Senate Election Candidates

My first priority would be planning the best possible senior event. I would spent a good amount of time during summer planning events for the upcoming year. My second priority would be seeing if we have say in what our graduation gowns look like. In addition, I would see if there’s options for students who cannot afford caps and gowns, and see if I can help students afford them.

In your opinion, how best can RUSGA serve the students of Regis University through Student Senate?

The best way RUSGA can serve the students is by reaching out to offices and directors to speak on behalf of our community. These departments will listen to us more since we are coming from a well established organization on campus, filled with student leaders.

1. I highly value student engagement and community integration. I've experienced first-hand many times being the student that sits alone, or didn't hear about an event, or went home (as a commuter) early just because they didn't find a clique or group to integrate with. That now has drastically changed for me, as I've found many ways to connect with others as a commuter. But circling back, this is my primary goal. 2. Incentivizing equity and inclusiveness. I believe Regis as a whole does a great job of this, but we can always do better as leaders and especially as advocates for others. As a Jesuit University, we need to continue maintaining these values and goals and operate with them behind the forefront of our intentions. Keeping our community well informed and respected as a whole, for me is critical to fostering a healthy collegiate environment. I discuss this in the last section of my application, but in my club, I've managed to maximize equity and inclusiveness by removing the bar of entry which may students struggle with: the cost of practices.

In your opinion, how best can RUSGA serve the students of Regis University through Student Senate?

I think by holding polls or discussions with an emphasis on the voice of the student/faculty community, letting their opinions be heard. With that said, I believe the community has unique values that must be addressed and hearing and exacting on them is vital for a functioning, integrative community.

1. Student Involvement: Talking to students, hearing their opinions, and bring said opinions forward in order to further involve students and improve student experience at Regis. 2. Latinx Community Representation: As a Mexican-American, first generation, bilingual student, I am able to further understand the Latinx community. This means I would be able to further understand certain needs, goals, ambitions, etc which may be similar. Also, this would further allow me to talk to, and understand those who are part of the Latinx community when the come forward to me in order to represent their voices. This means further representation of the Latinx community in RUSGA, this would allow a chance for inclusion when brainstorming ways of improving student experience for said population.

In your opinion, how best can RUSGA serve the students of Regis University through Student Senate?

I believe having senators who engage with the community, and bring their voices forward to the Government Association is a great way of serving students of Regis University. Not only that but, involvement of the student body through events, surveys, social media, etc can further bring the voices of students into light.

My first two priorities as a first-gen representative would be making/hosting more events for first-gen students on campus that help them embrace their identities proudly, and providing CLEARLY broadcasted resources about hidden curriculum (things you learn in college that aren't explicitly taught, like filling out FAFSA) around campus for everyone to have access to.

In your opinion, how best can RUSGA serve the students of Regis University through Student Senate?

Though the students on RUSGA Senate are meant to act as representatives of the Student Body, oftentimes no one has any idea about them. Senators, as of now, don't have much of a reputation at Regis, nor do they seem to catch the attention of the general student body (at least in a positive way). A great way RUSGA can change this and actually serve the students through Senate is by asking students what they need/wish they had on campus (not through surveys in emails that no one reads). Having tabling events with incentives (like food) are a great way to not only spread awareness about what Senate (and RUSGA) do, but also a great way to get information about what students ACTUALLY want.

If I were to be elected, one of my biggest priorities would be to continue to make resources and support more accessible to First Generation students. This has been a concern on campus that I have come to recognize serving in the RUSGA Senate as a first-year. This is a door of opportunity for Regis University to accommodate First Generation students as their numbers are rapidly increasing within the student body. Our resources need to stretch out to become available to all First Generation students, not simply a small portion of them. Another one of my priorities would be to help create more retention with First Generation students. Being a First Gen myself, I understand the difficulties that come with facing college with little to no support. These obstacles can come in the way of First Gen students truly becoming connected to life on campus. By continuing to set a firm connection with the First Gen clubs available, as well as creating further events to connect them to the family that is found in Regis, my goal is to help the students find joy within their college journey.

In your opinion, how best can RUSGA serve the students of Regis University through Student Senate?

RUSGA has been continously improving, and that is something that should continue to happen every year! RUSGA should continue to serve the students by keeping their focus not on the positions they hold, but the mission they were created to uphold. The service of RUSGA is crucial to our campus, and will continue to hold more value as it becomes further connected to the student body. It remain as significant as ever to foster an integrated relationship between the student government and the student body.