SGA Update 2023: Interview With SGA President Lauryn Juarez

Things are different this year with TFC’s Student Government Association because there is only one person filling both presidential roles for the 2023-2024 school term. It is also the second consecutive year that a TFC presidential campaign has run unopposed.

The last Talon published an article titled “Get to Know Your Next SGA President, Vice President” on March 22, 2023, which was then updated on May 5. The update states, “Lauryn Juarez will fill both roles, and Director of Student Engagement Danny Ringenoldus will assist with some of the VP responsibilities.” The article can be read here.

Lauryn Juarez, President of SGA, spoke with the Talon about the 2023-2024 updated SGA team and how these changes have positively impacted the rest of the team. Juarez is currently pursuing a ministry leadership degree. The senior is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. 

Talon: “In typical years, what has the purpose of SGA been? What kinds of things does SGA do? “

Lauryn Juarez: “The Executive Council (Community Partnerships, Collegiate Sports, Campus Life, Publicity and Digital Arts) exists to serve the students, promote different events, bring a community feel to TFC and highlight all the different aspects that make TFC unique. Senate’s purpose is to be a voice for students. They are here to listen to students, [and] to talk to them about any concerns or issues. [That] ranges from intercultural representation, [spiritual life, and then different matters within campus that could be improved.”

Photo: Lillian Greenfield.

Talon: “What staff positions oversee SGA? Is SGA a part of Student Affairs? 

LJ: “Danny Ringenoldus is the overseer for SGA. He is the Director For Student Engagement. We do have some intermixing with the rest of Student Affairs, but nothing too official.”

Talon: “What are the responsibilities of the president and vice president of SGA in typical years? What kind of decisions do they make?

LJ: “The President acts as a support to the rest of the team, in whatever facet that might look like. They, in previous years, would hold one-on-ones with all of the team members, and lead team meetings once a week, and just kind of be a face for the student body. The Vice President is overseeing all of the club leaders of that year; Meeting with them one-on-one, helping them plan events, supporting them in whatever that may look like, training them, and doing the club fair.” 

Talon: What would someone in the Director of Student Engagement staff position do in typical years? 

LJ: “Danny has been working [at TFC] for three years and his roles and responsibilities are overseeing SAOs, planning orientation, helping plan the fall and spring training for the SGA teams, helping with the meetings for SGA teams, and he’s the SGA President and Vice President’s support.” 

Talon: The Vice Presidential role is essentially gone in this this year. Has the Presidential role changed because of this?

LJ: “In the aspect of supporting the team, a lot of it has mostly been Danny stepping in to do ]the one-on-ones and stuff like that. I still do it in passing, during our weekly meetings [and] check in on everybody, but that is the main part that he has stepped in and something that has changed.” 

Talon: Have the other Executive Council positions changed at all this year? 

LJ: Yes. At the beginning of the semester, we didn’t have a Campus Life position. [So], we agreed as a team that the more lowkey campus events, like the movie night that we did at the beginning of the year, we would put those events on as a team, rather than Campus Life putting them on with their committee. Now, Jemima Parker, who is the new Campus Life chair, her sole responsibilities are putting on the dances. All other Campus Life events [are supported by the rest of the team]. This year, the [Publicity and Digital Arts Chair] have worked together a lot which I don’t think happened a lot in previous years. It’s really cool to see their positions blending.” 

Talon: This year’s SGA mission is “Passion, Oneness, and Purpose.” Since SGA positions have changed, has SGA’s mission for this year also changed? 

LJ: “I don’t think it has. We as a team have still been able to focus on passion, oneness and purpose. This team is very passionate about our specific roles and that has been really sweet to see come together with events and with committee meetings and general accomplishments that the team has been able to do. We can really see how much passion they have. By having passion, that reiterates the purpose of the roles. In a roundabout way, oneness has come together as we are all having to work as a team to put on these events. For students, there’s been a big representation and this year’s Senate is doing a really good job listening to students. That is bringing students together as one, and making us even more passionate about advocating for change.” 

Note: The SGA president shared her goals for the position in the 2023 SGA President announcement article published by The Talon. The article states, Juarez is focusing on spiritual growth. [She] looks forward to ‘encouraging everybody’s passion’ and building them up with prayer and comfort as a spiritual leader.” 

Talon: Have your priorities also changed? Has the personal mission you shared with The Talon in the spring changed?

LJ: “I have been given the opportunity for it to stay the same in really awesome ways I wasn’t expecting. [I’m] getting to know the team in a better way than I probably would have been able to if I was just Vice President. I’ve been able to receive goodness poured into me, but then I’ve also been able to pour it– there’s just been a really sweet exchange with the whole team and with the club leaders with spiritual growth and mentorship. It’s stayed the same, but it’s grown in ways that I didn’t think it would.”

Talon: How can we stay in the loop about upcoming SGA events? 

LJ: “SGA Weekly is something that Julianne, our Publicity Chair, is in charge of and she sends out an email every Monday. It’s a big thread of different event posters and things to stay on top of in the coming week.”

Talon: Are there any events coming up or any events that are put on regularly? 

LJ: “An event that I’m excited for, something that is open to student leaders and committee members, is all-night Christmas decorating. The Christmas Banquet is going to be awesome this year as well. We have reserved every Friday to be Reslife or SGA; To push for that community a little bit bigger.”