Executive Ticket 1 wins SGA General Election: Team to focus on more campus inclusion, academic incentives, more upper-level courses

With 565 votes in the 2022-2023 Student Government Association General Election, Executive Ticket 1, consisting of Jonathan Ricardo Dominguez, Kimberly Escalante and Jose Javier Herrera, has been elected by the UTRGV student body and will begin their SGA term today. 

Dominguez will serve as SGA president and Escalante and Herrera will both serve as vice presidents.

Job Martinez, Kimberly Grace Sandoval and Karitza Vianey Garcia ran in Executive Ticket 2 and garnered 394 votes.

Dominguez said he felt honored to have won the SGA presidency and that his next step is to build trust and the foundation for relationship interactions in the workplace. 

“Know how to talk to people, know how to work with people, know how to connect with people; that would be the first step,” Dominguez said. 

When asked about the goal of providing more upper-level courses with a variety of professors, mentioned in his platform statement, he said that he would like to have more professors teaching those classes. Nevertheless, Dominguez said the hiring process is the main problem in obtaining this. 

“What I’m hoping to do is, perhaps, collect some data from the students in order to come up with … a presentation to pitch it to the department telling them, ‘This is what we need and this is our proof,’” he said.

One of the other goals mentioned in his platform statement was the idea of providing more internship and research project opportunities. 

“As a science major, I noticed that research opportunities are very slim, and I think we should just come up with more projects that will prepare students for actual research projects,” Dominguez said.

He elaborated on his statement by saying that he feels that an introductory class to research would better prepare students for the material and its methods.

Escalante said that without the campus community’s support, the results would not have been the same. 

“Thank you to everyone that voted, because this wouldn’t have been possible and to everyone that spread the word, too,” she said.

Escalante also explained what made them different from the other candidates was that her team opted to not rely entirely on social media for reaching students. 

“We did it more in person, you know, talking to the students,” Escalante said. “Even myself, I was at [El] Comedor talking to them, at the library talking to them.”

She also said one of her team’s goals is the inclusion of the Brownsville campus. Escalante said it is important to incorporate the Brownsville campus more when it comes to Student Life activities. 

“When they do events, I know they do more and they do bigger [events] over at Edinburg,” Escalante said. 

Escalante said another goal was to increase the number of incentives given to students. She pointed out that students, for example, the ones on the Dean’s and President’s lists, should receive monetary incentives, like for the vaccine portal, or a free meal.

Herrera is a biomedical sciences senior and said he is excited to work in the SGA for the first time. He also looks forward to helping students next fall. 

“I’ve always liked helping people,” he said. “Even though I’ve never really taken a leadership position, I always take the time to help my peers. So, if it’s possible, I’d like to help everybody.”

Herrera said listening to others’ concerns motivates him to want to make a change. One of the plans for the next office term is to listen to students’ opinions through voting polls and make changes according to students’ needs and wants. 

“What we want to do is just hear from the community,” Herrera said. “Like, maybe, from right now, the current problem is ‘A’ but then, in a few months from now, it is now ‘B.’ Well then, we just changed our focus at that point because what’s most important is what you guys need.”

In regard to Executive Ticket 2, Martinez, a management senior, was a candidate for SGA 2022-2023 president. 

Martinez held different positions in SGA during the 2021-2022 year, including senator for the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the chair for Campus Life & Community Affairs and the sergeant-at-arms.

“I had a really good experience working with SGA, and it was very rewarding in the sense that I was able to impact the [lives] of students in a great manner,” he said. 

Concerning the election results, Martinez said that losses can hurt; however, he said he and his team tried their best and that there is always a learning experience. 

Asked if he planned to be part of SGA in the fall, Martinez replied that he is not sure if he will be able to dedicate time to SGA since he will be a graduate student and is also considering being a graduate assistant.

He wished Dominguez and his team good luck and offered them advice. 

“Most important, that they have this personal connection with the students, both in Edinburg and in Brownsville and the other sister campuses as well,” Martinez said. 

His last message toward the campus community was that students need to be aware of what is happening at UTRGV and how SGA plays a part in campus changes.

“It’s imperative that students engage themselves in [SGA] so that they ensure that the majority of the voice of students is heard and is understood to ensure that there is no misunderstandings or any confusion and that everything’s fully transparent,” Martinez said.

Garcia told The Rider, despite the outcome, she thanks the campus community for supporting her team during the election and the SGA throughout the year.

“We couldn’t have gotten the things that we’ve done, done, without you guys,” Garcia said. “And it just means so much to see the community come out and really take an interest in SGA and actually know who SGA is now.”

Sandoval would also like to thank the campus community for their support and making their voices heard.

“Regardless of who you voted for, that’s your vote, and no one can take that away from you,” said Sandoval.

Garcia said she is content with her work in the SGA and does not think she will apply to return to the SGA for the next term. 

Sandoval wants to continue her work toward helping the College of Fine Arts as well as other colleges.

“It’s different situations for me and Karitza,” she said. “She’s done a lot for her college. She’s done a lot in SGA. I feel like I haven’t done enough and that’s why I want to reapply.”

Both Garcia and Sandoval wish the new executive team good luck.

Students voted in the SGA general election from 8 a.m. April 18 until 11:59 p.m. April 21.

The following senators were also elected and will begin their term of office today:

— Osvaldo Grimaldo senator-at-large-Edinburg

— Isabella Marie Macias senator-at-large-Edinburg

— Kimberly Moran senator-at-large-Edinburg

— Julianna DeAnda Castillo senator for the College of Health Professions

— Omar Esteban Salgado senator for the College of Health Professions

— Odalys Anahi Saenz senator for the College of Liberal Arts

— Kassandra Ximena Garcia senator for the College of Sciences

— Batool Ibrahim senator for the College of Sciences

— Jacob Ruben Flores senator for the Robert C. Vackar College Business & Entrepreneurship

— Josiah Gonzalez senator for the Robert C. Vackar College Business & Entrepreneurship

— Abby Marie Davila graduate senator

— S M Sarwar graduate senator

   Other leadership roles in SGA for the 2022-2023 term are still open. Students may find the application form in V Link. For questions, students may email SGA at sga@utrgv.edu.