SGA Update

The SGA senate meeting on Sept. 27 opened with a discussion and vote on the new schedule and location of Coffee Hour. It will now occur in Proctor Lounge on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Coffee Hour is intended to be an accessible forum for students to have casual conversation with SGA members about the state of student life. It is required in a bylaw that SGA members attend at least three sessions per semester.

President Ilana Gratch ’16 provided updates on the development of Open Conversations, a new SGA practice aimed at creating opportunities for direct conversations on pressing issues between the SGA and administrators. Suggested topics included sexual assault policies, housing policies, issues of race on campus, student mental health

and the ongoing efforts to reform the AAL distribution requirement. It was also suggested that surveying students could be valuable in sourcing improvements for the SGA.

“Ilana is hoping to bring current and relevant issues into the Crest Room by allowing students, faculty, and staff to voice their opinions once a month through Open Conversations,” said Chief of Staff Michael Brady ’17.5.

The meeting continued with the crew team’s budget proposal for the 2015-2016 year, presented by Treasurer Aaron de Toledo ’16. After it was discussed at length, there was a vote, and the budget of $32,485 was approved. It passed with 8 affirming, 3 dissenting and 1 abstaining. The budget prompted a discussion on the SGA would manage funding for club sports in the future. “The SGA is tasked with finding a way to fund club sports in a manner that’s equitable and sustainable, while still enabling the teams to function,” said Brady.

The meeting was turned over to Senior Senator Reshma Gogineni ’16, who led a discussion on possible improvements for CCI Seminars. Senators debated whether more seminars should be available for first-year students, and if seminars should be mandatory.

It was announced that next week, Brandon Gell ’16 will speak with the SGA about his two-year project aimed at creating a space where students can find relief from academic pressures in nature. Gell has already raised more than $10,000 and hopes to appeal to the SGA for more funding.

Prior to the Sept. 27 meeting, Brady and Gratch introduced a bill to alter the bylaws to allow the president to appoint Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Social Affairs to their cabinet. The bill passed, and Carolyn Murphy ’17.5 was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff and Nan Philip ’16.5 was appointed Director of Social Affairs.