Meet the candidate: SCG presidential aspirant Briany Acosta is a ‘team player’

Olivia Barone

Editor in Chief

As Student Community Government [SCG] executive board elections near, candidates are preparing to run a fair race. Briany Acosta, the latest candidate interviewed by The Anchor, shared her goals for the 26-27 term and let readers know of some essential improvements she’d like to make happen in the coming year. 

Acosta is a RIC freshman campaigning to be the next SCG president. A political science major, vice president of RIC’s prelaw society and member of the political science club, Acosta is an ambitious candidate whose goal is to attend law school post-undergrad. A former member of her high school’s student government, Acosta committed to RIC and quickly knew she would find a home for her passions on SCG’s staff. 

Photo by Briany Acosta

“I’m a first generation student and I didn’t think RIC was going to be the school for me, honestly. I was thinking of going out of state for a fresh start somewhere else. I decided to stay here because it was more affordable for me… Being here after my first semester, I immediately fell in love with RIC. All the opportunities, staff, the people, my peers.” 

The Anchor asked Acosta simply: why run for president? And she attributed her desire to her ambition and confidence provided by her major. According to Acosta, RIC’s political science program has given her the tools she needs to succeed. “Confidence is a big thing. You can’t do anything without it,” she said. 

Acosta spoke extensively about changes she’d like to work toward on campus. Most notably, improving campus housing “My goal is to be an advocate for residents and housing because of the [false fire] alarms, flooding, spiders in the showers. It’s a lot.” Acosta has taken note of issues that are recurring in RIC’s dorms and plans to call for renovations if elected. “If you’re spending the money to live here and it is becoming your home, then I don’t think it’s right for these things to happen that [residents] don’t deserve.” 

She would also like to improve student engagement on campus and encourage commuters and residents alike to attend regular events. Acosta explained that she is like many students in that she craves being with like-minded people. She wants the college experience that RIC can provide and believes many students are searching for the same thing. Acosta suggested utilizing social media for promotion and putting on more events during the day. 

Acosta also recognized the recurring phishing attempts that RIC students often see via their emails. Readers are likely familiar with scams sent to student emails claiming that a retired professor is offering old furniture or technology for cheap: a scheme designed to steal personal information and even money from students who cannot afford to be scammed. Acosta admitted that she was scammed and has since been inspired to find a solution to this problem. She would like to work with RIC’s Information Technology [IT] department and encourage administrators to find a way to permanently end phishing at RIC. 

Photo by Briany Acosta

Another way to improve campus and student satisfaction would be to allow bikes and scooters on campus, according to Acosta. She called attention to students who do not have cars and need other modes of transportation to get across campus. 

Acosta hopes to work toward these improvements to student life during her potential term. She insisted that she will be “a voice not only to the students but also to minorities, people of color like Latinas,” in part due to the fact that she is a latina herself, but also because of her belief in advocacy for all groups of students. 

“I’m a team player… It’s not what I want or what I want to say, honestly. It’s more, what do the students want and what does RIC need?” 

Remember that voting for SCG’s next executive board will be open online April 8-15. For updates, follow @scgric on Instagram. The students who have officially declared candidacy are as follows: 

• President: Briany Acosta, Marcus Rocha, Malcolm Mann

• Vice President: Alexandra Howlett, Judy LaRose

• Secretary: Zaria Lynn Campbell, Isabella Ba

• Treasurer: Josh Mihalos

Readers who want to hear more from all candidates running for next year’s executive board can attend the first ever election night hosted by SCG on April 6 at 7 p.m. in Gaige 100. Students who attend will be able to hear speeches given by the candidates running for all positions. If you are unable to attend or would simply like to know more about the other candidates, see interviews with Malcolm Mann, Marcus Rocha, Judy LaRose and Alexandra Howlett.