By Diana Sanchez/@_DianaMarie185
Three new student members were sworn in Jan. 29 following a unanimous vote to fill vacancies in the Student Senate.
Sworn in by Justice Hoyt Garner after they were appointed and approved through SGA procedures, new officers include: communications junior Brian Harrin as student senator; computer information systems junior Kimberly Vasquez as recording secretary; and bilingual education senior Victoria Rojo will serve as historian.
Members said they want to continue reaching out to students. Although they have busy schedules, they practice the same SGA motto, “The students voice of today…for tomorrow.”
All three say they are juggling heavy loads — including school, work and jobs — but want to make time to represent the student body.
Senator Brian Harrin
Harrin, a transfer student from Northwest Vista College, said he hopes to use his experience with student government to enter local politics.
A full-time student, he currently works as an advertiser and sells insurance for his family’s insurance company. In addition to work experience, Harrin gained local political experience by interning for Senator Ted Cruz last spring.
Harrin said that he hopes his experience with SGA will enable him “to be more creative, help with events and spread the word of the students.” He also plans to use his advertising experience to contribute to SGA events for the students.
“I would like to make my mark here in student government,” he said.
This week, Harrin is busy getting ready for the March 19 Concealed Carry on Campus forum.
Recording Secretary Kimberly Vasquez
Vasquez will serve on the executive branch. She will manage meeting minutes and is required to manage flyers, emails and other forms of communication.
With only two semesters left, Vasquez plans to hold her position as secretary until she finishes school. She plans to work on a filing system for the association.
She heard the opportunity through former SGA member, John Hays. Hays spoke highly of the organization and encouraged her to get involved.
“You’ll find friends in the most unexpected places,” Vasquez said, adding that she cares about building lasting friendships through university activities and organizations.
Her most memorable moments were through school activities with the Alamo Colleges and would like to bring that excitement to SGA.
On her time off, Vasquez said she likes to read, hike and dance. Growing up, she danced folklorico.
“My family immigrated from Spain, I would like to get back to family roots,” she said.
Historian Victoria Rojo
Rojo will begin immediate tasks taking pictures and videos of events and functions for the organization.
“I’d like to document everything that goes on, and every important decision that is made as proof that we were there,” she said.
Her motivation as historian stems from seeing SGA as “an open door.” Rojo, like Harrin, believes the university has potential to expand and wants to continue representing the student body as well as the South Side community.
“I have to think about what students need and what other students want,” Rojo said. “Being a part of something bigger than myself.”
When not serving as historian, Rojo helps her husband manage their welding shop. She helps manage finances for the business, and though she loves working with her husband, she says her heart is in teaching.
She wants to one day become a successful fifth grade bilingual teacher at an elementary school located in the Southwest district.
Though members come from different backgrounds, all of them are sworn to the objective of SGA, outline in its constitution: “…to provide the official voice of the student body of the University.”
“We represent the whole student body,” Rojo said. “It really broadens my whole view.”
