SGA big three candidates discuss about R1 status, policies and more 

Andrew Courville 

Politics Writer

The first party running for Student Government Association (SGA) election is Impact. 

Onyeka Nwaezeapu is running for president, Brendan Daigle for vice president, and Zackari Rodgers for treasurer. 

Nwaezeapu, a junior biology major with minors in chemistry and kinesiology, spotlighted “fixing clocks in classrooms, collaborating with mental health resources with other universities around the state and inquiring about why online classes that are only offered online still have a fee” as the first three policies she’d look to implement amongst their platform. 

When asked about how the party plans to differentiate itself from others in the nation regarding the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s prestigious R1 status, Nwaezeapu explained, “we’re fighting for scholarly initiatives” and hopes to “incorporate town hall forums” so students can ask professors and faculty their questions of the University’s functions. 

Daigle, a sophomore majoring in computer science, expressed that to hold SGA accountable, he’d form “a developmental committee” made of SGA senators and then allow the student body to submit feedback forms on how to improve the university, which that committee would process. 

They’d also implement a virtual “Cajun Wallet” on one’s mobile device to allow any student “to get into the Caf, into your dorms, and also use it as a way to pay your fines” without worrying about having your Cajun Card at all times or signing into ULink. 

Finally, Daigle explained Impact’s plan for parking reforms, particularly for Greek Life, by ensuring that members of those organizations have their designated parking spaces on Fraternity and Sorority Row and at University sporting events. 

Rodgers put the spotlight on student fee transparency over how SGA funds are being used. 

This includes auditing fees and promoting resources that each organization provides. Rodgers stated, “no matter how big or small the organization may be, it’s still vitally important to this campus.” 

Kayla Woods-Crane 

News Writer

Evolve is the second party running for the 2025 Student Government elections. The party includes Ava Welborn, the presidential nominee, Sean Meyers, the vice presidential nominee and Robert Batarseh, the nominee for treasurer. Between them, they have been involved in several different organizations around campus. Welborn and Meyers are both SGA veterans, having participated in it for the past three years. 

Upon being elected into the position, Welborn said the party would prioritize mental health, wellness and athletics, the “M” and “A” of their “S.M.A.R.T.” goals. Welborn cited that despite being the second largest public university in the state, servicing 19,000 students, the Saucier Wellness Center only has six counselors. She also emphasized having up-to-date equipment at Bourgeois Rec Center. 

Lastly, Evolve wants to make sure student athletes are represented on campus. Currently, the Student-Athlete Academic Center is available for those students. 

The center provides tutoring services, academic mentors and allows student athletes to check out laptops and calculators if needed. 

Another goal of the party is improving technology on campus, the “T” of their “S.M.A.R.T.” goals. Improving the Wi-Fi on campus, updating technology and implementing AI into the day-to-day life of the University. 

During their respective parts of the forum, Meyers and Batarash both mentioned transparency and communication with students as an essential responsibility of being elected. If elected as vice president, Meyers said his main responsibility is to make sure members of the Senate are doing their job, adding that if senators aren’t, “then they shouldn’t be there.” 

Continuing with transparency, as treasurer, Batarseh wants students to know exactly where SGA funding is going. 

During the Spring 2025 semester, students paid a $7.50 fee to SGA. He plans on promoting surveys around campus in order to hear students’ feedback on how SGA is allocating their funds. 

Ramudhi Kariyawasam 

Managing Editor

This year is the first time in a while that the Student Government Association (SGA) has had an independent candidate run for president. 

Jaylen Carter is a junior majoring in psychology. She began at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Fall 2024. Carter was previously involved in SGA during her high school career, where she served as president during the last two years of high school at River Parishes Community College. 

At the forum, Carter shared, “I’ve always had a passion for helping my peers, helping others and bettering my academic achievement.” 

During the forum, the first question asked focused on how the party will elevate and differentiate the University as an R1 institution from others. 

Carter stated, “To me what it means, we hold our students to a completely different standard across all boards, and my party plans to elevate on those subjects by continuing to hold students to those standards by providing more opportunities for our students to do research and expanding the ways they can do research and ways that they could benefit them beyond just the classroom, beyond just the career.” 

The second question addressed which three policies would first be implemented if elected for office. One policy Carter wishes to implement is giving the student body a platform to amplify their voice. “I do feel that there are times when voices can get unheard, things can get muted, things can get muffled. So one of my biggest things would be to always be able to better accommodate student disputes.” 

The second policy Carter wishes to implement is “mental health awareness and pushing those initiatives to our students to help them understand that they’re here for them to use, to utilize.” 

The third policy Carter plans on implementing deals with parking reforms and educating the student body about the parking ticketing system. 

Lastly, when asked what the candidates wished the student body would know about why they are running for the next SGA president, Carter shared, “I have two years in my past occurring as an actual SGA president. […] I’ve always enjoyed being an advocate for not only myself, but for others. […] I find true joy in helping people find themselves. […] I’ve decided to make it my lifelong goal, my lifelong passion, to help others, motivate others, advocate for others; make not only this university, but the world, for as long as I’m in it, a […] much better place than I lived in.”