At the start of the semester, the Undergraduate Student Government Association(USGA) opened applications for three open Senate seats that were vacant as a result of recent graduations. Prospective senators had the opportunity to apply for a seat representing the School of Health Professions, Collat School of Business, or College of Arts & Sciences. In the USGA’s first meeting of the semester, selected applicants were asked to deliver a two-minute speech to the Association’s voting body. In their speeches, many candidates chose to detail their platform, as well as potential policies and initiatives that they would pursue if granted office.

Following the speeches, a vote was taken on each of the three open seats and the results were available the next day.

Sophomore biomedical sciences major Aaric Ronalds was selected to represent the School of Health Professions. His campaign was centered around assisting SHP students in managing burnout and stress, as well as the principle of “life-changing care”, which he said had three main components. Focusing not only on healing the body but also on mental, emotional, and social well-being, valuing and protecting cultures, backgrounds, and past experiences, and treating others with empathy and dignity.

Representing the College of Arts & Sciences is junior neuroscience major Isaac Choi. His platform was built on encouraging sustainable practices within the CAS, as well as improving students’ access to information about organizations, clubs, and other opportunities on campus. His inspiration for joining the Senate came from first-hand experience of how the USGA has enacted change for students, as well as a desire to serve as a voice for students and ensure that each student’s ideas and concerns are considered.

The Collat School of Business will see the return of a familiar face in junior business management, Ashley Nguyen. She recently returned from a semester spent in Washington, D.C., and has been involved with USGA since her freshman year. She said that her previous experience in serving as a Senator to the School of Business informed her decision to run again: “Community involvement has always been a top priority for me, [and] after returning [to UAB], I knew I wanted to continue supporting and advocating for my UAB communities through theUSGA Senate.”

The student body looks forward to seeing how each candidate’s platform will impact the univeristy.