Two tickets are vying for the top positions in Fordham’s United Student Government (USG), each pledging to improve campus life through proposals on democracy, affordability and transparency. Running for president and vice president are Megan Ruzicka, FCRH ’27, and Mike Rodriguez FCRH ’27 against Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, and Andrew McDonald FCRH ’26.
In separate interviews with The Fordham Ram last week, both slates shared their visions for the 2025-26 academic year and offered a window into how they intend to deliver for students.
Fordham University undergraduates will receive a ballot link via email at 12 p.m. on April 7. Voting closes at 5 pm on April 8. Students can select an executive ticket, vote on vice presidential positions and choose their senators.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
The first ticket features a pair with current USG roles: Ruzicka, the current vice president of operations, and Rodriguez the current vice president of facilities and dining. Despite only having served on USG for one calendar year, both say their experience working with key student issues such as dining halls and with clubs is crucial.
You can find their campaign on Instagram @mr4usg.
On the second ticket is Hjertberg, former executive president of USG for the fall 2024 semester alongside McDonald, second-time executive ticket candidate and columnist for “the paper” and radio reporter at WFUV who has not served on USG but says he brings an “outsider perspective.” Both say their combination of proven experience and new ideas is valuable for future leadership.
You can find their campaign on Instagram @lucasandrew4usg.
PLATFORM OVERVIEW
Ruzicka-Rodriguez Platform
Key initiatives for the Ruzicka-Rodriguez ticket include extending weekend dining hall access hours past 7 p.m., particularly during exam periods. With the university’s dining contract with Aramark expiring in 2026, they pledge to prioritize student input in future negotiations.
To address persistent health concerns over mold in residence halls, the candidates propose a semesterly mold inspection, noting past success. When asked about this, the candidates cited one instance of mold testing done in Ruzicka’s dorm done with the help of John Puglisi, associate vice president of facilities management.
Additionally, they seek to revise the guest pass policy by allowing students to enter other residence halls with just their Fordham IDs, aligning with practices at other schools such as New York University.
In regards to student healthcare, they plan to partner with national organizations to offer free emergency contraceptives and women’s health products, noting a similar initiative at Georgetown University.
Their platform also pushes for improved club support through monthly office hours for clubs with administrators and the USG, as well as clearer communication between clubs and the Office for Student Involvement (OSI). They also propose allowing student organizations that are not officially approved to have a table at the club fair. Currently, only officially recognized clubs are permitted to participate.
To boost school spirit, the pair proposes monthly incentives for clubs that attend athletic and performance events such as merch, food funding and priority access to event spaces.
Hjertberg-McDonald Platform
The Hjertberg-McDonald platform emphasizes preserving campus democracy by ensuring all students, regardless of prior involvement, can run for USG positions. They also pledge to publish voting records and open more meetings to foster transparency and trust.
Their platform will push for reforms that directly address student concerns, including enhanced accessibility on campus, equitable club funding and stronger career support, especially for Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) students. They plan to expand the Serving the City internship program and hold the administration accountable for its promise to provide every student with internship opportunities.
The pair propose executive action plans with deadlines and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to cut through bureaucratic delays. They also aim to strengthen anti-corruption measures through clearer conflict-of-interest policies and more accessible student referendums.
Their platform also seeks to support student workers, citing Hjertberg’s past success negotiating a bi-weekly pay schedule with President Tania Tetlow. They call for fair wages, reliable hours and greater input from student employees. Additional goals include advocating for greater transparency in Health Center costs, including clearer information on fees and walk-in wait times, as well as defending the independence of student-led spaces like Rodrigue’s Coffee House.
Hjertberg and McDonald are also advocating for reform to the current club sanction system, which they say strips organizations of funding without a fair appeals process.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Through their official campaign platform, Hjertberg and McDonald accuse USG of “backroom politics.”
McDonald recalled being “the only person” last year to publicly endorse publishing every senator’s voting record.
“We should know what our representatives are doing,” he said.
Ruzicka and Rodriguez also welcome that idea.
“There’s no issue with making voting records public,” Ruzicka said, adding that if senators vote for a proposal, “they should stand by their decisions.”
Where McDonald wants “strict, ironclad timelines” for each policy initiative, Ruzicka supports progress reports at each general meeting. Both tickets have mentioned an online tracker but differ on how to enforce it.
McDonald noted that “without repercussions, it’s just more talk,” while Ruzicka countered that “Initiatives take a while to get done. We should still measure them, but accept that major changes often last through multiple semesters.”
“INCLUSIVE” OR “EXCLUSIVE?”
A central dispute in this election cycle is whether or not Ruzicka and Rodriguez once supported limiting eligibility for the USG executive ticket to students with prior USG experience via a bylaw proposal submitted on Feb. 20.
Ruzicka called the bylaw proposal a “discussion” rather than a formal proposal. “It was never meant to be exclusionary,” Rodriguez added. Both insisted that the meeting was publicly posted and that it would have taken months for the proposal to become a formal bylaw.
A reporter for The Ram who was present at the meeting said that both Ruzicka and Rodriguez vocalized support for the idea. The proposed change to the bylaws was removed at the March 7 USG meeting.
Hjertberg and McDonald have repeatedly criticized that conversation through op-eds published in The Fordham Ram and “the paper.”
Hjertberg said, “I couldn’t stand by and watch them eliminate the possibility for a non-USG member to run,” citing his prior election win, where he once ran against candidates including his current running mate, who did not have previous USG experience.
McDonald said the proposed bylaw talk was “really disgusting,” though Ruzicka disputed any malicious intent.
EXPERIENCE AND ENERGY
Hjertberg touts a year of executive leadership and more than two years on USG as proof he can deliver institutional change, citing expansions to student-worker pay schedules and accessibility improvements as past accomplishments. He says that the process is often slow-moving and demanding.
“But I also learned change can be painfully slow,” he said. “You need consistent timelines and real accountability to push it through.”
McDonald, for his part, says he has been branded by others as a “USG super hater” turned coalition-builder.
“I see the good that can be done, but only if we cut the pomp and actually deliver,” he said.
Ruzicka and Rodriguez emphasize hands-on experience in day-to-day campus fixes.
“I’ve literally dealt with mold in my dorm,” Ruzicka said. “That’s taught me how to navigate facilities and find solutions quickly.”
Both say they are determined to bring dedicated leadership.
“We want to show how quickly we can act… Speed, follow-up and direct results,” Rodriguez said.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING
Each ticket says they are fighting for students. Hjertberg says if re-elected, he and McDonald will “get real solutions on track in the first 60 days,” and McDonald insists, “If we can’t promise it, we won’t.”
Ruzicka and Rodriguez say they will direct USG to do whatever it takes to combat rising costs.
“It’s not just about tuition; housing and meal-plan costs are up, too,” Ruzicka said. “If we’re not the ones speaking up, nobody will.”
Both teams appealed for broad input from the student body. “We want non-USG voices,” Rodriguez said.
“Most of our good ideas come from everyday students,” said McDonald. “USG belongs to everyone, so let’s make it open.”
ONE LAST WORD
Each candidate was asked to describe their platform and campaign in one word.
Hjertberg said “pragmatic,” while McDonald added “stellar.”
Ruzicka and Rodriguez described themselves as “dedicated” and “different.”
To find a full list of the candidates running for other USG positions and candidate platforms, you can visit usgrh.fordham.edu/candidates1/.
