With the election of the new student body president comes changes to the Utah Tech University campus, from club unity to program budget cuts with HB 265. Three students ran for office, but only one will be president this upcoming fall semester.
Running off the campaign pillars of connect, empower and unite, Andy Hunter, a junior biomedical science major from Ridgefield, Washington, was announced as the new student body president March 7.
Hunter’s passion to be the president stemmed from the involvement and engagement he originally felt during his freshman year. He said he was able to find his own place on campus and wants to give that back to others.
A difference Hunter hopes to bring to campus is creating and promoting more unity across campus organizations. He said this would be done by increasing the collaborations currently happening and unifying the organizations as one Utah Tech, rather than different organizations.
“We currently have a monthly [student advisory board] meeting, but I want to change how that meeting works and make it more interactive and invite different members to the table… so that way we’re all coming together,” Hunter said.
One difference Kimberly Maximo, a junior individualized studies major from Tampa, Florida, would like to see is the president listening to the student body and being aware of issues occurring and the needs of students. For example, Maximo said she would like to see more emergency call boxes across campus to help improve student safety.
Some students on campus are not entirely sure what the student body president controls. Ashlyn Carr, a freshman English education major from Murrieta, California, said she knows there is a student government and student body president, but not necessarily more than that. This is something she thinks would be nice to know more about.
“If you know what’s going on, know who’s in it, and you know what they do to run it, you also have more of an opportunity as a student to speak up about what you do want,” Carr said. “It could give the students that opportunity to be like, ‘OK, well this is going on, and I wish that this would change.'”
Something Hunter hopes to bring to the table with his presidency is an open door policy. He said his door is always open to hang out or voice what you’re thinking or feeling.
“During campaigning, I was always out and talking with lots and lots of different people, and I’m going to use that same skill I have to continue to hear more voices from more students,” Hunter said.
Additionally, students would also like to feel more support in their events. Paige Delerio, a freshman English major from Bakersfield, California, is a member of the orchestra and hopes to see more people at performing arts events.
“I think arts need to be supported a bit more,” Delerio said. “I feel like people don’t go because they don’t know that we have it.”
Hunter said his college experience so far has helped prepare him for this role, while also inspiring him to represent every student of the university. He has been involved in the Utah Tech Student Association, the Utah Tech Country Dancing Club and the Ballroom Dance Company. He said this involvement has helped him understand the different parts of campus.
Along the lines of representing the student body, Hunter is a part of the Strategic Reinvestment Committee for the Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment Bill, HB 265. His role on the committee is to be the student’s voice and to share information with the campus.
Hunter said there are currently no clear decisions on the budget cuts. He said program cuts will happen, but at this moment, they don’t know which programs will be facing it. Hunter said in the next few weeks, the committee will be holding events where students can voice their concerns regarding the bill.
“But, my plan is to make sure every student still has a home here on campus, no matter what happens,” Hunter said.
The new school year has yet to begin, but Hunter has already begun his work as the 2025-26 student body president. From connecting clubs to working with the Strategic Reinvestment Committee, Hunter is bound to bring changes to Utah Tech.
