Your Voice, Your Campus

Welcome to SGA Insider!

We are excited to share with you SGA Insider, the official source for updates on everything happening in your Student Government Association! From new initiatives and events to important decisions and ways to get involved, SGA Insider keeps you connected to the work your student leaders are doing on your behalf.

Executive Branch

For questions regarding the Executive Branch remark, you may contact the sga@wichita.edu.

Out-going Student Body President & Vice President - Jia Wen Wang & Amy Nguyen

As the Wang-Nguyen Administration transitions out with the closing of the 68th Session, Vice President Nguyen and I wanted to take some time to thank the Student Body for entrusting us with leading the Student Government Association this year. Although we ran uncontested, you all went to the polls and set record turnout numbers. For Amy and I, the voter turnout wasn’t just numbers on a screen, it was the trust, faith, and support in the Wang-Nguyen Administration.

The Wang-Nguyen Administration has had incredible achievements, from securing funding for a Student Legal Services Program, which will provide free legal counseling to students, to the Vision Care Clinic, which provided free vision check-ups and glasses to students in need. While these achievements have been critical to addressing the needs of the students, the work is not done. Just as you have all supported us in our initiatives, I invite you all to do the same in the 69th Session for the Island-Raju Administration.

Amy and I would also like to take some time to thank our Cabinet, the Senate, and the Supreme Court for their support, engagement, and collaboration with us. Without them, Amy and I would not have had a successful year. They have been crucial in ensuring that student voices were heard at each and every meeting, creating initiatives that truly serve the student population, and bringing in new perspectives on the student experience.

Amy has served for 3 years, and I have served for 4 years in Student Government, making this goodbye to you all bittersweet. However, we know that the Island-Raju Administration will be intentional, engaged, and present for the Student Body. It is time for Amy and I to hand over the duties and responsibilities of the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President.

With the honor and privilege of a lifetime, this concludes the Wang-Nguyen Administration.

Legislative Branch

For questions regarding the Legislative Branch remark, you may contact the sga@wichita.edu.

Out-going Speaker of the Senate - Matthew Phan

Hello Shockers!

My name is Matthew Phan, and it was my honor and privilege to serve as your 68th Speaker of the Student Senate for the Student Government Association for the 68th Session! This year, our Student Senate has accomplished several notable initiatives and legislation. The Senate has reviewed and passed over 160 pieces of legislation including establishing an SGA International Mentorship Program, Funding the Shocker Fridge Program, the Student Legal Services Program, and the Vision Care Initiatives, re-establishing and amending the Child Development Center and University Police Department Advisory Boards, establishing a scholarship for Rural Graduate Students, approving the allocations for Appropriations and Student Fees, among several other amazing pieces of legislation! Additionally, the Senate urged the University to take actionthrough several Association Resolutions including supporting the TRIO Programs, adding and recognizing International Holidays, addressing the University’s Inclement Weather policies, updating and adding resources to syllabi, and supporting and recognizing the Fundamentals of Engineers Exam Student Passers.

Additionally, this Session, our Senate faced significant challenges regarding restructuring the Student Senate and many of the Association’s Bylaws. The Senate ultimately amended the Association’s Bylaws regarding Agencies and Underserved Senator Seats. In addition to the Agency and Senator seat changes, the Senate restructured the Senate Standing Committees to five committees: Academic Services, Student Support Services, Student Experiences and Belonging, Government Oversight, and Senate Affairs and Operations and added the new position of deputy speaker to improve Senate retention, engagement, and belonging for future Sessions.

This year, I ran as Speaker on three main platforms: Intentionality, Senator Retention, and Outreach. This Session, our Student Senate has significantly expanded our efforts in engagement through persistent tabling events in junction with the Executive Branch, mandatory events for Senators, regular 1:1s between Senators and Senate Leadership, and established intentional strategic planning and goals strategies for each committee. Additionally, through outreach efforts, over 11 new Senators were appointed to the Student Senate after the Fall Elections, many of which will continue to serve in the 69th Session.

I am proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish this Session, and I am incredibly excited to see the work that next Session will accomplish! We couldn’t have been able to accomplish any of these initiatives without my wonderful Senate Leadership Team (Former Academic Affairs Chairperson Nazanin Kasirosafar, Interim Academic Affairs Chairperson Andrew Beam, Diversity, Empowerment, and Inclusion Chairperson Jasmine Peng, Government Oversight Chairperson Abdullah Tiwana, Student Services Chairperson Riley Hansen, and Clerk of the Student Senate Isiah Tiongson) in addition to all of the Senators who have served the Student Body this Session! For the final time, it has been a pleasure to serve as the Speaker of the Senate for the 68th Session!

Go Shocks!

Matthew Phan, Engineering Senator & Speaker of the Student Senate for the 68th Session

Elected 69th Session Senators

Adult Learner

Ella Rundquist

At-Large

Ismail Saeed

Business

Adán Parker
Brayden Short
Jamie Winslow
Ryan Whalen

Education

Caiden Berry

Engineering

Alex Le
Erin Vance
Kabir Bhakta
Matthew Phan
Sania Mohib

Health Professions

Eiden Hinojosa

Honors

Andrew Beam
Erin Tims

International

Zainab Tariq

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Alani Bland
Amanur Rahman
Braedan Miller
Case Brown
Grace Naylor
Josh Mallard

Out-of-State

Ashly Artiaga Sevill

Judicial Remarks

For questions regarding the Judicial Branch remark, you may contact the sga@wichita.edu.

Outgoing Chief Justice - Lesly Hernandez

To my fellow Shockers,

I want to first and foremost begin by thanking each of you for trusting me to serve in this capacity. Although you did not directly elect me, I am still grateful to each of you for every conversation and interaction. The past two sessions have allowed me to truly serve the Shocker community through my passions for language, justice, and equity. I carry each of your stories with me and I am so blessed to have an experience from my college career that makes graduation bittersweet.

When I stepped foot on WSU’s campus my freshman year, I was worried about joining SGA. Although I yearned to serve in a capacity that allowed me to advocate for students, I allowed for the negative rhetoric to influence my desire. Eventually, I decided to join the Supreme Court and I have never regretted that decision. My predecessor, Maureen Wetta, and other members in SGA truly made me feel welcome. I witnessed firsthand what it meant to serve students with integrity and passion.

I ran for Chief Justice the first time because I wanted to help improve the SGA environment while ensuring students and SGA branches abided by the Constitution. I ran again for Chief Justice because I fell in love with the student body and knew that I would be honored to continue preserving our Association’s Constitution.

I have met so many people in SGA, throughout many sessions, that have truly touched my life in ways I cannot explain. I leave this campus with high energy and a renewed hope for the future. Although my role, and many of my other roles on campus involved advocacy, I also understand that the only experience I can truly speak on is my own. Your stories influence mine but when I have spoken about the unique experiences of you as my peers and constituents, I share them because I truly care about what it really means to be a Shocker.

Wichita State is a unique institution made up of a diverse student body. Students may have families, multiple full time jobs, long commutes, and diverse backgrounds. All of these factors combine to create a campus full of vibrancy and resilience. Thank you for allowing me to witness your stories — it has been heartwarming to see you all succeed.

If I had to share some advice, it would be to know when your experiences are worth sharing and when someone else should have the podium. Your story matters but so does everyone else’s. Never forget what it means to listen and truly respect other people. Be open to change and acknowledge when your ways are wrong. Life is about learning from your experiences. Make mistakes but also make the changes necessary to be a better person. Never settle for mediocracy, but never strive for greatness off the backs of other people.

Thank you again for the past two sessions. I am sad to go but I am even more excited to leave you in the hands of Chief Justice-elect Vincent Duong!

With so much Shocker Pride,

Lesly Hernandez-Olivas

Incoming Chief Justice - Vincent Duong

Hello everyone!

As we close the 68th session and look ahead to the 69th, I figured I would introduce myself! My name is Vincent Duong, and it’s my honor to be your Chief Justice for SGA’s 69th session.

Just two months ago, I spoke at the Senate for my appointment as an Associate Justice. Back then, I stated that the judicial branch played a unique role by using justice and accountability to help improve student’s experiences on campus, and that belief has only grown stronger during my time with the Court.

Now, as I stand before you as your future Chief Justice, I wish to reemphasize the four values that will guide my term: accountability, impartiality, confidentiality, and community. Accountability reflects our obligation to be dependable to the students we serve and ensuring that every student feels confident that the Court will uphold justice whenever it is necessary. Impartiality is to make sure every case is evaluated without bias and is grounded in the governing documents. Confidentiality is what safeguards the integrity of the Court. It allows students to come forward and know that their concerns will be handled with the importance and respect it deserves. Without trust in the Court, the judicial process can not function like it is meant to.

However, above all, community is the value that binds everything else together. A Court is only as strong as the students who believe in it and feel like their concerns are being heard. This value of community and comfortability is what transforms this branch from just a judicial body to trusted advocates for students. Ultimately, I firmly believe that the kind of court we build for students is the most important factor of the success it will hold. I’m ready to continue the strong work of previous Courts while also shaping a Court that is student-centered and led by the aforementioned values. I encourage any student who is interested in learning more or anyone with questions to send an email to sga.supremecourt@wichita.edu!

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