Evan Garcia ‘26 & EJ Murphy ‘26
Guest Writers
Disclaimer: This op-ed was written in a personal capacity and does not reflect an official endorsement on the part of the Student Government Association or any other club, organization, or campus entity at Holy Cross.
As Holy Cross’s election season ramps up, we are proud to support Jackie Bazazi and Ben Franzone’s campaign for the Co-Presidency of the Student Government Association (SGA). As friends, classmates, colleagues, and – in the case of Ben – roommates, we can think of no pair better equipped to represent the interests of the entire student body. Whether you are a longtime member of the SGA or voting in a campuswide election for the very first time, we are confident you will find a great advocate in Ben and Jackie.
On paper, the SGA Co-Presidency is perhaps the most influential position available to students at Holy Cross. Those who serve in the role sit on official College committees, administer a budget of approximately $1.3 million, meet regularly with President Rougeau and other senior administrators, and coordinate initiatives on behalf of the entire student body. Past SGA Co-Presidents have championed important conversations surrounding Holy Cross’s institutional history; led the College through crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic; inaugurated student-centered programming opportunities like Unity Week and the Worcester Shuttle Program; and served as a point of contact for generations of Holy Cross students with innovative ideas and pressing concerns. More importantly, they have the resources and opportunity to make a profound difference for all Holy Cross students.
Both Ben and Jackie have the temperament and experience needed to be effective and accessible SGA Co-Presidents. The student body has elected Ben and Jackie to serve as its representatives in the SGA Senate a grand total of five times, and the pair currently serves as Co-Speakers of the SGA Senate. In this capacity, Ben and Jackie have worked to improve the SGA’s relationship with clubs and organizations by overseeing changes to the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Recognition Process and creating the new position of Multicultural Student Organization (MSO) Liaison. They have passed legislation meant to increase the openness and transparency of the SGA, expanded the Senate’s collaboration with other branches, and worked to grow funding levels for student clubs and organizations – the backbone of our Holy Cross community. As the Treasurer and Chief of Staff of the SGA, we oversee the organization’s budgeting and initiative processes and have witnessed this vital work firsthand. We also know how competent and dedicated Ben and Jackie are as students, SGA members, and most importantly, as advocates. They constantly show up – at club meetings, sporting events, and performances – and will continue to do so over the course of this campaign. You can count on them to be committed to bettering our campus community for all.
While Ben and Jackie know the SGA from the inside out, they are not afraid to reform existing practices and rock the boat if the campus community’s interests and needs demand it. They are guided by a motivation that distinguishes great leaders from good ones: the desire not to be someone, but to do something. With that said, we are most proud to endorse Ben and Jackie not just because of what they have done (which is a lot!), but because of who they are. From smiles after class to long conversations about what it means to be a student at Holy Cross today, Ben and Jackie are there not only for their closest friends, but to nearly everyone they encounter in their day-to-day lives. Their humility, kindness, and accessibility would define their Co-Presidency and result in an SGA for and with the entire campus community.
As students at a Jesuit institution, we all hold values of leadership, service, and social responsibility close to our hearts. With the right leaders, the Student Government Association can serve as a vehicle to promote these values and advance the interests of all those who call Holy Cross home. Since their first days on Mount St. James, Ben and Jackie have worked tirelessly to build a brighter future for our entire campus community. For these reasons, Ben Franzone and Jackie Bazazi are the perfect pair to continue the important mission of moving forward together.
Featured image courtesy of College of the Holy Cross
Web Edited by Zexuan Qu ’28
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