SGA Spring 2025 Candidate Information
Candidates for Presidential Ticket
Candidate Name (President): Marcos Martinez
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Candidate Name (Vice President): Christina Demetropoulos
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SGA Ballot: Presidential Ticket
Candidate Description: Marcos and Christina would like to be your Student Body President and Vice President! As dedicated Bulldogs, we are passionate about uplifting the voices of ALL students in response to a rapidly changing university. If elected, we hope to reconnect the silenced voices and needs of disabled students, queer students, and students of color back to the university's decision making processes — make sure that students are connected to SGA through the reopening of office hours and weekly tabling — bring free menstrual products to campus bathrooms — nurture the thriving artistic community on campus — and enact bills and work with local architects and community planners to create environmentally friendly alternatives to development on the UNCA Millennial Campus properties that protect biodiversity. We plan to focus strongly on partnering with trans and immigrant communities on campus during this time of immense turmoil. Students believe that they can't control what happens at UNCA; if elected, we will work hard to give students a voice in the formation of the university's future.
Candidate Name (President): Kaleigh Poteet
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Candidate Name (Vice President): Owen Kramarcy
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SGA Ballot: Presidential Ticket
Candidate Description: I am running for SGA President to advocate for student voices and ensure students feel heard and seen in decisions that affect campus life. Students can often feel disconnected from the school's administration while also being unsure of how to go about voicing these concerns. As president, I would ensure that students are consistently represented in conversations about campus and student life. One of the main issues I want to focus on is improving dining accessibility. Many students, like myself, have schedules that do not align with the current dining hall hours, especially during dead hours when all dining options are closed. Extending dining hall availability during these times would make a huge impact for students who rely on on-campus dining options as their primary form of nutrition. I think that building a sense of community on this campus is very important. Things like increasing the number of campus-wide events and working with student organizations to make students feel connected to their campus would be ways to improve the issue of feeling disconnected. Large events like Rockypalooza bring students together and can help create long-lasting memories. By expanding the number of events like Rockypalooza and supporting more student organizations, we could create more opportunities for students to feel more welcome. Another important issue that I would like to explore is the issue of academic tools. I believe that students should have the opportunity to utilize academic tools to help better their work. This would include advocating for campus-provided subscriptions to Canva Pro or other tools that help students with creative presentations and projects, rather than AI alternatives that have previously been suggested. Beyond these topics, my main goal as SGA President would be to listen to students and advocate for changes that reflect students' wants/needs that improve student life. I want students to feel like their voices matter and that SGA is actively reflecting their concerns.
Candidates for Senior Senator
Candidate Name: Cheyton Hall
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SGA Ballot: Senior Senator
Candidate Description: I am running for Senior Senator because I believe this school is a unique, dynamic institution that I have been present at since I was a child and my mother was working for NEMAC climate sciences located in Rhodes Robinson. I hope to spend my time as senior senator connecting different parts of our campus community such as the athletic and art worlds or the greek life and student advocacy. We are a small, tight knit school and I hope to form connections between the student body that foster a feeling of cohesive school spirit.
Candidate Name: Morgan Kim
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SGA Ballot: Senior Senator
Candidate Description: Hey all! I'm Morgan, and I seek to reprise my role as SGA Senator for a 3rd year. Throughout my time in SGA, I have proudly served among the Association of Student Governments as Campus Liaison, SGA chairman of Cultural Wellness and Belonging, and Advisor to the University Planning Council and Vice Chancellor's Advisory Committee. To supplement, I am also current president of UNCA's ASIA club. If elected, I aim to continue advocacy via support of DEI policies that promote cultural celebration and environmental protection. Furthermore, a vote for me is a vote in favor of new health/culture-sensitive dining options on campus, diverse ethnic food trucks on campus, increased accessibility, and furthered communication between students and administrative staff! Thank you for your Support!! :)
Candidate Name: Austin McNeil
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SGA Ballot: Senior Senator
Candidate Description: When I first came to this campus, I didn't know what to expect and I especially didn't know where or how I would find my place on campus or even in a community. Through my work and involvement, I found that place. I found a community full of people who challenged me, supported me, and helped me grow into who I am today. That experience is the reason I'm running. My roles as a community coordinator, student content creator, and my work with outreach in the Asheville community. I've had the opportunity to connect with so many different people across campus. Those experiences have shown me something important: when students are connected to the right people, resources, and opportunities, everything changes. That's what I want for every student here and that at its core, campus should be a community where people are connected by values, passion, and lived experience, and not just surface-level involvement. 1. Making SGA Truly Connected to Students - SGA should not feel distant or exclusive. It should reflect the real, everyday student experience. I want to make the student government more connected to all students and not only people who are already involved or highly visible. Leadership should come from being present, engaged, and known within the community. Students deserve representatives who understand their experiences because they are actively part of them. 2. Building Community Through Connection & Opportunity - My own journey on this campus showed me how important it is to find your people and your purpose. I want to help create more opportunities for students to do the same. This means strengthening connections between students, organizations, and campus resources so no one feels like they have to figure everything out on their own. 3. Prioritizing Education, Growth, and Student Values - I believe that knowledge and education are what truly lift people up out of anything. Our campus should reflect that. While funding and athletics play a role, they should not overshadow what matters most! That is student growth, learning, and meaningful experiences. I will advocate for a campus culture that prioritizes intellectual, personal, and community development. 4. Focusing on Real Student Needs - Student success is shaped by everyday experiences, and those details matter. I will advocate for: Better dining options, including high protein vegetarian meals for those with dietary restrictions. Meal exchanges that are filling and actually support students' needs. Greater visibility for resources like the Student Health ReCenter. These are real issues that impact students daily, and they deserve attention.
Candidates for Junior Senator
Candidate Name: Adrian Miguelez
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SGA Ballot: Junior Senator
Candidate Description: Asheville is not only where I was born; it's where I made my friends, where I roamed the woods in the fall, played in creeks, and gathered around the drum circle. It's where we come to learn about the world, to celebrate individuality, to create art, and to learn how to love one another. And yet, so many of us balk at the news, worry for our futures, feel shut out of the decisions made by our school and in our home. What a shame it is. I plan to help stop the millennial campus project, fight against discrimination, and oppose cuts to the humanities. On campus, it's past time to prioritize student access by improving parking and communication with administrators, as well as enhancing dorm amenities. It's time we took our school back.
Candidate Name: Lilith Irving
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SGA Ballot: Junior Senator
Candidate Description: Advocating for students is my top priority. In my experience with Student Government I have noted that there's a need for more interconnectedness between faculty and students, and that SGA should be the bridge so that student representation is bigger. I'd like to help educate the student body about what can be done through SGA, how to get involved, and how to stay up to date with the actions we take. I will advocate for the development of outside spaces, specifically the quad, as well as study spaces. I've enjoyed my time with SGA and look forward to advocating and representing you, the students!
Candidate Name: Christina Demetropoulos
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SGA Ballot: Junior Senator
Candidate Description: As a sophomore senator, I have worked hard to ensure that SGA is able to receive feedback and amplify the voices of the student body. If elected, I would continue that work with a focus on bringing back SGA office hours and tabling, reinstating the program for free menstrual products in bathrooms, developing bills to protect trans and immigrant students in a time of turmoil, and work to give all students a voice in the formation of the university's future.
Candidates for Sophomore Senator
Candidate Name: Delaney Kirby
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SGA Ballot: Sophomore Senator
Candidate Description: I'll work to increase school spirit by bringing more fun events to our campus so our sophomore year can be more exciting for everyone.
Candidate Name: Robert Addison
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SGA Ballot: Sophomore Senator
Candidate Description: As a senator, I plan to continue my advocacy for diverse groups on campus. I want to expand upon students' rights to space, expression, and respect, and encourage discussion between groups as well as student feedback. I also plan to increase SGA's public visibility, as well as our influence, allowing students to be better represented in discussions around campus. I am always open to feedback from students and I endeavor to truly represent the communities on and off campus.