For Sumit Jadhav and Caio Esmeraldi, their student government (SG) presidential campaign always comes first – even if it means missing out on a party. 

“We were supposed to go to a party but we had to work on the campaign,” Esmeraldi said. “The campaign is a big priority for us. It’s above everything.”

Jadhav, a 24-year-old financial analytics graduate student and current vice president, is running for student body president. 

But Jadhav’s time as vice president has also come with controversy.

The Ethics Committee found Student Body President Suryakanth Prasad Gottipati and Jadhav violated SG statutes by signing an agreement to swap roles at the end of fall 2024 and failing to hold monthly meetings with campus governors.

Despite these findings, the SG Senate decided not to follow the corrective action recommended by the Ethics Committee during a Feb. 18 meeting. The investigation was sent back to the committee for further review.

Related: USF SG ethics investigation into student body pres, VP faces setback

Jadhav said the contract was a “joke” and he “in no way” intends to disrespect the student body’s trust or SG’s democratic process. 

“I’ve taken an oath for this position and intend to fulfill and respect it fully,” Jadhav said.

Esmeraldi, a 20-year-old junior psychology major with no SG experience, is Jadhav’s vice-president running mate.

Both candidates come from two different parts of the globe. Jadhav is from Mumbai, India, and Esmeraldi is from São Paulo, Brazil.

Before joining USF, Esmeraldi spent three semesters at the University of Central Florida (UCF), starting in fall 2023. 

However, he visited USF often because his brother, Cesar Esmeraldi, was a student. Cesar served as student body president during the 2023-24 term.

Related: USF student body president urges senators to vote against divestment resolution 

During one of those visits, Jadhav and Esmeraldi met. Jadhav had plans to play pickleball with Cesar, and Esmeraldi joined the game.

Esmeraldi transferred from UCF to USF for the spring 2025 semester and the candidates’ friendship “solidified.”  

“We were good friends,” Jadhav said. “The campaign is making our friendship grow even stronger.”

Esmeraldi said his brother “inspired” him to run for vice president. 

“He’s the legacy I’m trying to uphold. If it wasn’t for his inspiration I wouldn’t be here right now,” Esmeraldi said.

Cesar faced controversy during his time as president after posting a video on SG’s social media encouraging SG senators to vote against an SG resolution in favor of USF’s divestment from companies linked to Israel.

Related: USF SG vice president condemns Esmeraldi’s handling of public statement

Together, Jadhav and Esmeraldi make the BOLD ticket.

BOLD stands for “bulls first, opportunity, legacy and diversity.”

Jadhav said they decided to run together because he wanted someone with a fresh perspective.

“I’ve been working in Student Government for three years now,” Jadhav said. “It made sense to run with someone who would bring new energy.” 

Jadhav said Esmeraldi is “calm, collected and intellectual.” He said he likes Esmeraldi’s ability to understand people.

Esmeraldi said he likes Jadhav’s “tenacity.” He said if Jadhav has a plan, he “will stick to it.”

“We keep each other going,” Esmeraldi said.

Together, they’ve come up with several initiatives for their campaign.

Jadhav said he wants to reform the activities and service fees to ensure registered student organizations (RSOs) and success departments receive the funding they need. 

“We want to show them how to better utilize funds and make efficient programming plans out of the funds they receive,” Jadhav said. 

He said they want to help student organizations expand their operations by developing training and support programs.

While Jadhav’s focus is on student engagement, Esmeraldi prioritizes student well-being. 

Esmeraldi said he wants to advocate for more mental health counselors and promote donations to Feed-A-Bull, USF’s on-campus food pantry that provides free food to students.

Related: USF SG presidential debate tackles immigration, free speech and more

Beyond their campaign, Jadhav and Esmeraldi also have personal interests and passions. 

Jadhav describes himself as an “adventure freak.” He said he hopes to get paragliding and skydiving certifications in the future. 

He is also professionally trained in seven sports, including swimming, table tennis and badminton.

“Sports have played a key role in my character development, teaching me discipline, resilience and mental toughness,” Jadhav said.

Esmeraldi is not short of hobbies either. 

Esmeraldi has played the piano since he was five. He also has an interest in composing and songwriting. 

He said he draws inspiration from artists like Noah Kahan and Fleetwood Mac when writing music.

“I still turn to music whenever I can get a break from my studies,” Esmeraldi said. “The passion for it remains and still grows.”

As their campaign moves forward, Esmeraldi said he wants to represent and connect with students.

“I’d be honored to be able to serve and represent students to the best of my ability,” Esmeraldi said. “I’m here to listen, connect with you and represent you.”

Jadhav said he “loves” USF and wants to help the university “thrive.” 

“I traveled the globe to be here, no obstacles will ever be enough to stop my will to give back to USF,” Jadhav said.

This article is part of a “Meet the Candidates” series for all tickets running in the presidential election. You can find the other articles in the series here.

The other tickets running in the race are: Jamar Blaze Smith (candidate for student body president) and Brayden Jahn (candidate for student body vice president); and Bita Aliakbarzadeh (candidate for student body president) and Alyssa Hubbard (candidate for student body vice president).