Belen Yudess ’25
Social Media Manager
The 2022-23 Scripps Associated Students board has been elected and its members are ready to begin their term! Campaigning began on March 29, followed by the voting period which opened on April 6 and ended on April 8. Although a majority of the races were uncontested, there were five positions that had two candidates: SAS president (Kayla Solomon ’23 and Ana Rodriguez ’23), Judicial and Academic Review Chair (Rina Nagashima ’24 and Anabraha Singh ’25), Student Organizations Commissioner (Jane Lovett ’24 and Destiny Rivera-Gomez ’24), Junior class presidents (Katherine Meagor ’24/Madeline Safavi ’24 and Lily Dunkin ’24/Avalon Brice ’24) and Senior class presidents (Hannah Tiedemann ’23/Lily Natasha Wartman ’23 and Elaine Yang ’23/Ishi Gupta ’23). Results were announced on April 9, when Rodriguez was named the next SAS president.
Additional results of these races included the elections of Nagashima for judicial and academic review chair, Rivera-Gomez for student organizations commissioner, Dunkin/Brice for junior class co-presidents, and Yang/Gupta for senior class co-presidents.
The elections are a thoroughly established and straightforward process to ensure transparency for the student body. “The elections are done by a popular vote of the student body,” said current SAS Executive Vice President Emily McElroy ’22. “Candidates need to declare their candidacy, publicize their campaign, follow the campaign process rules, and complete a speech to have their name on the ballot.”
Along with voting for the SAS board, the ballot also included several initiatives on which the current SAS team wanted to gauge student opinion. This year, the initiatives ranged from Scripps’ divestment of fossil fuels to changing Scripps’ self-definition as a women’s college.
“It’s been super exciting to see the number of people running for SAS,” said current SAS President Maya Lynch ’22. “I was looking at the numbers from 2017-2018… and we have beaten all of those records for the number of students running for elected positions and for the number of contested elections … I hope that means students see SAS as a place to get involved, build community, and make change.”
Lynch’s statement about the incoming enthusiasm and passion embedded within next year’s board rings especially true for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is an environmental analysis and foreign languages dual major from Quito, Ecuador. They have served as the SAS Diversity and Inclusion Chair (DIC) and the Sustainability Chair in past years. Apart from SAS, Rodriguez is the co-head of the Scripps International Community and a resident coordinator.
Although Rodriguez is currently studying abroad in Italy, Lynch has noted that they have been in constant communication with her in order to prepare for this position. According to Rodriguez’s campaign speech, they have several concerns they want to address as president, including communication between students and administration, Core, and course registration.
“As president, I will hold administrators accountable for providing us with the level of education that we were promised by starting with simple steps, like providing enough classes for all students,” said Rodriguez. “I also will work alongside faculty who have expressed their concerns about core and its harmful impact on underrepresented students on campus, whether through restructuring or through an entire reimagination of its curriculum.”
Rodriguez also states that their past work and current studies in environmental analysis will also play a significant role in the types of projects that they would like to focus on throughout their term. “I will also work with all of the sustainability and environmental justice clubs at Scripps [and the other] 5Cs to continue to set concrete actions to ensure Scripps divests from fossil fuels and represents its students’ beliefs and activism for environmental and social justice.”
Reflecting on their past as a member of SAS, Rodriguez believes that the lessons they have learned and the experiences they have had have molded them into a better leader. “Serving in these positions has allowed me to advocate for a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive institution,” said Rodriguez. “As well as promote student activism and improve dialogue between administrators, and students regarding sustainability campaigns programs and our commitments.”
Ultimately, Rodriguez strives to advocate for students and ensure that the voices of the Scripps community are uplifted. “I am committed to raising your opinions, your needs regarding the well being of all students, and advocating for a campus that reflects students’ values, ideals and activism.”
This past year, SAS has been successful in addressing student concerns, supporting CLORGS, and hosting several exciting events in order to keep up morale. They are a group of dedicated students who truly want the best for the Scripps community. Although elected positions have been filled, SAS offers application-based positions in the fall.
As the 2021-2022 SAS seniors prepare to graduate, McElroy reaffirms her love for SAS and encourages others to get involved.
“SAS is an amazing organization,” she said. “It’s such a fun thing to join while you’re at Scripps and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s even remotely interested!”
Image Source: Emily McElroy ’22 and Maya Lynch ’22
