(left to right) Alan Pineda ’29, Leticia Cantu ’29, Gianna Conti ’29, Emerson Strub ’29, Cassi Maciejewski ’29, Ethan Pessoa Jinian ’29 and Avishawd Yarisaied ’29 share their goals if elected as a first-year senator for the Associated Student Government. **Photo by Dylan Ryu**

The race for Santa Clara University’s First-Year Senate began this week with seven candidates sharing their visions for campus change—many echoing themes that have defined first-year elections for years: improving dining, building community and making the transition to college feel like home.

At the Meet the Candidates event, Avishawd Yarisaied ’29, Leticia Cantu ’29, Gianna Conti ’29, Cassi Maciejewski ’29, Ethan Pessoa Jinian ’29, Emerson Strub ’29 and Alan Pineda ’29 each made their case to voters ahead of Wednesday’s election period. Only five of the seven candidates will ultimately be elected to represent the Class of 2029 in the Associated Student Government Senate.

Familiar Calls to Improve Benson

Year after year, first-year candidates campaign on reforming the University’s dining experience—long lines, limited hours and expensive meals at Benson Memorial Center dining hall. This year was no exception.

Multiple candidates pledged to extend Benson’s hours and improve affordability.

Cantu speaks on her goals and reforms of the Benson Memorial dining hall. **Photo by Dylan Ryu**

Strub, a biochemistry major from Portland, centered her platform on listening to student concerns and improving campus dining. She highlighted limited weekend options and high prices at Benson Memorial Center as challenges for students on meal plans, who often struggle to find affordable and varied meals. Strub said she hopes to advocate for expanded food options and more consistent access throughout the week, adding that addressing dining concerns is key to improving daily student life.

Cantu echoed this sentiment, proposing later closing times for students returning from late-night rehearsals. “People want to eat after class, but Benson’s already closed,” she said.

Still, as past student government terms have shown, promises about Benson rarely translate into lasting change. Dining reform has become a reliable campaign talking point—one that excites students but faces institutional limits year after year.

Platforms of Inclusion and Belonging

Yarisaied, a political science major from San Jose, built her campaign around “growth, transparency and mentorship,” pledging to make the University “feel like home” for first-year students. “It’s overwhelming to start fresh,” she said. “I think it’s really important to have a leader up front who’s willing to make voices heard and also create a safe space.”

Cantu focused on mental health, advocating for the return of “Wellness Wednesdays” with amenities like free food and stress-relief activities. Conti emphasized affordability and proposed “Books on a Budget,” a textbook-lending system to reduce costs for students.

Maciejewski, a biology major from Portland, highlighted community-building through classwide events. “We need more big events,” she said. “So we can come into the school and really feel like the Bronco spirit.”

Pessoa Jinian, a computer science engineering major from San Francisco, called for practical policy changes, including later dorm access hours. “It closes at 7 p.m., a lot of people are aggravated,” he said. “I’d like to at least send it back, maybe to eight or nine.”

Navigating a Divided Climate

Several candidates acknowledged the need to engage students across ideological and cultural lines. Yarisaied, who is Middle Eastern and Muslim, said she hopes to collaborate with the Multicultural Center to “highlight underrepresented voices.” Conti and Cantu proposed more frequent cultural showcases, while Maciejewski urged the student government to take the initiative in outreach rather than waiting for students to speak up.

Yarisaied speaks to the audience on the potential of ASG and the MCC collaborating on future initiatives. **Photo by Dylan Ryu**

Voting and Results

Voting opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday on the MySCU Portal and closes at midnight. Results will be announced Thursday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m., pending confirmation from the ASG Election Committee, chaired by Vice President Sophia Standard.

Student Body President Claire Krebs said this year’s Senate will benefit from a new mentorship program connecting incoming senators with returning members. “The most important thing is relationship building,” Krebs said. “When you build those connections, accountability and transparency follow naturally.”