As students prepare to vote on Thursday, the sole ticket for Saint Mary’s student government is focused on increasing representation and improving campus life through a series of initiatives.
Juniors Daniela Rivera and Mila Curtis say their campaign aims to strengthen how the student government association serves students both within the organization and across campus.
Rivera, a math and civil engineering major and current director of internal affairs in SGA, pointed to her leadership experience as preparation for the role. She cited her work in the Residence Hall Association as a freshman and two years with the Belles Against Violence office.
“I have worked there for the past two years, and I feel like that has prepared me in a sense of what being a Smick means,” Rivera said. “Being in a leadership position is kind of like leading with purpose and doing your leadership with a certain purpose that leads toward service with heart.”
Curtis, an accounting major and SGA’s director of external affairs, said her experience has prepared her to advocate for students and navigate the demands of student leadership.
“Each of these roles has prepared me to serve effectively as student body vice president,” Curtis wrote in a statement to The Observer. “I have learned how to stay organized in fast-paced and often unpredictable environments, pivot when plans change and communicate effectively with diverse groups while advocating for student needs. Most importantly, I have developed the ability to listen intentionally and lead with empathy and purpose.”
The pair said they chose to run together because of their shared goals and complementary leadership styles.
“Our position is kind of shared, and we work so well together. We are such a dynamic duo,” Rivera said. “We both have passions for the same things and similar viewpoints. We see these leadership positions as a service opportunity and a way to give ourselves to students in a purposeful, fulfilling way.”
Curtis echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that their collaboration strengthens their campaign.
“Our collaboration has shown that we work exceptionally well as a team,” she wrote in a statement to The Observer. “We challenge each other’s ideas, build on one another’s strengths and approach problems with both creativity and practicality. What makes us the best fit is our balance. We bring leadership experience and a strong understanding of how student government operates, while also offering different perspectives that complement one another.”
Their campaign slogan is “Lead with purpose, serve with heart,” and their platform is built on three pillars: transparency and accountability, inclusion and belonging and innovation and campus experience.
Rivera said transparency is a key priority, particularly when it comes to student awareness of SGA decisions and funding.
“I know, for example, every year SGA donates something to the school and many students are not aware of those things,” Rivera said. “Since it’s their tuition money, they should be able to know what’s being done with it.”
To address this, the campaign proposes creating a centralized website hub where students can access updates, contact representatives and submit feedback. The platform would be developed over the summer and launched in the fall.
Their second pillar, inclusion and belonging, focuses on building connections across class years and increasing access to student government.
“We want to get freshmen involved within student government so they can foster that inclusion and get a head start on what SGA entails,” Rivera said. “Student government is a big part of that inclusive environment, and we want to strengthen that across different groups and classes.”
The pair plans to introduce an apprenticeship program to give freshmen insight into SGA before officially joining as sophomores.
Under their third pillar, innovation and campus experience, Rivera and Curtis outlined several initiatives aimed at improving student life.
“We want to have more purposeful events that help students grow inside and outside of the classroom,” Rivera said. “We also want to give students opportunities to advocate for the mission of the College as mission ambassadors.”
Dining services are a major focus within this pillar. They would like to work to ensure that Noble Family Dining Hall is opened during breaks as well as increase flexible dining options. They want the dining hall to have later hours during midterms and final weeks. Rivera said this was one of the major concerns shared by students with their campaign’s suggestion form, along with improved meal plan options.
“I know our main concern right now is meal plans,” Rivera said. “People want to see more flex points and fewer meal swipes. Not all students use all their swipes, and they would rather have more flexible dining options.”
Rivera also highlighted challenges students face during breaks, particularly for those who remain on campus.
“During breaks, there are not a lot of food options available,” she said. “Sometimes you have to go to Notre Dame to get food and that can be inconvenient.”
Mental health programming is another priority. Curtis said the campaign hopes to expand current efforts into a weeklong initiative during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Mental health is something Dani and I are deeply passionate about,” Curtis wrote in a statement to The Observer. “While the College currently has a day dedicated to mental health, there is not a full set of events or initiatives during that week. We want to collaborate with the College to create meaningful programming such as workshops, panels and awareness campaigns that both educate and support students.”
Beyond specific initiatives, Rivera and Curtis emphasized their broader goal of strengthening student engagement and ensuring students feel heard.
“Your vote matters. Your voice matters,” Rivera said. “I am very excited to lead with purpose and serve with heart alongside students and create a more accessible, inclusive environment and a stronger campus experience.”
Student body election results are expected to be announced Friday.
