Shubham Valand announces candidacy for SGA president

By Bella Grimaldi

News Editor

SGA held their annual Meet the Candidates Night and a Senate Meeting on March 24.

At this meeting, students announced their candidacy for all eBoard and senate positions. 

The sitting SGA President, César Matos, said elections will be held from March 30 to April 2. Voting will occur online through RamLink.

Matos said candidates will be notified on April 3 of the results by the Election Committee.

He added candidates are allowed to campaign as long as they follow the election guidelines, which include not slandering members of SGA, tampering with others’ campaign materials, and following rules regarding posting campaign posters.

Before opening the floor to the candidates, Matos said, “I have to say this has been the most amazing year in my time at SGA. … I’m really looking forward to what comes of SGA next year.”

The current SGA vice president, Shubham Valand, was the first candidate introduced. He is running uncontested for the position of president. 

Valand said his experience on SGA and his work as an orientation leader and assistant in the ID Office have helped prepare him for the role of president. 

“One thing becomes very clear to me - students have ideas, concerns, and needs, but sometimes, it feels like they are not loud enough to be heard by people,” he said. “As a president, my goal is simple - to make SGA more approachable.”

Valand said he wants more students to understand what SGA does and for the organization to build more connections with the campus community. 

“At the end of the day, being SGA president isn't about me - it’s about all of us,” he said. 

Senator Nathan Piette announced his candidacy for vice president. 

He said as vice president, he will continue to encourage SGA members to volunteer and cultivate clear communication. 

Piette said he wants to create a positive space for students in SGA to work together outside of time scheduled by the eBoard.

Matos introduced the candidate for student trustee, Jamie Kuenzel, who is running unopposed. 

Kuenzel is not a current member of SGA but is looking to fill a position currently held by Luke Yubeta, a senior. 

She is the president of the Model UN Club - which she reactivated in her freshman year - a CASA tutor, and a tour guide at the Danforth Art Museum.

“I believe that my experience on campus and in a number of different roles, and my experience with government, make me an ideal candidate for student trustee,” said Kuenzel. 

She added as student trustee, some of the policies she would like to put in place would be expanding the 4+1 programs and access to research opportunities within the University. 

Kimberly Martinez was introduced as the only candidate running for secretary.

She has been acting secretary since Ling Zhang, who previously held this role, stepped down. 

Martinez said she didn’t expect to join SGA or become secretary when she came to Framingham State, but now she enjoys being a part of the organization. 

“It’s very much bureaucratic, which is not something a lot of people enjoy. But I find myself liking a little bit of structure. I like to take the notes. I like to listen to the meetings,” she said.

Senators Jobe Murphy and Cameron Higbie were announced as candidates for treasurer. 

Current Treasurer Khoa Bùi is not running for reelection and announced his candidacy for a senate position. 

Murphy said he worked closely with Bùi on the Finance Committee and wants to “take up the mantle he has built for everyone else.” 

He added his work with the clerk of his town when he was in high school and being part of the Big Budget meeting this year provided him with the experience to fulfill the treasurer role. 

Higbie said he believes he would be suited for this role because of his experience working with others in extra-curricular activities in high school and as a math tutor. 

“I know that given the effort that I put in everything else, I could achieve very high standards for this - for some reason - unwanted position,” he added.

Matos introduced senators Mari Awuah and Kait Eller as the candidates for events coordinator. 

Awuah said she wants to bring more events to campus.

“Over the past semester, I’ve noticed that as a community, we have not been hosting enough fun events here on campus,” she said. “As it is important for us to have a steady and profitable experience, we also want to make sure we’re having fun.”

Eller said her experience working in customer service and attending a community college taught her how impactful social events are.  

She added, “I’d really like to just create events that are really a positive impact on campus, but also create some opportunities for those students who may not feel as seen or outgoing.”

Diversity and Inclusion Officer and junior Merlin Clive announced their candidacy for reelection. Clive has held this position since Ana Julia Ribeiro resigned. 

Clive is the president of Latinos Unidos N' Acción - a club they reactivated their freshman year at FSU - and the logistics coordinator for orientation. 

They said, “I’m very passionate about building community, especially with people I’m not involved with right now.”

Senators Cia Rosado and Kennedy Thompson were named as candidates for publicist. 

Rosado said, “I want to make sure that every student feels informed and excited about what student government is doing. With my current involvement in SGA, I know there’s a lot we can build on, and I am here for it.”

Thompson was not present at this meeting.

Matos said the senators seeking reelection are Jonathan Sundberg, Michael Weber, Glânzer Mar, Cam Rokes, and Bri Camilli. Ribeiro is also running for a senate position after stepping down from her role as diversity and inclusion officer.

Bùi, Sundberg, Weber, and Mar gave speeches about why they are looking to be elected to the senate.

Bùi said he stepped back from treasurer so the role could be passed on before he graduates next semester. 

“I want to stay in SGA as a senator, not just to help the treasurer, but to help build a legacy in SGA that’s going to last, not just for when I graduate, but for 10 years to come,” he said.

Sundberg said he helped students clear snow off their cars after the February snowstorm, even though he is a commuter student. “That day, I was there for students in Maynard Lot, and I will continue to be there for the FSU students.”

Weber said he was not involved on campus before becoming an RA in the last year. Now, he is looking to support students and be a bigger part of the Framingham State community.

Mar said he has student government experience after working in student leadership at his previous school and wants to be a voice for students at FSU. 

During the Senate Meeting, SGA appointed a new senator, Ana Maxwell. 

Maxwell said she is joining because she wants to be involved in student leadership and the campus community.

The motion to approve Maxwell was made by Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub.

SGA reviewed a $7,005.69 funding request from ASL Club for their DeaFSU “Build Bridges Not Walls” event. 

Piette motioned to approve this allocation and it passed unanimously. 

Piette said there will be another safety walk taking place next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. with a smaller group participating to check on the suggestions that were made after the fall safety walk. 

[ Editor’s Note: Nathan Piette is a staff writer for The Gatepost ]