North Texas Daily

The Editorial Board

We admire the leadership of the Student Government Association in planning and facilitating the vigil for Julio Santos last Friday. It’s the kind of leadership this university needs, and it offered a glimpse into how SGA president Adam Alattry and vice president Christopher Lee will lead the student body.

If you attended the vigil, you felt love and happiness in celebration of a man cherished by so many. The occasion was noticeably upbeat and the tempo of the evening seemed to relax the emotional tension of the preceding week, one that brought many at UNT sadness, confusion and heartbreak.

The testimonies given by Santos’ many loving friends painted a beautiful picture of him, a person we won’t soon forget. Comments on his loud personality resonated throughout Library Mall as about 200 people showed up to honor him.

And that is thanks to the leadership of SGA. In times like this, the grieving process needs to be done delicately and with integrity. SGA invited the community to attend and to grieve. Santos was built up, and those who did not get the chance to meet him were introduced to him through the tender memories of those who shared them at the vigil. And for that, we thank you.

We look forward to what changes will come out of SGA. The university needs a governing body committed to the students, not caught up in procedural nonsense. The student body government must help to propel students toward their goals, and to be a champion for all at UNT.

Last week, Alattry and Lee became that champion for Julio Santos. That same dedication must expand to meet the needs of every student, in every residence hall, to every lab and classroom on campus.

Featured image: Students honor Julio Santos in Library Mall. Hannah Ridings | Visuals Editor