Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
By Mahika Kukday
“If you want something done right, you do it yourself,” said Victoria Drews, the newly appointed lieutenant governor of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus.
When Drews started at USF St. Petersburg last fall as a biology major on the pre-med track, they didn’t think that they’d be in student government’s (SG) second highest leadership role by their sophomore year.
Drews started in SG as a senator in fall 2024, shortly moving up to senate liaison, which meant that they served as a communicator between the OneUSF senate and USF St. Petersburg’s executive branch.
But with an unexpected change of campus governor and the consequent – and unprecedented – opportunity to apply for the lieutenant governor position instead of having to campaign and be elected, Drews found their calling.
“I really wanted somebody who was competent, who would make that difference,” they said. “Within the candidates I was seeing, I just couldn’t get that feeling. So, I decided to turn myself into the candidate I wanted to see.”
Since officially assuming the role on Feb. 4, Drews has had two major goals for their short term in office, which will last until the end of this semester.
“In the current legislative situation, we really want to make sure that we’re protecting safe spaces for students on campus, especially who look like and are experiencing the same problems as us,” Drews said, referring to a series of federal and state crackdowns on DEI policies that have left USF St. Petersburg students feeling alienated.
Drews, who is Puerto Rican and queer, shares that goal with governor Elise Prophete, a Black woman.
“Traditionally, Black and brown people in America, and in Florida specifically, have been under attack or disvalued for the color of their skin,” Prophete said. “It’s really cool that we’re in these positions of power… and we can be that voice for students.”
The duo will focus on protecting the Office of Multicultural Affairs and ensuring it’s allowed to function normally, while championing broader inclusivity, sustainability and civic engagement initiatives.
Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
With the upcoming SG general elections on March 6-7, Prophete and Drews also hope to boost participation in SG – something that the St. Petersburg campus has struggled with in the past.
In spring of 2023 and 2024, the winning governor and lieutenant governor candidates ran unopposed. In fall 2024, Bao said only five candidates ran for the five open campus council positions, down from 16 candidates in fall 2023.
Drews said most students aren’t aware of election times and procedures, and that the lightly competitive spirit of student elections is missing at the smaller campus.
“Everybody who’s in leadership opportunities is in every leadership opportunity,” Drews said, explaining how it can be difficult for newcomers to break into the existing club of hyper-involved students.
“I think a big part of it is fear because students are scared to be vulnerable and be like ‘I am a leader’,” Prophete added.
Together, the duo aspires to encourage higher participation rates in SG by helping students realize their power to make change.
Some of their budding projects include bringing USF St. Petersburg tradition of giving graduation cords to first-generation graduates to all three campuses and organizing clothing swaps.
When the application for lieutenant governor was posted on Handshake, Drews devoted their efforts to becoming the best candidate by reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses.
Although they’re an organized person, Drews said they have trouble with prioritization. But there’s no space for that in their new role.
Drews’ preparation also consisted of asking their student government advisor, Janice Bao, for advice on whether she would recommend Drews for the job, having worked with her previously.
According to Bao, Drews was the best candidate out of the six students who applied – two from USF Tampa, three from USF St. Petersburg and one from USF Sarasota-Manatee.
“I’m very stubborn,” Drews said. “I’m very hard-headed and I know how I want things done.”
The team is currently focusing on helping Drews transition into their new role. Their first appearance as lieutenant governor will be at the Governor’s Ball in the University Student Center ballrooms on Feb. 21.
The event, which will be the first of its kind, will feature networking opportunities and a chance for SG leadership to share their goals with the student body.
USF St Petersburg SG’s general elections will be held from March 3-6. Prophete and Drews will run as a team for a chance to be re-elected into their roles for the next academic year.
