SA Presidential Race: Who's Running and What Are Their Platforms?

By Mattie Fitzpatrick | March 31, 2025

Voting for the Presidential Election can be done through MyInvolvement beginning on Monday, March 31, at noon. Polling closes on Friday April 4th at noon and the results will be announced later that night at 7:00 p.m.

From left to right: Jaden Gabb, Senator Marcos Perez, Senator Trevor Pettit, Allison Mitchell, Senator Aaron Mattupurath and Senator Ryan Goldstein.

Photo Credit: Mattie Fitzpatrick / The ASP

The University at Albany Student Association Presidential Elections kicked off with the Presidential Forum last Wednesday (3/26) in lieu of the normal Senate meeting, where candidates had the opportunity to answer questions to an audience.

The forum featured three candidates and their running mates: Jaden Gabb and his running mate Senator Marcos Perez, Senator Trevor Pettit and his running mate Allison Mitchell, and Senator Aaron Mattupurath and his running mate Senator Ryan Goldstein. The candidates were running on three respective campaigns, “People Over Politics” for Gabb, the “Constituent First Coalition” for Senator Pettit, and the “Our School, Our Action” campaign for Senator Mattupurath. 

The forum was separated into three sections: a Presidential forum, a Vice Presidential forum and finally a campus climate discussion where the audience was able to ask questions via a Google Form monitored by the Elections Commission. 

Presidential Forum: 

Senator Pettit spoke to his experience as both a senator and his work as Chair of the Committee on Appropriations while Senator Mattapurath was able to speak on his experience as a senator and his time chairing the Committee on Community Engagement and Outreach. Gabb spoke on his experience in various clubs as well as his time as a Resident Assistant on campus, emphasizing his connections with the community outside of Student Association. 

Senator Pettit said his policy approach directly works to bridge the gap between the student body and SA through restoring the open-door policy to all SA offices for students, and expanding relationships with both alumni and the current student population by working collaboratively and mandating all directors use half of their programming budgets to collaborate with clubs.

Senator Mattupurath also spoke about repairing the divide between SA and the student population, focusing on increasing the visibility of SA projects and increasing the amount of engagement between SA and the general population. 

Gabb spoke about increasing the transparency of SA and expanding on reproductive health initiatives. He additionally advocated for safety on campus and spoke about creating stricter policies for visitors coming onto campus.

“We need stricter policies on safety,” Gabb said. “We need to ensure that our visitors and guests know how to operate when they’re on the UAlbany campus.”

Candidates were asked why the student body should vote for them in this election and gave the following answers.

Senator Pettit said, “Everything we plan on doing we have done… I can point to specific and tangible things we have already done to accomplish the goals that we want to achieve… I am 100% confident that if you vote for the constituent first coalition… you will receive these promises in full.”

Gabb said, “You should vote for the People over Politics ticket because we are here for you. We are to represent you… We are working on tangible policy that can be done by Student Association that will be about legacy. It is about ensuring that our next couple of Student Associations, four years after I am gone, after Marcos is gone, after all of you sitting in front of me are gone, that Student Association can continue to be the flourishing system that it is and that it works for the people.”

Senator Mathupurath said, “... we are running on a policy and platform of putting our hearts and minds forward for the community. We’re running on no false promises and we’re running on action that we’re able to take for you, the student body.”

Vice Presidential Forum:

Senator Goldstein and Senator Perez are current senators while Allison Mitchell actively serves as Senate Clerk. All candidates spoke on improving the relationship between the Senate and other branches, emphasizing the vitality of their relationship. 

All candidates reiterated the importance of the Student Association Senate and the relationship they have with the student body where students are allowed to directly share their concerns with Senators. 

When asked about the relationships with the head of each branch, Senator Goldstein emphasized communication, while Mitchell spoke about the importance of transparency and open-mindedness. Senator Perez spoke about not only communicating with the heads of branches, but further establishing those relationships regardless of political ideology. 

After the conclusion of the Vice Presidential Forum, running mates were brought up to answer questions together.

Gabb and Senator Perez emphasized supporting students and clubs in all their endeavors while Senator Pettit and Mitchell focused on budgets for clubs, as well as being available to the student population for their needs and concerns. 

Senator Mattupurath and Senator Goldstein highlighted the importance of diversity and creating a safe space on campus. To this effect they are campaigning for a sanctuary campus which would signal UAlbany’s commitment to protecting students from foreign countries from federal immigration enforcement in school spaces. 

When asked about the budget and the revenue deficit Student Association is operating on, Senator Pettit stressed the importance of restoring the full budget of student organizations and pledged to even cut the Presidential stipend down to zero until this is achieved. 

Senator Goldstein spoke on working with the comptroller and emphasizing priority items. Senator Goldstein said, “We want to serve you guys in the best way possible and we can’t promise getting out of a deficit, but we can promise spending in the right places.”

Senator Perez emphasized open communication and student groups when facing the strain on the budget next year. He spoke of a balanced budget while Gabb gave emphasis to understanding Student Association and how it operates while extenuating his own work experience and the value it could have in the position. 

After the forum, Senate Chair Ethan Madappatt said, “It was really interesting to see each platform. I do believe there are so many similarities but so many differences that make each candidate stand out. I really am optimistic not only for the Student Association’s future but for the student body’s future and the University’s future.”