As the Student Government elections approach, two executive tickets, titled Uplift UTD and ConnectUTD, have stepped forward, putting their bids in to claim the spots of SG’s next president and vice president. The SG election board is hosting an executive debate March 28 at 12 p.m. in the Student Union esports lounge, where candidates will have the opportunity to explain their platform and answer live questions from the audience. Voting opens electronically to all students March 31 and closes April 2.
Uplift UTD
Uplift UTD consists of computer science junior Farhan Iqbal and animation and games junior Lex Laviolette running for president and vice president respectively, both of whom are transfer students. Their platform consists of three facets: supporting, advocating for and listening to students. They hope to “uplift” student organizations by advocating for increased funding from the university, increasing storage room for organizations to store items and increasing communication between student organizations and the SG body.
Working in the Communications Committee, Iqbal led initiatives reaching out to organizations impacted by changes in DEI policies and has advocated for SG picking up and continuing events that the university no longer hosts because of policy changes. Both Iqbal and Laviolette believe supporting students will help grow and empower SG going forward.
“I think it’s so important to have active outreach to the communities the Student Government is meant to support,” Laviolette said. “Hopefully, if we were able to fulfill these roles, we would actively invite organizations to participate in Student Government, not just observe.”
Iqbal joined SG in fall 2023 and currently serves as the Communications Committee chair. Laviolette began her time in SG in the spring of 2023 and is currently a member of the same committee. She is also a member of the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta and currently serves as the interim VP of new member experience and VP of recruitment.
“Helping support building campus life and helping students in general have things that will support them is something that matters a lot,” Iqbal said.
As of publication, Uplift UTD has been endorsed by the following student organizations: Students for Justice in Palestine, Indian Student Association, Alpha Gamma Delta, UTD Undergraduate Law Review, John Marshall Pre-Law Society, UTD Kannada Sangha, Hansini UTD, The Fashion Club at UTD, Business Professionals of America at UTD, National Black Law Students Association, Association for Information Systems, Writing Without Purpose, Faces of African Muslims, Unicycle Club, Artificial Intelligence Society, Rainbow Guard UTD and Future Business Leaders of America.
ConnectUTD
ConnectUTD consists of neuroscience and psychology double major Giana Abraham and neuroscience sophomore David Baker running for president and vice president respectively. The ticket’s policies center on connecting students with state representatives, student organizations, resources and each other.
Both candidates have worked on hosting events such as a Texas congressional panel and the upcoming Richardson mayoral debate to get UTD students involved in state government.
“We want to continue to advocate for the student body with local and state representatives as well, and we also want to try and build a stronger sense of community and interconnect students to each other,” Baker said.
Abraham has been in SG for 2.5 years; in this time, she has served on four different committees, including the residential affairs, homecoming ad-hoc, fall elections board and communications committees, as well as three Academic Senate committees. She held the position of communications chair from 2023-2024. Outside of SG, she is involved in UEMR, the Honors Council and Comets Help. Baker has a similar repertoire with 2 years of SG experience, serving as legislative affairs chair from 2024-2025. He is currently a peer adviser at the Canyon Creek apartments and a member of the Freshman Mentor Program.
“A lot of what we want to do is try to take in more of these ideas from UTD students,” Baker said. ”So far, some of our biggest events have come from students who are not currently inside the student body.”
As of publication, ConnectUTD has been endorsed by the following student organizations: Bioethics UTD, UTD Service-dog in Training, Comet Cubing, Medical City Dallas Volunteers Club, South Asian American Voter Empowerment, Hearts for the Homeless, UNICEF at UTD, Actuarial Students Association, American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, University Blood Initiative, College Democrats at UTD, Comets for Better Transit, End Overdose at UT Dallas, Period Project, Malayali Comet Association, Organización Estudiantil de Español, Telugu Students’ Federation, UTD Historical Sword Fighting Guild and UTD Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students.
Both tickets have created Instagram accounts to advertise their platforms to those interested in learning more before the fast-approaching vote: @uplift.utd and @connectutd.giana.david. Those interested in participating in SG’s elective process may access the voting link through an email sent to all UTD student inboxes on the first day of elections.
After the SG elections conclude, the Graduate Student Assembly will have its campaigning period begin April 2, with in-person elections set to be held April 15.