Eighteen students, including 10 incumbent senators, were elected to the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) Senate, Georgetown’s student government, April 16.

As the senate begins its new term in the fall, senators plan to pursue reforms related to student life, including improving on-campus dining, expanding transportation access and increasing transparency between GUSA and the student body. Twenty-six students ran for seats in the senate.

Several senators ran on platforms aiming to improve on-campus dining by introducing more meal plan options and diversifying food options.

Christian Spadini (CAS ’26), a senator for the Class of 2026, said he hopes to make meal plans more flexible for upperclassmen. 

“I’ll advocate that juniors and seniors be allowed to opt in or out freely and that sophomores get lower-cost block options,” Spadini wrote to The Hoya. 

Cameran Lane (CAS ’28), a second-term senator for the Class of 2028, said he looks forward to supporting contract negotiations between Aramark, Georgetown’s dining vendor, and unionized dining hall workers. 

“We are going to continue the work of perfecting the dining experience here on the Hilltop, through contract renewal negotiations with Aramark,” Lane wrote to The Hoya. 

Sienna Lipton (CAS ’27), a third-term senator for the Class of 2027, said she will continue to advocate for inclusive dietary options.

“I am really fighting for more gluten-free, Kosher and general dining upgrades, including bringing back smoothies,” Lipton wrote to The Hoya.

Ellen Carter (SFS, MSB ’26), a newly elected senator for the Class of 2026, said she is excited to work on reforms that make academic policies more flexible and student-friendly.

“This semester, I’m especially excited to support my colleague Tina Solki in her push to make language classes available pass/fail,” Carter wrote to The Hoya. 

Other senators campaigned on increasing transparency between GUSA and the student body. 

Lipton said she hopes to continue her work on the GUSA newsletter to increase communication with the student body. 

“I help coordinate the GUSA newsletter, which allows students to have some insight into our day-to-day activities and current projects,” Lipton wrote. 

Asha Gudipaty (CAS ’27), a newly elected senator for the Class of 2027, said she plans to make GUSA’s website more accessible to ensure student participation in legislation. 

“Something I campaigned for was using our website to get student feedback about legislation before it’s debated and passed or not passed,” Gudipaty wrote to the Hoya. 

Zadie Weaver (CAS ’28), a returning senator for the Class of 2028, said she wants to refocus GUSA’s work to address specific student needs.

“I think a major reason people don’t care about GUSA is because they feel like we don’t do enough for the students,” Weaver wrote to the Hoya. “GUSA sometimes veers from its place to just focusing on student and school needs.”

Tina Solki (SFS, MSB ’26), a senator for the Class of 2026, said she hopes to spend her term continuing to focus on concrete actions rather than vague promises.

“It’s very easy to put together ten pithy platitudes and call it a platform — it’s harder to be on the ground, working directly with students, student organizations and the administration to create some kind of tangible change in the status quo,” Solki wrote to the Hoya. 

Han Li (CAS ’27), a second-term senator for the Class of 2027, said he will work to improve transportation options to Capitol Campus. 

“Among the issues I envision GUSA tackling include transportation to and from the Capitol Campus,” Li wrote to The Hoya. 

Gudipaty said she will attempt to explore implementing U-Pass, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) program that gives students unlimited access to the Metro. 

“I’m also interested in increasing transportation options from getting us U-passes for the Metro to making the GUTS bus more regular, reliable and identifiable,” Gudipaty wrote to The Hoya. 

Several senators-elect ran on platforms advocating for the protection of international students, particularly in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s detention of Georgetown postdoctoral research fellow and Indian national Badar Khan Suri and the revocation of visas for approximately 10 community members. 

Roan Bedoian (CAS ’28), a newly elected senator for the Class of 2028, said she ran in response to attacks on international students by the administration of President Donald Trump. 

Li said he will use his role to ensure GUSA remains responsive to the needs of all university communities during a time of heightened tension.

“GUSA’s role in the midst of campus and national friction must be to promote action, which will help advance the needs and interests of the entire student collective,” Li wrote. “I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that this role is carried out.”