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.
One of Banez’s goals for the future, she explained, is to see everyone on campus come together and get involved in one way or another. She said that she hopes to see a member from every major and organization be a part of SGA. One problem Banez said she thinks keeps students away is not having quick results.
“It is hard for students to not see the changes they want instantly,” Banez said. “They expect it to happen ‘like that’ and be implemented (quickly), and some things (happen quickly). We did a microwave resolution (to add one in University Hall), and that is something we have done instantly. It is there now, running. The other things that have not changed are taking time.”
For example, Banett has been a part of an investigation on the Humanities program on campus. She has compared how the classes are structured with other schools and has found that when students transfer, sometimes their humanities credits do not always follow them.
Therefore, according to Banez, many students postpone these classes, not wanting to spend two semesters on classes that will not benefit them. In the end, the structure was not changed, but the debate did last for “quite a while,” according to Banez.
As Banett beings to embark on a new position at the university, she gives this advice to students.
“College is what you make it. If all you do is come to class and leave, then that is all you will get out of college. If you become involved, you will get more out of it.”