This Student Government Association election season, more students are running to become student senators than ever before, with a record number of senate seats available.
Senators have many different responsibilities according to Amber Yanez, current internal vice president of SGA. She said senators not only attend meetings and write legislation, they are a voice for the student body.
Tanner Luehrs is running to be an at-large senator under the STRIVE campaign.
Yanez said a Senate Seat Reapportionment Act is passed each year to increase seats along with university enrollment.
According to the Student Government Association Constitution, each college is allowed senate representation proportionate to the number of students within the college, with a minimum of two senators. There is also nine at-large positions, who represent the student body as a whole.
Student senators are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA and must be enrolled in 12-credit hours. Micheal Gunn, SGA election commissioner, said close to 160 students have applied to become senators this year and only three did not meet the requirements to run.
Tanner Luehrs, a junior finance major, is running with the Strive campaign bloc to become an at-large senator. He said he noticed that the candidates for the Strive campaign truly love Texas Tech.
“It’d be an honor to represent all of those students,” Luehrs said.
He is running because he has an interest in public service, he said, but also because he loves Texas Tech and the student body.
Shanea Swack is running to be a senator for the College of Media and Communication under the OneTech campaign.
“When anyone asks me what I love most about Tech, my answer is always the people,” Luehrs said.
Shanae Swack, a freshman public relations major, is running to be a senator for the College of Media & Communication with the OneTech 2016 campaign.
She said she originally got involved in SGA through freshman council and got to attend senate meetings.
“Each senator was so passionate,” Swack said. “They did a good job and made such a difference.”
Swack decided to run because she always wanted to leave a mark and make a difference at Texas Tech. She supports the OneTech 2016 campaign bloc because she feels the candidates are knowledgable and prepared to lead the student body.
Yanez said she is happy there is a record number of senators running, because each year SGA does a better job of giving back to the university and promoting initiatives that are being worked on.
“This university’s administration really does function with its students as the number one priority,” Yanez said.
She said the leadership, time management and communication skills senators learn are irreplaceable.
“Being a senator not only introduces you to a great group of hard working students on campus, but it provides you with the opportunity to the a part of something bigger than yourself,” Yanez said. “It’s so much more than just something you put on a resume.”
About Maddy McCarty
