Twenty-one students running for SGA fall elections

By Dylan Pichnarcik

Associate Editor

SGA hosted a “Candidates’ Night” for members of the student body to meet and hear from peers running for SGA on Sept. 19. 

Elections were held during the week of Sept. 22, and the results will be announced Friday, Sept. 26.

Of the 21 students, three are running for vice president. A race for the vice presidency has not been contested in a number of years, according to SGA Co-Advisor Rachel Spezia. 

There are 18 students running for positions as senators. Currently, SGA has one senator. 

According to the SGA constitution, there are 30 seats in the senate. 

Elizabeth Agbolade was not in attendance for Candidates’ Night, but is on the ballot for the vice presidency. 

Jobe Murphy was the first candidate to speak and is running for vice president.

Murphy said he is seeking election to address concerns raised by both commuter and resident students. 

“I hope to help represent as many of these University students and staff as possible and bridge a gap between those [students] in different years to create a more unified campus,” Murphy said. 

Murphy said in the past, he has served as an intern for Andrew Ghobrial, who now serves as the Town Clerk for Natick. 

In his closing statement, Murphy said, “We’re all students of this college. I wish to make it easy and enjoyable.” He said he hopes to ensure funding for events and clubs and support SGA President César Matos in his efforts to improve meal plans for commuter students. 

Shubham Valand, who is also running for vice president, said in this role, he will work to coordinate senate meetings and maintain clear communication between SGA and student organizations. 

He said serving on SGA will also further improve his leadership skills. 

Valand said in his previous role as an orientation leader, he “learned one thing: that true leadership is not just about standing. It’s about standing with others, listening to their voices, and lifting them up.” 

Valand said he also hopes to make campus “more inclusive, more innovative, and more united.” 

After remarks from the candidates for vice president, Matt Lee, who is running for publicist, spoke about his belief that “visibility and communication are what really bring the campus community together.” 

Lee said he hopes to improve communication by using various platforms, including social media, flyers, newsletters, and in-person events. 

“I want the information to be clear, easy to follow, and easily available so more people feel motivated to participate. I’ll bring creativity, responsibility, and passion to this role,” he said. 

Running against Lee for publicist is Taylor Royal. 

Royal said she believes she is a strong candidate for the publicist position because of her prior experience along with her “passion for building and fostering relationships here at Framingham State.” 

Royal currently serves as a field marketing specialist for Dining Services. 

She said her goal as publicist would be to “ensure every student knows about the opportunities, events, and essential resources to be successful and that are available to them through the Student Government Association.”

Royal said she hopes to also support “non-traditional” students through engagement. 

“We may commute, jump to jobs, or try to find a balance within our family responsibilities. Because of this, it can be hard to see where we fit in, and I want to be the one to change that,” she said. 

Ling Zhang is running for secretary unopposed and did not make a speech at the event. 

After the conclusion of the eBoard candidates’ remarks, candidates for the open senatorial positions spoke. 

Mari Awuah said she is running for SGA to unite the campus community. 

She said she believes campus has become divided and students do not have mutual respect for each other. 

“That is not what our school should represent. Our school should represent equality and respect, meaning that we need to treat others the way they would like to be treated,” she said. 

Cam Rokes said he will strive to make campus a better place while serving on SGA. 

He said he hopes to ensure every student feels included. 

Jada James said she hopes joining SGA will serve as an opportunity for her to get involved in the FSU community. 

“I want to be a part of a team that caters to student engagement and is making a difference. I think it’s important that every student has a voice and representation to express their experiences at Framingham State,” James said. 

Cia Rosado said she hopes to ensure every student's voice is heard on campus, “especially those who may not feel comfortable speaking for themselves.” 

Rosado added she plans to address mental health advocacy on campus by increasing awareness of on-campus resources.

“I’m committed to advocating for greater accessibility to mental health services and spreading the normalcy of reaching out and continuing to advise students of their resources,” she said. 

Merlin Clive said their goal is to support any student regardless of background and identity - a goal she has worked toward as an orientation leader and supplemental instructor on campus. 

Clive said they also serve as the secretary of Latinos Unidos N’ Accion. 

They said they hope to “uplift our students of color, students with accessibility needs, and our LGBTQ community on campus. Their voices and concerns deserve to be heard in efforts to diversify campus voices.”