Students elect new SGA president
Elise Maloney
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News
As one SGA president says his goodbyes, another gears up for her run as the president of the student body.
Maritess Banez, a junior nursing major, entered the senate during the second semester of her freshman year. She explained that she joined SGA because she had some friends that were involved and wanted to see what it was all about. She had been a part of her high school student government and wanted to see how a college student government would differ.
"(Being in SGA) is something I really like," Banez said. "It is more involved than high school student government."
Born in Chicago, Banez has realized that students are the "key" to making their school work. She is involved in Alpha Delta Pi, Student Friendship Program and Relay for Life. She also works as a resident assistant at University Village and was an orientation leader last fall.
"Being involved in a lot of different things on campus, I have gotten to hear both sides of pretty much any argument," Banez said. "I have gotten to hear people's voices, and seeing all the new freshman and transfer students, you hear a lot about things they did at their colleges and what they want to see done."
Her involvement on campus is exactly what current president of SGA, Andre Goodman, said he believes will allow Banett to pull more students in. According to Goodman, Banez is more social than he is, and she has the ability to make SGA a more exciting institution.
"Her big smile and physical enthusiasm will get students interested in SGA," Goodman said. "She puts a different face on SGA."
The most difficult aspect of SGA that Banez said she has had to overcome is learning how the university system works.
When asked about her plans to recruit future members of SGA, Banez said she believes that the biggest challenge facing SGA recruitment has always been creating an awareness of it.
"Getting students to stay and get involved in things is a hard task to do," she said.
Maritess Banez, a junior nursing major, entered the senate during the second semester of her freshman year. She explained that she joined SGA because she had some friends that were involved and wanted to see what it was all about. She had been a part of her high school student government and wanted to see how a college student government would differ.
"(Being in SGA) is something I really like," Banez said. "It is more involved than high school student government."
Born in Chicago, Banez has realized that students are the "key" to making their school work. She is involved in Alpha Delta Pi, Student Friendship Program and Relay for Life. She also works as a resident assistant at University Village and was an orientation leader last fall.
"Being involved in a lot of different things on campus, I have gotten to hear both sides of pretty much any argument," Banez said. "I have gotten to hear people's voices, and seeing all the new freshman and transfer students, you hear a lot about things they did at their colleges and what they want to see done."
Her involvement on campus is exactly what current president of SGA, Andre Goodman, said he believes will allow Banett to pull more students in. According to Goodman, Banez is more social than he is, and she has the ability to make SGA a more exciting institution.
"Her big smile and physical enthusiasm will get students interested in SGA," Goodman said. "She puts a different face on SGA."
The most difficult aspect of SGA that Banez said she has had to overcome is learning how the university system works.
When asked about her plans to recruit future members of SGA, Banez said she believes that the biggest challenge facing SGA recruitment has always been creating an awareness of it.
"Getting students to stay and get involved in things is a hard task to do," she said.
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