On Thursday, Feb. 27, members of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG)’s Executive Council presented updates on events, funding and upcoming board member elections.
The meeting opened with Chief Justice David Safo emphasizing the importance of USG and the Executive Council, as well as the Judicial Board’s maintenance of a stable and fair campus atmosphere for the student body. He wanted to ensure those in the meeting were aware that if there were any issues or concerns regarding the Judicial Board that needed to be addressed, they should reach out and meet with him.
“[The Judicial Board] is a necessity, it is up to all of us USG leaders, students, senators and organizations to protect it,” Safo said. “Without it, fairness becomes optional and fairness should not be optional — it should be guaranteed.”
Safo also reported that the board is holding elections to appoint new members. He stated the board hosted its informational sessions and will be preparing a list of candidates to move forward and conduct interviews with.
Afterward, Vice President of Clubs and Organizations Aryan Sharma provided a brief update about campus clubs’ budget increases and spending so far. Sharma said that over the course of four weeks, 40 new clubs were brought in. A total of $11,754.07 has been spent thus far, equating to $293.85 per new club.
Following Sharma, Vice President of University Affairs Sarah Elbaroudy presented updates on ongoing efforts towards student programs and events. Among these include supporting undocumented and immigrant students and a Women’s History Month event.
Elbaroudy mentioned that discussions with the University administration on how to better support undocumented and immigrant students have been taking place. She also announced that the Women’s History Month event will be a fireside chat with women from the administration.
Later on, At-large Senator Uzair Mahmud proposed a resolution to recognize the impact of the Marilyn Goodman Commuter Assistant Program (CAP) on student life.
Isabella Quiñones, a senior majoring in psychology and a commuter assistant (CA), described the program as “a mentorship program to new and incoming students whether they’re freshman or transfer students.”
“We’re like a built-in buddy who helps [mentees] get on-campus resources,” she said.
Mahmud, who also serves as a CA in the program, presented the resolution alongside Quiñones. They stated that the program is expected to be terminated by the end of the semester and argued that it deserves to be acknowledged for the impacts that it has had on students.
At-large Senator Shriram Hegde asked how the CA program differs from the Commuter Student Association (CSA). Mahmud responded that CSA is a club funded by USG, while the program is a sub-department under Commuter Student Services and Off Campus Living (CSS). Financially, the CAP was funded by Goodman, a former Stony Brook faculty member who donated $25,000 to jumpstart the program.
At-large Senator James Gill followed up by asking how much of the $25,000 was left over.
According to Mahmud, there is $15,000 left over. It is unclear what the money will be used for, but it will remain within CSS to honor and continue Goodman’s mission of providing resources to commuter students.
Hedge proceeded to ask, “Did [CSS] give any specific reasons as to why they’re absolving the program?”
Quiñones answered that CSS attributed it to a lack of impact and engagement. She further explained that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more promotional activities, such as staffing orientations and giving out pamphlets, to spread awareness of the program.
She explained that each mentor typically had 10-15 students that they were responsible for, but now that number has decreased to five or six each.
Mahmud and Quiñones delved further into the differences between CSA and CAP, highlighting that CSA does not offer a mentorship program. Quiñones emphasized that CAP stands out due to its mentorship program, compared to other services that provide peer assistant leaders (PALS).
“The fundamental difference is that the [CAP] provides mentorship. The PALS are assigned 200 plus incoming students,” she said. “Despite training that PALS may receive, a majority of them are resident students and at least the both of us can speak to how important it is for commuter students to be interacting with commuter mentors who are able to give them advice through experience.”
Quiñones and Mahmud then stepped out while the other senators discussed the resolution.
At-large Senator Lauren Fanter conveyed her support for the proposal.
“It feels like something that only helps students and doesn’t hurt anyone, even if it wasn’t as effective as they wanted it to be,” Fanter said. “It’s clear that the CAs wanted [to] improve it, they don’t just want to give up.”
At-large Senator Taher Motiwala shared the same sentiment, saying, “I think [CAP] is one of the few spaces where commuters students can join in and make friends immediately.”
“It wouldn’t be fair for [Goodman’s] legacy and her relation to [end] on the basis that the department doesn’t want to support that anymore,” he said. “Especially because it doesn’t cost them anything.”
The Senate then unanimously voted to recognize CAP’s impact.
