Student Government Association President Denisse Molina-Castro (left) discusses plans to collaborate with other campus organizations during the SGA President’s Luncheon, held Aug. 16 on the Brownsville campus. Also shown is Rebeca Rodriguez, a bystander peer educator for the Superhero Project./Michelle Espinoza/The Rider
Andrea Torres
THE RIDER
With nearly 28,000 students already enrolled at UT Rio Grande Valley for the fall, 39 of their peers represent the population each day and help address any concerns they may have as part of the Student Government Association.
“Our main goal is to service the student body,” SGA President Denisse Molina-Castro said about the association. “When I say service, I mean we are here to help with their concerns.”
The SGA hosted a President’s Luncheon Monday and Tuesday on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses, which drew more than 50 students representing 27 organizations.
“The purpose of today’s event was just to start a dialogue between organization presidents and other student-led organizations, to begin to know who SGA is and we can get to know who they are,” Molina-Castro said.
Among the luncheon attendees was Rebeca Rodriguez, a bystander peer educator for the Superhero Project.
“I know that the Superhero Project wanted to collaborate with the SGA and especially with all the organizations that are here as well,” Rodriguez said during the event. “What we do is we train students on how to respond, how to intervene in harmful situations.”
Throughout the luncheon, various student organization representatives talked about the events they will host for the upcoming semester and how the SGA can help them.
The SGA helps students and student organizations financially with events they host and travel to conventions.
“Let’s say, I am in a club and we want to have an event,” explained Alondra Galvan, SGA vice president for the Brownsville campus. “[The event] has to be free for students, open to all UTRGV students. It’s definitely a great way we can help you all out.”
“Our main goal is to service the student body. When I say service, I mean we are here to help with their concerns.”
Denisse Molina-Castro
SGA President
Travel funds are also available to students.
Eric Silva, SGA chair of the senate, said students can apply online via the SGA V-link page. The funds cover only hotel and registration fees.
The SGA is working on streamlining the travel application form, which is expected to be available in September, Silva said.
Students are also invited to attend the senate meetings, where they can voice their concerns and hear SGA members discuss issues they are addressing.
“We are here to serve the students, especially everyone in the legislative branch,” Silva said. “Every single person was appointed by the students in that first round through our selection process, from the senators at large to our senators representing the graduate students, to our senators representing the colleges. … We are here to help.”
The next senate meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Biomedical Research Health Building Room 1.222 in Brownsville and in Education Complex Room 1.102 in Edinburg.
Molina-Castro will deliver the State of the Student Body Address from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 13 on the Edinburg campus and Sept. 15 in Brownsville.
