The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

SGA senators juggle school and life responsibilities

By Erica Martinez

Student Government Association inducted six students on Sept. 25 into the Student Senate during its regular bi-weekly meeting. In addition to welcoming new members, SGA gave an overview of current and future events including University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson’s Inauguration Week, Texas A&M Spurs Basketball Night, and the school’s Fall Fest.

Texas A&M Spurs Night is an upcoming event planned by SGA. The Spurs Media Group will be on campus during Fall Fest to sell tickets to an upcoming Spurs game. The SGA encourages students, faculty and staff to buy tickets and to wear Texas A&M University-San Antonio gear to the game.

Fall Fest, a community festival will be held Oct. 24. It’s a festival where local clubs/groups on campus will be selling items such as raspas, corn and other delicious treats.

Meet The Senators

The newly elected senators are Noland Arocha, Adrienne Reyes, Christopher Vasquez and David Flores from the College of Arts and Sciences, and Hector Soto and Esther Ramsey in the College of Education and Human Development. The senators explained who they are, and what they’re doing to represent the study body this semester.

Bilingual childhood education student Hector Soto was sworn in as a senator for the Student Government Association on Sept. 25. Apart from being an SGA member, he is also a member of Omega Delta Chi.
Senior bilingual early childhood education major Hector Soto was sworn in on Sept. 25. He is also a member of Omega Delta Phi. Photo by Ami Garza.

Hector Soto

A senior education major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Hector Soto said he’s studying to be a bilingual early childhood through sixth grade educator. Originally from Farmersville, Texas, a small city located outside of Dallas, he transferred to A&M-San Antonio from Northwest Vista College.

“I wanted to run for SGA senator because I want to be the voice that speaks for the students,” Soto said. “Most of the students don’t speak out about the problems they face. The students need to be heard and I know I can represent the College of Education and Human Development.”

Soto can be regularly seen raising money for his fraternity,  Omega Delta Phi. Hector also participates in other groups around campus including the Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO) and is a big brother in Sigma Delta Lambda, A&M-San Antonio’s first sorority on campus

As an Air Force veteran, he spends his free time helping other veterans move and transition.

“I like to help because some of these veterans don’t have family around,” he said. “I want to be there to help.”

 

Senior Biology student Adrienne Reyes is one of the newest SGA senators who was inducted on Sept. 25, 2015.
Senior biology student Adrienne Reyes is one of the newest SGA senators who was inducted on Sept. 25, 2015. Photo by Ami Garza.

Adrienne Reyes

Reyes’ diverse interests keep her busy while on campus. Outside of her studies, she dedicates time to the campus’ LGBTQ Coalition, the Biology Club, serves as the social chair of Sigma Delta Lambda, a Jaguar Ambassador and hopes to win the crown of  Ms. A&M-San Antonio this fall.

Free time? She doesn’t have much.

“I usually spend most of my free time on campus because I’m always here,” she said, laughing.

A San Antonio native, Reyes transferred to A&M-San Antonio from The University of North Texas and also attended Palo Alto College. She’s a senior biology major with teacher certification.

“While working in the Student Activities Office I noticed our president, Allison, was very busy and I wanted to help her, that’s why I ran for student senate,” she said.

During SGA’s last meeting, Reyes volunteered to be on the Constitution Review Committee and her first order is to change the date of SGA’s current meetings from Friday to another day.

 

Business administration senior Noland Arocha was recently elected senator of the Student Government Association.
Business administration and communications senior Noland Arocha was recently elected senator of the SGA. Photo by Ami Garza.

Noland Arocha

Noland Arocha, a senior double majoring in communications and business. He transferred from the University of Texas at San Antonio and plans to attend graduate school in Spring 2016.

During his free time, Noland likes to check out fast cars, play the accordion, produce music, travel and eat exotic foods.

His plans for SGA are student health, safety, nutrition, finance management, facilitating a student environment beneficially conducive to academic excellence and preparation for entering graduate school/job market.

Doing my part in improving a more profound emphasis in academic performance, university core values, morals, ethics, and students becoming leaders and pioneers in the student body, Arocha said when asked about why he wanted to run for SGA senate. “To ensure Texas A&M-San Antonio students are at the forefront of impacting the very evolution our university as well as society and tomorrow’s USA.”

 

 

Junior political science student David Flores was inducted as an SGA senator on Sept. 25, 2015.
Junior political science student David Flores was inducted as an SGA senator on Sept. 25, 2015. Photo by Ami Garza.

David Flores

David Flores, a junior political science major and criminology minor hopes to become an SGA officer one day. He transferred to A&M-San Antonio from Palo Alto College.

Flores performs a juggling act with work and school. He has two jobs. One being at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the other is for Heavenly Gourmet, a catering company. He also actively attends church on his free time.

“At first I didn’t want to run because I felt like I didn’t have time for it but since the school is still forming and I want to instill tradition and make as many traditions as possible, “ Flores said.

 

Editor’s Note:  Esther Ramsey and Christopher Vasquez were unavailable for comment. Noland Arocha was a staff writer for The Mesquite and is a current contributor. 

About the Author

Erica Martinez
Throughout my life, I’ve heard people tell me that the bad people come from the South Side of San Antonio. I went into Communications so I can be that voice that’s telling future generations that you can be anything you want to be. Coming from the “bad side” of town doesn’t mean you won’t amount to anything. I’m proud of who I am, where I come from, and it will always keep me humble. In my senior year of high school I lost my father which forced me to work so I could help my mom pay the bills since she received government assistance. I’ve held a few jobs from working at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Furr’s Buffet, Speedy’s Chicken and finally settling at H-E-B. Working and going to school has been tough on me since my time is stretched but I've learned to manage my time whether it be waking up early before work to complete my classwork, or moving my work schedule around to do my part on a group project. I’m in my last year of college which I never thought would come. I’ve had a few setbacks, but that didn’t stop me from pursuing my goals.

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