Increasing student involvement with SGA

Presidential candidates answer student questions

Candidates running for Student Government Association president spoke to viewers addressing how each would support and voice the student body if elected.

 The 2025-2026 SGA Election Executive Ticket Forum, hosted by KVAQ-TV, took place Thursday in the PlainsCapital Bank Theater on the Edinburg campus.

Candidates running for the SGA presidential election are:

–Orlando Dylan Alvarado Jr., representing Juntos Logramos

–Andrea Gaytan, representing Vaqueros Forward

–Juan Espinoza, representing Team Victoriam.

Each contender spoke about their teams’ goals and major focuses during the ticket forum.

Gaytan said her team’s major focuses were on issues regarding parking and transportation and keeping a connection with students.

“As the university is growing, we have more than 34,000 students and, with more students, we need more space,” she said. “So, we want to be establishing more VOLTs because, as of right now, the estimated wait time is at least 10 minutes.”

Gaytan said her team has been working on student engagement since last year.

“We want to establish a town hall series and also, adding into that, we have to prioritize the freshmen coming into [the university],” she said. “So during orientation, we actually have to present to them because that is going to be the future voice of the students.”

Alvarado said, in response to a question about transparency, his team will send emails and messages to students to keep them aware of what SGA is doing.

“So, we would start by having executive town halls to understand student concerns … so we can relay messages to the students as far as what our updates are,” he said. “We want to continue using social media.”

Alvarado said Juntos Logramos also wants to focus on improving the university libraries and study rooms.

“Our ticket is dedicated to working with the library, so that we can expand study rooms,” he said. “We want to do this among all campuses, as well as working with the Student Parent Success organization to better prompt the Edinburg Family Study Group that we have. We also want to advocate for the creation of one in the Harlingen library as well as the Brownsville library.”

Espinoza said SGA senators and executives need to better approach students.

“I think, for a long time, SGA has taken a passive approach,” he said. “… That’s something that needs to change, and my team is changing that by actively going to students and talking to them. I will ensure that the senators of SGA will not just be in the office but will go out and present to clubs, on-campus organizations, and also different departments and classes.”

Espinoza said the biggest issue for students is not being offered optional PLTL.

“I feel like it’s really crucial to point out that, for optional PLTL and for the other issues on campus, it’s not just a matter of being able to say the things you want to change but actually going out and talking with the administration,” he said.

All candidates encouraged students to not only vote during the SGA elections but to look at what each contender offers. 

Election voting begins today and ends Thursday. Students will receive a digital ballot through their UTRGV emails. Results will be available Friday.For more information about the SGA elections, visit the Center for Student Involvement website.