By Claire Latsko | Newport Area Editor
Biweekly, the Salve Regina Student Government Association (SGA) honors a current member to be named as the ‘Senator Spotlight’ for the week. The current student chosen for this honor is sophomore senator Eli Dias.
After serving on SGA for about a year, Dias is “pumped” to be chosen for this honor. “I did a little dance when I received it because last year and this year I never received the Senator Spotlight,” he said. The news was surprising and exciting for him.
Dias is a member of SGA’s Food Committee, which voices student requests and complaints about the dining facilities directly to Sodexo, Salve’s campus food provider.
“We are working on bringing more variety and options to the dining halls.” He mentioned the chicken parmesan sandwich special in Wakehurst and the new option of having and side salad with the meal plan are the working of the Food Committee.
Dias is also the chair of the Information Technology Committee, which deals with technology related questions and concerns on campus. “The biggest thing I’m working on is improving the wireless connectivity in the dorms and other buildings.”
Outside of SGA, Dias is employed in the Information Technology office in the basement of McKillop Library.
Dias says that his goal as a member of SGA is to be the biggest voice that he can be for his constituents. “My definition of a good leader is somebody who gets results.”
He believes that an on campus student government is the liaison between the students and the staff at Salve, and SGA needs to be able to represent the school as a community. “We are the leaders that are representing the students as a whole. I have a responsibility to make sure their requests are heard,” he said.
Dias stresses the importance of being hardworking and honest as an SGA senator because without those qualities, things would not get accomplished. “If you’re not transparent, then you’re not going to be a good leader,” Dias said. He also stated that a senator needs to be laid back in order to assure that everything stays calm and less stressful, and that the position does not go to his head.
After being honored for Senator Spotlight, Dias is excited to continue his work for SGA, and act as a voice for the student community.
