SGA representatives at A&M-SA to organize a meeting of SGA representatives from across the city after the organization was inactive for over a year.
“I had wanted to look more into it while I was shadowing the previous president,” La-Tieka Sims, president of SGA at A&M-San Antonio, said. “I just knew that it would be overwhelming to get together.”
Over 20 representatives attended the event. Student government from Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio College, St. Phillip’s College, Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University and University of Incarnate Word were in attendance.
Representatives shared initiatives with their respective student populations; among the initiatives were OLLU’s efforts to become more environmentally conscious.
Priscilla Martinez, SGA president at OLLU, shared the “saint’s cups” concept which encourages students, faculty and staff to use reusable containers to avoid waste.
“Especially because we are a small campus, they wanted to see improvement and see less trash,” Martinez said. “Sustainability was more about educating the students, faculty and staff.”
Of the nine schools in attendance, four of them were representing campuses within Alamo Community Colleges district.
The collaboration of community college and university representatives promote transfer and retention rates says Evalinda Davila, president of SGA at San Antonio College, said.
“A lot of students who are first generation, who don’t come from a high financial background don’t have the opportunity to go to university level,” Davila said. “So having a seat at the table, it helps the community student get the experience and the education to have that educating learning environment for any governmental procedure.”
Current representatives are planning to establish a base for future assembly members including changes in the organization’s constitution and election processes.
“At this point, we’re really just focusing on strengthening our foundation,” Sims said. “So that when the next SGA comes in, they’ll have something to build on.”
Members agreed the position of chairperson for the assembly is to rotate from community college to university every term, but a chairperson wouldn’t be elected until the fall semester due to lack of time.
Representatives discussed the possibility of electing a chairperson for the organization but due to time constraints, representatives agreed that the position will be left vacant until the fall semester.
When a chairperson is appointed, Sims suggested the representative be from a community college.
“If I had to choose, I think it would be a good idea to start off with a community college,” Sims said. “Just based off what I’m hearing, the little bit of history I do know, it sounds like they may not have had that opportunity yet. I’m really for equitable experiences with representation, and if they’re not getting that, it’s needed.”
Catherine Millard, SGA Senator at A&M-San Antonio, spoke about her enthusiasm regarding the collaboration and the possible benefits it may present.
“It’s very interesting to see the community colleges and who represents students over there, and what potential SGA members we have coming into A&M-SA,” Millard said. “So I think this is a good way to get a baseline of who the people are and what might be coming up.”
