Melanie Gutierrez talks about her past experience as associate justice in the Student Government Association and explains why she is the best candidate for the position of chief justice during the SGA senate meeting held Feb. 10 on the Brownsville campus. AURA VELASQUEZ/THE RIDER PHOTOS
The Student Government Association has appointed Md Mozadded Hossen as a senator for the Graduate College and finance freshman Alfonso Delgado as senator for the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship.
Each was advised to give a two-to-three-minute speech before the senate’s vote on their appointment at the Feb. 10 senate meeting.
Hossen is pursuing a doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling at UTRGV and spoke about his academic experience. He has a master’s in
Clinical Mental Health from Lamar University. Hossen explained that while being a UTRGV student, he formed the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association student chapter.
“My passion has always been, and it still is and will be, serving for the best purpose of humanity and searching for knowledge,” Hossen said. “My future aim is to make the society a peaceful place to live.”
Delgado talked about his involvement in school and why he is fit for the position.
“I believe it gives me the opportunity to grow and, you know, evolve outside of the classroom, and an opportunity to have leadership experience as well,” he said. “[It] allows me to tie back my involvement in other clubs and [organizations] outside and inside a school.”
Melanie Gutierrez, a marketing senior, was appointed chief justice. Gutierrez spoke about her journey in the SGA, first as an intern in Fall 2021 and her previous position, associate justice.
Gutierrez explained why she would be the best candidate for the position of chief justice.
“I’ve grown with SGA,” she said. “… What I’ve learned over time is how to stay unbiased in the judicial branch as well as effectively communicate within SGA and also externally with other students.”
Isabella Macias, chair of the senate, appointed Juana Jimenez as the new secretary of the senate. Jimenez, a biomedical sciences senior, is a senator at-large for the Brownsville campus. She will now assist the legislative branch by taking the senate meeting minutes.
During the executive team report, Vice President for Internal Affairs Kimberly Escalante said the team met with Auxiliary Services regarding concerns, which were brought up at the last senate meeting, on the hours of operation of Starbucks on both campuses.
The team suggested extending the hours until 5 or 6 p.m., but the matter is still pending. The current hours of operation for SUcafé on the Edinburg campus are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starbucks on the Brownsville campus is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
The team met with IT Services over internet reliability issues in the University Library, Science Building and Liberal Arts Buildings on the Edinburg campus and in El Comedor on the Brownsville campus, as discussed during the last senate meeting. IT Services will be checking this matter.
“If you know of any more locations, reach out to us so we can let IT [Services] know,” Escalante said.
During the adviser’s report, Program Coordinator Kourtnie Hernandez announced SGA’s general elections are open to any student in the university for executive and legislative positions.
The application will be open until March 1 and students are able to apply via V Link by clicking on the 2023-2024 SGA candidate application link. Elections will take place from April 3 to 5.
Three information sessions were held last week, one on each campus and another over Zoom, for students who wanted to learn more about the elections or the SGA in general.
The Academic Affairs Standing Committee met for the first time this semester on Feb. 9. Chair Kassandra Garcia said the committee’s meeting times will be at 10 a.m. Thursdays every other week.
Garcia said the committee decided on having Meet the Deans this semester; the date and time is still pending. SGA hosts Meet the Deans, where students can interact with the dean of their respective college to talk about any concerns or ideas.
The Community and Campus Life Affairs Standing Committee will meet virtually at 5:15 p.m. every other Wednesday via Zoom.
The Financial Affairs Standing Committee met on Feb. 8 and approved $3,761.16 in student travel funds.
Kofi Nketia Ackaah-Gyasi, senator for the College of Engineering & Computer Science, spoke on behalf of Chair Josiah Gonzalez and said the committee allocated $9,700 from last semester to this semester.
