New SGA liberal arts senator

_{Kimberly Escalante, Student Government Association vice president of Internal Affairs, talks about a survey on campus computer labs during the executive team report during the Nov. 18 senate meeting in the Music, Science and Learning Center on the Brownsville campus.} _{AURA VELASQUEZ/THE RIDER PHOTOS}

The Student Government Association has appointed Anahi Fonseca, a political science senior, as the second senator for the College of Liberal Arts.

Fonseca was advised to give a two-to-three-minute speech before the senate’s vote on her appointment on Nov. 18. She spoke about the reason why she decided to join and explained how, during her freshman orientation, an SGA member inspired her to have a leadership position.

“We were asked what we wanted to contribute to the world,” Fonseca said. “I stated I wanted to make a long-lasting change. Soon after, I heard the voice of a member from the Student Government Association, who walked in and yelled, ‘That’s what we’re all about–change.’ To this day, I have not forgotten her statement.”

Fonseca talked about what leadership is to her and emphasized the points of academic and community affairs.

She said it is important to advocate for students’ interests, needs and voices to offer an education “that remains at the heart of every student, even when they no longer walk the campus trails.”

_{Odalys Saenz, Student Government Association senator for the College of Liberal Arts, talks about an initiative relating to the B3 Institute during the Nov. 18 senate meeting in the Music, Science and Learning Center on the Brownsville campus.}

Fonseca said using one’s voice to enact change is necessary and that doing so will “[pave] the way for future leaders to climb the ladder to success.”

During the executive team report, Vice President of Internal Affairs Kimberly Escalante said the team met with IT Services on Nov. 15 and that a survey will be conducted to explore options for the computer labs.

“For example, if the usage isn’t that high, we’re going to work on a hybrid system where we have less computers and more areas for students to work on,” Escalante said.

In an interview with The Rider, she said the team will help promote the survey and will be working along with IT Services in the spring to provide their own input as students.

During the meeting, Escalante said the team reached out to Parking and Transportation Services regarding its survey, which was focused on recommendations for parking improvements and the student experience.

She said the team is looking to meet with the department to review the survey responses and find what the next step should be.

Escalante said the team was scheduled to meet today with School of Nursing Interim Dean Lilia Fuentes to discuss senator representation.

During the Standing Committee reports, Academic Affairs Committee Chair Kassandra Garcia, senator for the College of Sciences, invited people to join the committee’s meetings if they have any project ideas. The committee was scheduled to meet again Nov. 21 via Zoom.

Financial Affairs Committee Chair Josiah Gonzalez, senator for the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said the committee met on Nov. 12 and approved four student travel applications. The committee met again on Nov. 19 and approved two more student travel applications and one special event fund application. The committee was scheduled to meet last Friday via Zoom.

_{Student Government Association Associate Justice Ayleen Canizales administers the oath to Anahi Fonseca (on screen) during the Nov. 18 senate meeting in the Music, Science and Learning Center on the Brownsville campus. Fonseca will fill the role of senator for the College of Liberal Arts.}

During the comments and announcements section, Odalys Saenz, chair of the Internal Affairs Committee and senator for the College of Liberal Arts, talked about an initiative in collaboration with the college faculty. Saenz said the initiative is related to the B3 (bilingual, bicultural and biliterate) Institute and aims to “change or improve the community.”

“We are looking forward to pushing for the new UTRGV website to be translated in Spanish,” she said.

Saenz said the SGA will share a survey with its members to get opinions on the initiative.

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