The Student Government Association (SGA) is one of the most important and active groups on campus. Its members strive to organize social and extracurricular activities, as well as programs and events on and off campus, while representing the voice of all undergraduate Franklin students.
Here are this year's SGA representatives - friendly faces - and what they have in store.
Jonathan Bystrowski, President, Class of 2022
What are your ambitions as part of SGA?
I am extremely excited to be elected the next student government president. I want SGA as an organization to be present as much as we can to always be available for all students, even if that means sitting down to hear what students have to say in a short conversation in the hallway. I have many things that I want to work on starting this semester, but the two that are most important and that I hope SGA will accomplish are:
- Having a year of recovery after a strenuous and very slow year and a half, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means organizing events and helping students find pathways to express themselves through various clubs, and activities - ultimately to enjoy their time at Franklin;
- Empowering students as much as possible. I wish to give students the ability to work together with other Franklin entities, having therefore the ability to find feel at ease as a student body and, at the same time, have ways to express what their personal identity is and what their needs are.
Regardless, I am sure that we will have an incredible year, as I've heard that a great new group of excited students have joined us for the Fall semester and will surely mix perfectly with our already amazing student body. I am also extremely confident in the positive outcome of this year, thanks to the extraordinary SGA executive board that I have the privilege of working with.
Franklin students, we have already begun planning many exhilarating activities, so stay tuned!
Where are you from and what are you majoring in?
I come from Connecticut U.S.A. and am majoring in Sustainability and Social Justice.
What is your favorite thing at Franklin?
My Favorite thing is the individuality of the Franklin community. You are singularly valued for who you are, and assisted by Franklin's international community in starting to understand your place in life and the world. The reason this is possible is thanks to the multicultural plethora of people who can affirm and/or make you question your beliefs about the world we collectively live in. You also receive a great deal of attention and can build close relationships with faculty and staff. At Franklin, you are recognized as an individual and are able to share ideas with others who are extremely intelligent and successful in their varying fields. This would be very difficult if instead part of a bigger university, where it is nearly impossible to meet and know everyone personally. Lastly, at Franklin, you really have the chance to make a change, let your voice be heard, and add your own personal touch to the university. This is possible because Franklin is a united community that aims to empower and inspire students to create a better future for themselves and others while encouraging them to upscale their goals and experiences.
Leo Williams, Vice President/Head of Programming, Class of 2022
What are your ambitions as part of SGA?
To bring the Franklin community even closer together! One of the most significant parts of Franklin is the diverse and exciting community we have on campus. It is sometimes hard to branch out of your social bubble and find new people on campus, but when you do, it feels incredible. I want to focus on these experiences by programming social events and promoting the idea of being comfortable talking and being more sociably open on campus. Whether it be by helping to give a voice to students or helping students create and find clubs or facilities that can help them on their journey through Franklin. I want to strengthen our bond as Franklin students.
Where are you from and what are you majoring in?
I am from Kingston, Jamaica and am majoring in Visual Communication Arts with an Emphasis in Filmmaking while minoring in Psychology and Film Studies.
What is your favorite thing at Franklin?
One thing I love about Franklin is the advantage we have of attending smaller classes. It gives us the opportunity to meet and talk with our professors more frequently than at other universities, and these advantages are not only with faculty but staff as well. Thus, leading to great discussions and connections that are hard to find anywhere else but Franklin.
Natalia de Leon Tello, Head of Public Relations, Class of 2022
What are your ambitions as part of SGA?
My main ambition as part of SGA is to sustain an environment of diversity and inclusivity that is able to foster a sense of community and that is able to properly represent the student body. I care very deeply about making people feeling included and at home while at Franklin, therefore, I am very excited to be serving as the Head of Public Relations. I am genuinely happy to be a part of an amazing organization like SGA that serves to function as a bridge between students, faculty and staff. I have many new, refreshing ideas that I am eager to work on these upcoming months! This will be a great year full of fun and events. Additionally, I would like for Public Relations to collaborate with the Senior Committee to create a yearbook so the class of ‘22 can be remembered with a lasting legacy.
Where are you from and what are you majoring in?
I am from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and I have two majors: Political Science and Communication & Media Studies. I have a French minor in the works too!
What is your favorite thing at Franklin?
My favorite thing at Franklin is the tight-knit student body because it grants you the opportunity to get to know everyone in a deeper manner no matter the class level! I have met people from different nationalities, countries, religious backgrounds, etc, and the Franklin community is what makes this university feel so incredibly special!
Ashley Garcia, Head of Finance, Class of 2025
What are your ambitions as part of SGA?
I’m very excited to have received the position of Head of Finance! As part of SGA I hope to refine the strategies we use to allow for more fun, engaging and enriching activities during this school year. Together with the other board members, we'll give it our best to make good times an absolute certainty.
Where are you from and what are you majoring in?
I’m from Florida in the United States, but am also Puerto Rican, and I’m majoring in International Management with a minor in Economics.
What is your favorite thing at Franklin?
Franklin offers the opportunity to expand one's own horizons and really learn and grow. The global and intercultural aspect of Franklin is one of its greatest strengths.
Gabriel Bader, Head of Community Development and Initiatives Committee (CDIC), Class of 2024
What are your ambitions as part of SGA?
As life finally begins to return to normal, so does Franklin, it’s community, and our initiatives. Serving as the head of the CDIC this year will allow me to play a part in giving back to Franklin students the opportunities they have been denied over the last year. Granting those opportunities will not only be a challenge for me, but for us all. As a diverse community of students, working together has now become more important than ever, I and the rest of the extraordinary Executive Board members are beyond excited to make this year the best year Franklin has seen in an long time. The Executive Board has lots of great ideas in store for this year, and I am looking forward to working directly with the local community to better strengthen the relationship between Franklin and other institutions in Ticino. This year will include lots of community service involving both Franklin students and the town of Sorengo. Efforts to build on the Franklin - Sorengo relationship will also include several mixers between students and local residents. Additionally, as the search for a new president takes place in the coming months, SGA is looking to sponsor several town halls involving Franklin students — the goal of these being that students can have a fair say in which candidate best represents our university.
Where are you from and what are you majoring in?
I'm from Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A., and am majoring International Relations with a minor in French Studies.
What is your favorite thing at Franklin?
No matter how many times I’m asked this question, I still can’t settle on one thing only that I enjoy the most. Though, the diverse community at Franklin and opportunities that it presents — meeting people from around the world, language learning, exploration of different cultures — often stands out. I love traveling as well, and Franklin’s location in Lugano makes for easy, short, and awesome travel connections! Finally, I can’t forget to mention how much I enjoy the delicious food in Lugano!