The Undergraduate Student Government senate confirmed a Supreme Court justice appointment, voted on three club budget proposals and appointed two members of the Faculty Student Association Board of directors at its meeting Thursday evening.
Due to an issue involving a former Supreme Court justice appointee’s undergraduate status, the process of voting for a new justice had to be repeated.
USG President Cole Lee explained that one appointee who was confirmed last Thursday technically did not meet the GPA requirements to be a justice because he is a first-semester freshman.
The senate then voted to confirm Jacob Shipkevich as the new Supreme Court justice.
(Disclosure: Shipkevich is a former Opinions writer for The Statesman)
Shipkevich said he dedicated two days a week over summer familiarizing himself with USG documents. He said his acquired constitutional fluency, combined with his experience overseeing his fraternity’s fiscal budget, will allow him to excel at his new position.
Shipkevich said he aims to “seek clarification at all times, considering everyone else’s opinion. By doing this I can accomplish more.”
He also said his goal is to be accessible to all members.
The senate unanimously approved the Men’s Club Lacrosse request to move up to line budget status. Although the team had line budget status two years ago and and lost that status, the team members vouched for a positive future, centered on winning competitive games.
“I’m very impressed by their effort and tenacity in regards to moving back up to line budget status,” Lee said.
The senate also unanimously approved the Solar Racing Team Club request to move up to line budget status.
The club said it would bring notoriety to Stony Brook’s name by performing at a high level in solar competitions. With over 100 members, club leaders emphasized that they need more resources to keep these members involved.
Although the team won first place in the 2014 Solar Splash Competition, they did so with the financial investment of the team members, the club leaders said.
The club members explained how they do their best to be frugal by reusing expensive materials such as carbon fiber as many times as possible. They plan on hosting computer workshops in hopes of generating practical experience that can aid in ultimately gaining internships for club members.
The senate approved the Cantonese Club’s request for a $140 Special Services Council budget. The club leaders explained the club’s role in helping international students assimilate into the Stony Brook community while simultaneously offering students a place to familiarize themselves with Chinese linguistics and culture.
The senate postponed the vote on SBU-TV’s request to receive a Special Services Council budget until next Thursday. Senators intensely debated how SBU-TV should spend its awarded money for a proposed film night and how much money should be awarded.
USG Treasurer Taylor Bouraad told the senators that they must be aware of budget constraints while approving proposed SSC budgets and consider other clubs that will apply for SSC budgets during the 2015-2016 academic year.
Lastly, the senate added two new members to the Faculty Student Association’s board of directors: Sen. Jan Jaminal and Sen. Lydia Senatus.
The senate voted Senatus into the position at last week’s meeting, but Lee explained that Lloyd Ippolito, the senate parliamentarian, could no longer hold his position on the FSA Board of Directors due to his status as a graduate student, meaning there were two open positions instead of one.
Jaminal said he plans to “help figure out problems students face, incorporating all input into potential decisions.”
