Student Government Association (SGA) elections are once again underway. SGA held elections at the end of February for its Executive Leadership Committee, but the current round of elections is for senator positions. 

Students can vote via a link sent to their SU emails on April 14, and the ballot will be open until 4 p.m. on April 17. Four names will be on the ballot this week in uncontested races, along with over a dozen senator positions on the ballot with no candidates. 

Candidates delivered speeches on Thursday evening, all running unopposed. Each offered their plans to address a persistent disconnect between SGA and the wider student body while acknowledging the challenges posed by low turnout and limited awareness of the organization’s role on campus.

Kenny Tran, a junior business administration major, is running for reelection as Class of 2026 senator. He did not deliver a speech last week due to scheduling conflicts, according to SGA president Lillian Sellers. 

Tran is joined on the ballot by current SGA senators Kyle Marzullo and Chase Garrison, who are also running for reelection. Marzullo represents the Class of 2027, while Garrison represents the Class of 2028.

In addition to those four candidates, students will also see several races with write-in as the only option. Not counting the two first-year senators which are elected in the fall, there are 14 elected senator positions. Despite this, only four valid petitions were turned in. 

Thursday’s speakers cited several causes for the lack of participation, including SGA’s office being located on the top floor of the CUB, unclear election procedures and a lack of public engagement.

Marzullo voiced support for expanding campus engagement by reviving past SGA committee structures. Specifically, he questioned the decision to eliminate the External Affairs Committee, which was designed to promote SGA’s work and connect with students.

He also called for recreating an external affairs committee focused on student outreach. SGA eliminated that committee recently in an effort to streamline SGA’s committee structure. Marzullo said that there had been “a lot of uneven efficiency” in how SGA restructured its committees. “That’s something we should change,” Marzullo said.

Ryan Mills, a sophomore chemistry major with a math minor, stands out as the only candidate on the ballot who doesn’t already serve on SGA. Mills is running to represent the College of Arts & Sciences, a role he hopes to use to bridge the gap between the both sides of the college. 

“There’s a big divide between the science majors and art majors,” Mills said. He noted that clubs like chemistry club and biology club often host events that are promoted mostly through internal channels. “If I wasn’t a part of bio club, if I didn’t know people in bio club, then I wouldn’t know about the event,” Mills said. 

Mills also pointed to communication as a central issue for SGA to address. He suggested improving SGA’s website, expanding outreach and creating better connections between academic departments and student clubs. Being accessible was another focus. “We should be out in the airport lounge, just talking to people,” Mills said.

Garrison, who represents the Class of 2028, emphasized his consistent SGA attendance and leadership background. Garrison echoed the call for being accessible, saying that even when students have concerns, they may not always know where to take them.

The candidates also addressed broader student concerns, including declining enrollment, fee transparency, difficulties with class registration and administrative turnover. 

Mills and others commented on the recent resignation of Provost Darrell Newton, calling for better communication and student representation during leadership transitions.

While some of the empty races may be filled by write-in candidates, the fall election cycle will likely see several vacant senator positions on the ballot.

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