Q.What college are you representing, and what year are you?
A)
My major is Political Science and Public Policy Minor with Concentration in Pre-Law. Therefore, my school is the Arts and Sciences College.
Q.What do you hope to achieve with the position?
A)
I hope to continue encouraging collaboration among student organizations by continuing the Organizations United Fund. I hope to advocate actively and decisively for a serious plan leading to a 24 hour study space. We have made valuable gains with expanding the library hours of operation through my work at the Student Library Advisory Council and the SGA. But our student body deserves a 24 hour study space from Sunday to Thursday. I hope to expand my legislation: Athletics Partnership Act as an established program within Athletics in order to feature student organizations at other athletic events like Sand Volleyball, Volleyball and Football (aside from Basketball). As we consolidate with Georgia Perimeter College, I hope to work closely with the presidents of the other student government associations of the perimeter campuses by meeting every month and work together for mutual improvement. Finally, I am looking forward to implement the newly approved Bylaws and Constitution of the SGA that if corroborated by the student body, they will serve greatly to make SGA more efficient and accountable to excellence.
Q.What are some big issues students have been facing lately?
A)
The most pressing issue currently seems to be the consolidation with GPC (Georgia Perimeter College). Initially, many students displayed outrage mainly provoked by lack of information. But lately, after the facts have been divulged, including through the Town Hall Meeting that I organized through the SGA, students are more at ease and supportive of the benefits for the institution, especially for the students at the flagship downtown campus. The other big issue is gender inclusive housing that was also discussed at our last Town Hall meeting hosted by the SGA. Students are very opinionated about this issue and I personally fully support this project to better accommodate all students, not only members of the LGBTQ community but all students in general wishing to share a dorm with members of another gender. Additionally, there are many other issues that have constantly concerned students mostly regarding facilities. Students are concerned about parking options for commuters, dining options and commuter meal plans. Students have worried about the noise at Library Plaza and Study Spaces. For this reason I am proud to be running with Teara Mayfield who has served as Vice President of Student Services and will be more than competent to continue dressing these concerns and effectively deliver results.
Q.Describe your platform.
A)
I am running on Team Impact 2015 and our platform is:
- I – Increasing sustainability initiatives
- M – Mobilizing student attendance at athletic events
- P – Promoting awareness of academic programs and resources
- A – Advocating for a 24 hour study space
- C – Creating meaningful and lasting traditions
- T – Transforming student services
Q.Def ine transparency in student government.
A)
Transparency in SGA is using the current tools and avenues available to the administration to divulge relevant information to the student body, collect feedback on pressing issues from the student body and serve the student body with the many services the SGA offers. Additionally, in order to be transparent, we must be creative with our resources to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts.
Q.What new initiatives would you try to implement if you received the position?
A)
These are the new initiatives that I have authored and have successfully passed the senate and have been implemented as well: Panther Mentorship Program, Testing Materials Expansion Act, Athletics Partnership Act, Commuter Affairs Subcommittee Act and the Academic Policies Information Sheet Resolution. Additionally, as EVP I created a bill template that has become the standard way for legislation to be drafted in the SGA. I have improved the quality of legislation submitted by required a preliminary committee review for a every bill before coming to a vote for the senate. On top of these initiatives, I have noticed a pressing demand for funding for students to attend conventions and conferences on behalf of their organizations. Although it is difficult to fund a handful of students to attend conventions since it doesn’t benefit the campus community directly, I think we should find ways within the Student Activity Fee Committee using contingency funds to create a pilot program to fund some organizations to attend conferences. It will increase the prestige of our University outside of Atlanta and remarkably enhance the academic experience of students at Georgia State. Another new initiative that I think the Student Government should seriously consider is to evaluate a plan to incorporate the participation of elected student officials on behalf of the fee councils represented at the Student Activity Fee Committee. For example, among the organizations represented could be one senator for Academic Teams (Model UN, Model Arab League, Mock Trial, etc.), one senator from ISAC, one senator from Diversity organizations and so on. It will be very challenging to determine the way they get elected and which organizations or fee councils should be represented, but I think the SGA should adapt to the growing size of our campus and incorporate more participation.
Q.What sets you apart from the former position holder?
A)
I have the utmost admiration for President Henson. He has served the student body at the SGA throughout his entire career at GSU and has dared to get involved in this organization regardless of what people expect from someone with his major and background. I think he is extremely knowledgeable of the way University Committees work and the fees committees. I also admire his judgment when making executive decisions which always turn out to be very comprehensive and anticipative of future perils.
However, my biggest asset will be my creativity and diverse involvement on campus. I am a transfer and a commuter student that has experienced what most of our students go through, but I have also managed to be very involved on campus. I have held the positions of Senator, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Executive Vice President; this expansive experience within the SGA will allow me to work with all of the elected officers since I have been “on their shoes” before. I am also an Ambassador of the 1913 Society which has allowed me to personally interact and network with many members of our faculty including all of the deans of the schools and colleges. This will be a great asset when collaborating with other offices because they already know me. Finally, I have been served as Executive Officer on many organizations like the Pre-Law Club, the Latin American Student Association, the Student Library Advisory Council and participated in the funding of Phi Alpha Delta, International Law Fraternity incorporated. Therefore, I will be able to see the perspective of student organizations coming to work with the SGA because I have been in their position before. Moreover, I have been the most legislatively active individual in the Student Government for the past three semesters which have resulted in the numerous aforementioned projects that I have initiated. I will not only be able to tutor senators on how to accomplish their legislative ideas but also will be able to demand that they work hard since I have done it as well.
Q.What achievement are you most proud of?
A)
Receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for promoting multiculturalism at Georgia State through my work as Hispanic Heritage Month Director by hosting 12 events with the following organizations:
- Campus Events
- Spotlight
- Office of Latino Student Services and Outreach
- Lambda Theta Alpha
- Lambda Upsilon Lambda
- Latin American Student Association
- Latino Leadership Council
- Sigma Lambda Upsilon
- ISAC
- SGA
It took a great deal of hard work, planning and dedication to direct all of the leaders representing these organizations with the only goal of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and sharing my culture with the campus community.
Q. What have you been involved with on campus and in the community?
A)
- Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association
- Ambassador of the 1913 Society
- Director of Hispanic Heritage Month (2014)
- ISAC Representative for the Latin American Student Association
- Member of the Student Library Advisory Council
- Served as Vice President of the Pre-Law Club in the past.
- Mentor of the Latino Leadership Initiative
- Community Relations Director of the Shirazi Law Group, Inc (immigration law)
- Intern at the Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Council at the State Capitol
- Previously worked as Field Manager for the Democratic Party of Georgia
- Interned at the American Civil Liberties Union in the past.
