Every year students at Southern Adventist University have the opportunity to run for Student Association (SA). For those looking to run this semester, applications are due on Jan. 31 by noon. The candidates will be announced on the Feb. 4. There are a few requirements when running for Student Association.
To run, candidates must secure 50 signatures in support of their campaign, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, be a Southern student and lastly, the student services committee has to approve the candidate running once applications have been turned in.
The positions available for candidacy this semester are SA president, executive vice president and social vice president. There are other positions included as well.
Vice President for Student Development Dennis Negrón said, “Those positions are parliamentarian, executive secretary, public relations director and assistant finance director. There’s an application process that occurs later in February for those positions.”
Negrón also said that being in Student Association can be busy, but he sees the great benefits it can have for students in the long run such as “[looking] very good on a resume, offer[ing] team-building opportunities [and] the chance to make a difference on campus.”
To those running this semester, the current SA President Rhidge Garcia has some advice. “My biggest piece of advice to these candidates is to listen,” Garcia said. “Listen to God, [and] listen to your fellow students.”
Negrón also offers his advice to students interested.
“Don’t be intimidated into not running,” he said. “If you believe you are being called to do so, then follow your heart.”
And for those chosen, Garcia stresses the importance of effective leadership.
“Always celebrate people for who they are, not what they do. People are valuable for their character, not what they create. This is empowerment.”