a better parking
At the end of the day, the SGA has no power over the decisions made regarding parking regulations. The Student Court is actively advocating for students' needs and problems through the Parking Committee. What no other candidate is going to tell you is that the key for the SGA to contribute to more efficient parking is through our SGA Shuttle Service. The mission of the SGA Shuttle is to primarily alleviate parking by allowing students from nearby apartment complexes to substitute their daily driving with transportation on our SGA Shuttles, decreasing the number of vehicles driven to campus on a daily basis.
During Ander’s term, he implemented and succeeded by implementing the initiative to expand the shuttle network from 5 shuttles to 8, allowing for more routes to serve the student body, increasing reliability, and enhancing efficiency on busier routes. At the same time, he worked with university administration to have them provide and cover the costs for the MicaPlex shuttle, which did not incur any expenses for the SGA.
Late
Night
Studies
An initiative launched by Ander and Teshome, “Late Night Studies,” provides students with a welcoming space to study while enjoying complimentary food, energy drinks, and caffeinated beverages. Designed to foster productivity during late-night hours, this initiative creates an environment where students can truly rely on support when they need it most.
During the Fall 2024 semester, “Late Night Studies” successfully hosted themed nights featuring popular options like Raising Cane’s, Chick-Fil-A, ramen, and other remarkable food offerings. Over 500 students participated in just four days, benefiting from a comfortable setting perfect for relaxation and focus during finals week. This initiative exemplifies the unwavering support and service that Ander and Teshome have consistently provided to the student body, which continues to thrive this year under the leadership of Ander and Gio. Experience the difference with “Late Night Studies” this upcoming finals week for the Spring 2025 semester
BUIDLING COmmunity
“This year, one of the most difficult aspects of being YOUR SGA President is bridging the gap with students who have had a previous bad experience with the SGA and are now being introduced to the new SGA. When the SGA and a good portion of the student body connect through different platforms and mediums, a sense of community is created, allowing us to achieve better and bigger things. This year has resembled that, as not only me, but other SGA officials have been in the spotlight to drive attention, awareness, and engagement to YOUR SGA.”
-Ander Turueno Garcia, SGA President 2024-2025
Ever since taking office, the SGA has engaged with more students through social media, hosted more events for core groups of students on campus, and provided assistance to students in emergency situations, among other initiatives.
What other things happened?
SGA Division AUdits
During Ander’s term, the SGA has conducted several audits for a greater imapct to the Student Body:
At the beginning of his term as SGA President in the summer of 2024, Ander conducted an audit that revised the WIKD 102.5 impact on the student body, outlining their objective influence within the community. This provided more accountability, better utilization of the SGA funds allocated to them, and sparked the initiative for new services.
The SGA Treasurer, together with Ander, initiated the SGA Division Audit for Finances. This initiative reviews all division spending and identifies expenses, services, or events that are not being utilized properly. The goal is to reallocate those resources to areas where we can positively impact the student body. This audit is still ongoing but has highlighted the SGA divisions' overspending and promotes a more conscious use of SGA funds.
BEtter Representation for Student Veterans
Since the beginning of his campaign, Ander promised a more unified community that includes traditional students and veteran students. What not many students understand is that veteran students come to college as a transition back to civilian life or to gain expertise in other industries. Veteran students have a lived other experiences in life compared to traditional student, making engagement with traditional students hard and sometimes difficult to break into the culture. Ander has increased this engagement and represents their concerns and needs by launching socials with veterans, attending their events, and constantly communicating with the Student Veteran Organization.
More accountable SGA
During this past term, we have observed different examples of accountability.
It has been reported that there was spending without approval by certain SGA officials; accountability was taken, even if it was a mistake. Thanks to the procedures and protocols implemented this year by the SGA President, SGA Treasurer, and Student Treasury, accountability was applied.
Accountability has also been observed with SGA officials who did not engage in performing their job or did not act in good faith in their duties.
We currently uphold SGA divisions to redirect their attention to a service-driven mission for the student body.
S’mores & SMiles
This initiative started by gathering Orientation Team and SGA in an initiative to drive students to come to the Student Leadership Suite to engage with SGA and O-Team while enjoying free S’mores. This is sponsored by the SGA and organized and executed by the O-Teamers. On average this initiative has welcomed over 100 students per week into the office.
Valentines Day Roses
This initiative was started when Ander served as the SGA Vice President in which the purpse is to lift student’s spirits during Valenties Day by giving a free rose to any student we encounter during that day. This spring 2024 semester, we were able to hand out 1,300 roses for all students on-campus.
SGA shuttle expansion
The groundwork started this semester by initiating strategic planning focused on structuring the continuous growth of the SGA Shuttle. The aim is not only to increase passenger capacity but also to establish a more reliable and expanded network, ensuring the shuttle system is sustainable in the long term. This includes evaluating current routes, optimizing schedules, and incorporating feedback from users to enhance service quality. Through these efforts, the SGA Shuttle aspires to meet the growing demands of our community while prioritizing efficiency and environmental responsibility.
MOre Representation for Student Athletes
Since Savanna Sheahan (SGA President 2022-2023), the relationship and representation for Student Athletes have been expanded. This effort has not only increased the representation of Student Athletes but also supported this valuable aspect of ERAU during their greatest moments by hosting tailgates and incentivizing students to support their fellow athletic Eagles. Although this initiative faced challenges in garnering support in the term between Ander and Savanna, it has been revitalized during this term to ensure continuous support for student athletes, further expanding this collaboration.
Sponsor more events and projects
Ander, through the SGA Executive Board, has been able to support different RSOs and/or student projects that enhance their impact on their respective communities. This support has been extended to organizations that benefit all degree programs at ERAU through events and projects sponsored by the SGA, but organized by the RSO.
More Branding of the SGA
Branding for an organization is crucial. Prior to Ander’s term, we observed an SGA that lacked engagement with students regarding the services we provide to the Student Body. During his administration, he has significantly enhanced the branding of SGA services, which now includes the shuttle service, funding for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) from the SGA Executive Board fund, among others. It is essential for students to understand what the SGA actually does and how our fee is reflected in the services we deliver. This is one of the reasons we are increasing our engagement on social media platforms.
More Transparent SGA
With the engagement Ander and Teshome have facilitated on-campus, transparency has been greatly enhanced. This is achieved not only through the uploading of meeting minutes to the SGA CampusGroups but also by providing regular updates to the student body through in-person discussions and social media channels. The approach taken ensures that students are not only informed but also empowered to participate in the governance process. By fostering open communication and encouraging feedback, Ander and Teshome have set a precedent for accountability, making it easier for students to understand the decision-making processes that affect their community. Ultimately, their efforts contribute significantly to a more engaged and informed student body, which is essential for effective leadership within the SGA.
Feeback to Sodexo
Since the Fall of 2024, Ander has engaged in a closer collaboration with Sodexo to provide valuable feedback regarding the food options being served on campus. This initiative aims to incorporate a student perspective, highlighting the preferences and desires of the student body for potential changes. Throughout this partnership, the Student Government Association (SGA) has been invited to contribute its insights and viewpoints on various initiatives driven by either Sodexo or the University Administration. This collaborative effort not only enhances the dining experience but also fosters a stronger connection between students and campus dining services.
Micaplex Shuttle
At the beginning of Ander’s term, he swiftly enhanced the partnership between the university administration and the SGA. One of the prevailing challenges on campus was the disconnect between the Research Park and the main campus. With a vision for greater connectivity, he took initiative during the summer to implement a groundbreaking agreement for the SGA shuttle to facilitate transport to the MicaPlex. Remarkably, the university covered all costs associated with the shuttle, allowing the SGA to contribute to this initiative without spending any of our funds. This decisive action not only improved accessibility but also fostered a spirit of collaboration, setting a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together for the greater good for the Student Body.
More Representation for ROTC Students
Since Ander was appointed to serve as YOUR SGA Vice President in Spring of 2024, he has supported better representation for ROTC students. During his tenure, he created the position of ROTC Senator, allowing this previously unrepresented group of students to have a greater voice and access to services. Not only through the Student Senate, but Ander has also included representation from all ROTC branches in his President’s Cabinet. This involvement has enabled him to attend events, meet with ROTC cadets, and better understand their needs and areas for improvement in representation.
Free Resume Printing Station
During the Fall 2024 semester, the SGA President’s Cabinet launched another initiative to support our fellow Eagles in their professional journey by hosting the free SGA Resume Printing Station during the Career Expo. This initiative was designed to provide a complimentary resume printing station for students, ensuring they are well-prepared to present their resumes to recruiters who may play a pivotal role in their future careers in aviation or aerospace. By offering this service, we empowered students with the resources they need to make a strong impression in their professional endeavors.
Better availabilty of Free Femenine Products
At the beginning of Ander’s term, one of the key issues raised was the lack of availability of free feminine hygiene products throughout the week in women's restrooms. One of the critical problems is that the use of the product is not in a supplemental mindset but rather a restock service. While this problem has been addressed on a smaller scale by increasing the amount of product offered, it still falls short. The initiative that has taken place during this term, is the implementation of a FREE product dispenser, which will help reduce the amount used and redirect its purpose to serve as a supplemental service.
Support For international Students
Ander, being an international student himself, advocates for better representation of international students on campus. With the help of other SGA officials and Teshome, we have been able to support students facing difficult situations by directing them to the appropriate staff on campus or providing advice as international students with vast experience on campus. Ander has also supported cultural events for different international students, such as the Ramadan Iftar Dinner for Muslim students, the ISO Thanksgiving Dinner, and other events that the SGA has sponsored.