
Editor’s Note: All reported dates are based on the Student Government election packet. At the time of this writing, there are unconfirmed reports that some dates may change. For the latest information, contact the Office of Student Activities at 326-2280 or Student Center 226.
The close of an academic year brings with it finals, papers, and, for many universities, an exercise in campus democracy. From April 15 to 17, TAMIU students will select their Student Government representatives for the 2009-2010 academic year. Most registered TAMIU students may vote for Student Government officials.Senator At-Large Alfredo Jimenez has announced his intent to run for the Student Government presidency. The SG president is considered the representative of the entire student body. The holder of the office is expected to speak on behalf of and represent student interests while working closely with various campus administrators. The SG president is also automatically a member of the A&M Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board, in which capacity he or she represents the university as an institution and community. Fully aware of the responsibilities of the job, Jimenez says he’s up to the task.”I think I’m the best prepared for the job right now. I wouldn’t be running otherwise,” Jimenez said. Jimenez is also one of few current SG members to have served in the judicial, legislative, and executive branches. After the surprising resignation of then-President Rodrigo Coutino during the 2006-2007 academic year, Jimenez was appointed vice president. The following year, he served in the judiciary, and he currently serves as senator at-large. He has assisted in such events as the Rock the Vote voter registration drive and the assistance of Hurricane Ike evacuees from sister A&M campuses. Currently, he is a volunteer coordinator for The Big Event.This experience, Jimenez says, makes him appreciate and want to build on the current level of activity of SG.”This year we’ve seen dramatic changes on campus,” he said. “More students are involved with organizations, and SG is feeding off of that energy.”One of his motives for running is that he believes SG has been distracted from doing the students’ business. “Really, we’ve let other controversies dominate our meetings way too much,” said Jimenez. Jimenez cited last two particularly hostile incidents: the senate’s allocation of $1500 for a memorial bench last October, which caused open division between the executive and legislative branches, and the call for President James Cortez’s resignation last November. “These were blown out of proportion and didn’t need to take up nearly as much of our time as they did,” said Jimenez. As far as what issues he’d like to see SG spend more time discussing, Jimenez brought up an effort, years ago, to encourage a major in dance at TAMIU.”We did some research and-I forget why-we had to present it to the City of Laredo. We had to show them that there was a demand for a (bachelor of arts) in dance. These are the types of things we should be talking about,” he said. Jimenez says his top two goals for SG are increased cooperation with other student organizations and full representation on all university committees which allow for a student body member.”Those (committees) are where we can affect TAMIU policy,” Jimenez said. “We need to recruit enough SG members to get someone on each of them.”Recruitment of new members is one goal Jimenez shares with his likely opponent. Also announcing her intent to run for the presidency is Chief Justice Christine Cortez. A graduate student pursing a Master of Professional Accountancy, Cortez believes the most important thing SG can do right now is reach out to the student body.”They (students) don’t know much about SG. They don’t know what we do and that we’re here for them,” she said.Cortez also said she agreed with a recent opinion piece by Bridge Staff Writer Matthew Hall, “Bridging the gap between students and SG,” which discusses a “disconnect” between SG and the average student. “I want to make it fun. I want our activities, even our meetings, to be something students want to come to,” said Cortez. Unlike Jimenez, Cortez has taken a running mate.Ana Castañeda, Justice for the College of Education and a Student Government volunteer is running for Vice President alongside Cortez. Cortez is the sister of current President James Cortez; while current Vice President Eliezar Castañeda is Ana’s brother. Cortez downplays the fact that each of them is running for her brother’s current seat. “Ana and I have our own plans and our own motives,” she said. “We did joke about using it in the campaign, but I don’t think we will.”College of Arts and Sciences Senator Juan Sebastian Mendive is also entering the electoral arena. Mendive announced his intent to run for an at-large senate seat. In a prepared statement, Mendive said his goals include making SG more accountable and transparent. He also proposes a restructuring of the senate to make it “more representative of the student body.” “For example,” his statement reads, “creating a senate seat to represent international students, another to represent the Greeks, and also seats that represent each classification. This does not necessarily mean adding new seats, but instead of 7 COAS seats, 4 can be COAS and for example the other 3 can become the international senate seat, freshman senator, sophomore senator etc.”He also wants to reach out to TAMIU’s international population by “increasing communication with the international student body in order to help enhance their experience at TAMIU, make them feel at home.”Thus far, Jimenez, Cortez, and Mendive are not officially candidates. Student Government hopefuls still have until April 9 to submit a declaration of candidacy form to the Office of Student Activities. While only these three have announced their intent to run so far, more current SG members are expected to file for these positions. Although the only students discussing candidacy so far are current SG members, students not yet part of SG are welcome to run provided they meet certain GPA and registration requirements. Some positions have additional requirements. For complete information on running for Student Government, contact the Office of Student Activities at 326-2280.