Students at Loyola University New Orleans will soon have the chance to run for positions in the university’s Student Government Association as the annual election process begins this March. The elections give students the opportunity to represent their peers and advocate for student concerns within the university’s leadership.

Applications for candidates opened March 6 and will close March 13. After candidates are notified on March 16, campaigning will run from March 23 through April 14. Students will vote between April 13 and April 16, and results will be announced April 17 during the university’s Crawfish in the Quad event.

SGA plays an important role on campus by representing the student body and communicating student concerns to faculty, staff, and university administrators. Leadership positions include president, vice president,senators at large (SALs), Chief of Staff, and leadership in different departments within the organization, each with different responsibilities that help the organization function and serve students.

Current SGA President Nicholas Keen said the main responsibility of the president is to advocate for students in spaces where major decisions are made.

“The whole point of the SGA president is to be the student advocate for faculty, staff, and higher representation,” Keen said. “I sit on the board of trustees for the year and serve on most committees on campus to make sure the student voice is heard.”

In addition to representing students, the president helps oversee SGA’s operations and works closely with the organization’s cabinet to delegate responsibilities and manage projects.

Keen described his experience in the role as rewarding but sometimes challenging, especially when balancing leadership duties with being a full-time student.

“Being a student should always take precedence,” Keen said. “Learning how to manage my time and separate friendships from leadership responsibilities was one of the hardest parts.”

Senators at large play another key role within SGA by representing specific colleges and helping students communicate with university leadership. 

Paris Hayes, a junior criminology major and current Speaker of the Senate, said senators at large often work directly with deans and administrators.

“The responsibility of an SAL is to serve as the liaison between the deans of your particular college and the student body,” Hayes said. “We also chair senate committees and act as a resource for students who want to voice concerns, share ideas, or seek guidance.”

Hayes said one of the most rewarding parts of the role has been working with university administrators to improve student engagement.

“One of my favorite parts was connecting with the dean and assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,” Hayes said. “Sharing ideas on how we can help better student engagement helped us come up with several ideas we hope to collaborate on in the future.”

However, Hayes said representing such a large student population can sometimes be difficult.

“One of the hardest parts is knowing it may be hard to ensure every single student voice is heard,” Hayes said. “But we try our best to make sure students, faculty, and the surrounding New Orleans community feel heard and represented.”

Senior Heaven Haney, a popular and commercial music major with a marketing minor, said her experience as a senator at large has been meaningful both professionally and personally.

“My experience as an SAL was very positive,” Haney said. “I was able to work and collaborate with such an amazing group of individuals who were hardworking and made the experience fun and inviting.”

Haney said teamwork within SGA helped make the role easier to manage.

“The responsibilities can be challenging at times, but it’s a collaborative effort with the vice president and the other SALs that makes the workload easier,” Haney said.

For Haney, the relationships she built were the most valuable part of the experience.

“My favorite part of being an SAL is definitely the connections I have made,” Haney said. “I was able to strengthen friendships with people already in SGA and meet new friends along the way.”

Students interested in running for office were invited to attend information sessions on March 2, March 3, and March 5. The sessions explained the roles available, how campaigning works and what SGA expects from potential candidates.

Current members of SGA encourage students who are interested in leadership to consider running.

“One piece of advice I would give students who are running is to stay active and be open,” Hayes said. “Not just with students but with faculty and staff also because their voice matters.”

Haney offered similar advice to future candidates.

“Just be yourself,” Haney said. “People look for authenticity, and as long as you stay true to who you are, everything will fall into place.”