Sal Orlando, Assistant News Editor
VCU’s Student Government Association held a debate for its next president on Monday, beginning a three day voting period for students. The candidates flexed varying platforms with similar goals of increasing the organization’s outreach, relevance on campus and power in administrative decisions.
The candidates are third-year history and mass communications student and SGA press secretary Natalie Bowen, third-year information systems student and senator Jamal Henry and second-year biomedical engineering student and senator Sadman Mahmood.
The latter two are also members of SGA’s independent financial board, which reviews proposals and disperses funds to student organizations supported by the student activity fee.
Natalie Bowen
Bowen is running to increase the SGA’s efficiency and engagement with administration and the student body. She wants to continue what the association is currently doing, but would seek more power that would give weight to its decisions.
“A big part of the role of president is to meet with administration multiple times a week, and I want to be a president that puts my foot down in what the student body wants, and not let the administration try to take advantage of our close position,” Bowen said.
Bowen wants to encourage senators to talk about the SGA in their classes and other organization meetings to show the association is listening to the student body. She intends to bring students’ demands to administration and back them up with data.
Jamal Henry
Henry’s key initiative is “RAMPact,” a system that would allow students to propose solutions and collaborate with the SGA. Henry wants students to feel that once they are in RAMPact, they can see that they have what it takes to become an SGA senator, and grow the senate into a passionate body.
“They don’t know who we are, so that’s why I need a president that’s willing to go to them, be on campus, shake hands, kiss babies, be around them at all times, and show them where we are,” Henry said. “If they don’t feel comfortable, that’s the beauty of RAMPact, it’s going to be a space where they come together, bring those ideas that they love and they’re passionate about, and bring it to us.”
Henry wants to increase communication between students and organizations to hear their feedback, and bring them into the SGA’s “game plan.”
Sadman Mahmood
Mahmood’s platform is focused on students strengthening relationships and representation on bodies such as the VCU Board of Visitors, the school’s governor-appointed, highest governing body. He wants to connect student organizations directly to VCU administration to create solutions together.
“We must work towards a future where nobody’s afraid to speak, despite their religion, culture, their background or anything else,” Mahmood said. “Everyone should be free to say whatever they like and they please, and under my administration, we’ll do just that.”
The other SGA leadership positions including vice president, speaker, deputy speaker, secretary of the senate, secretary of state, secretary of interior and press secretary are all uncontested. The SGA will see an entirely new leadership board starting in the Fall 2026 semester.
How to vote
Voting will be held until Thursday, March 26th at 11:55pm. Students can vote through the SGA RamsConnect page.
SGA seeks to boost decision-making power
Current SGA Undergraduate President Jo Adams stated in an email that she has held meetings with President Michael Rao and other higher-ups to share student interests and concerns during her tenure.
“For example, we have worked with the incoming provost to expand internship opportunities and increase mentorship for undergraduates,” Adams stated. “We have also worked with President Rao to increase safety for pedestrians among campus and increase communication with students and administration so it does not only have to be through SGA.”
Adams found that the SGA has been limited and has struggled to engage students. They also believe the image of students not having experience limits the association.
Jimmie Gahagan, associate vice president for transformative student experiences, stated the SGA does meet with key figures at VCU and invites them to meetings “to better educate themselves on student needs and issues facing the student body.”
Gahagan mentioned that the SGA is not specifically limited in what they can do representing student interests to administration, but must participate through passing legislation.
SGA passed a bill — introduced by Mahmood — in the first half of the Monday meeting that would allow the selection of two SGA members to represent the student body during board of visitors meetings.
Lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly considered a number of proposals this year to reform boards of visitors at public universities — including some that would make some students voting members. If such a proposal were to become law next year or in a future legislative session, it could significantly boost the power and relevance of student groups such as the SGA.