The Student Government Association (SGA) held their first Senate meeting of the fall semester this past Monday, September 6. After holding virtual meetings since the start of the pandemic, they kicked off the semester with an in-person setting. Discussion topics ranged from previous initiatives that are in progress as well as new ideas that are being discussed.
The discussion began with a review of old initiatives that students plan to work on for this school year, many of which are aimed at student involvement on campus. To increase student involvement in Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), the SGA made sure the annual Flock Party was in-person this year, an event where students can meet with members of RSOs and show interest in being involved. To increase students’ exposure to different clubs across campus, the SGA is planning on having more “mini Flock Parties.” Additionally, another way the SGA is promoting student involvement in RSOs is by pushing for more accurate DuckLink pages. All RSOs at Stevens have a DuckLink page that allows them to advertise meetings and events and also publish important club documentation. Furthermore, the SGA hopes to provide more programming for second-year students due to a majority of their first-year being remote and socially distanced.
One initiative that was recently successful was the opening of a Quiet Space available for students to pray and reflect. This movement has been ongoing for several years and it finally proved successful this semester.
Another initiative being carried over from the summer is the student-led effort calling for Stevens to rename Gianforte Family Hall (GFH). On May 17, a student petition was created to remove the Gianforte name from the building. Following this, many student organizations have signed a pledge to boycott the use of GFH for their meetings and events. As of September 8, 56 clubs have already signed the pledge and it is still open for more signatures. Other initiatives calling for the renaming of GFH include an alumni pledge and outreach to the Hoboken community, which was discussed over the summer but no action has been taken yet. In response to student backlash, Stevens administration sent a response to The Stute asserting that the renaming GFH would not be revisited, referencing legal agreements with Gianforte. Still, the SGA plans on sending a proposal to Stevens administration to reiterate student interests and once again call for the renaming of GFH.
Another initiative planned by the SGA is a COVID-19 safety Instagram campaign, which aims to keep students safe on campus and prevent COVID outbreaks. Moreover, the SGA hopes to discuss emergency housing situations for commuter students to use during extreme weather situations that would prevent them from safely returning home.
The SGA also has initiatives planned in terms of academic affairs, and they’re looking for people to join The Stevens Undergraduate Student Advisory Board. This organization collects feedback from undergraduate students and communicates initiatives with the Vice Provost. Additionally, school wide academic goals for this semester include increased accessibility to course evaluations, approval of language minors, the release of finals schedules at the time of class registration, and the addition of student academic experiences to the Stevens website.
The SGA is also discussing improvements for campus wellness. They hope to improve campus amenities; some examples of improvements that were discussed include bike racks to make bike storage more accessible, borrowable games from the Student Center, and new lawn furniture for outdoor locations across campus.
In terms of government and community involvement, there were discussions surrounding the encouragement of student participation in upcoming state and local elections. Efforts are being planned to create voter registration events on campus for Stevens students. There will also be a memorial to reflect the upcoming 20th anniversary of September 11, which will be held on Friday, September 10.
Other issues regarding classrooms and seat capacity were heavily discussed during the meeting. Listening to student concerns on campus, the issue of overcrowded classrooms has been reported and solutions are being discussed. The SGA will be talking to the Provost about students that do not have seats in classes and those who are still lacking classroom locations. In terms of COVID-19 safety, professors can require students to exit the classroom if they are not willing to wear a mask. A portal available through DuckLink allows for the reporting of students who are not wearing masks properly.
Another concern that was voiced was the lack of assistance students received when they fall sick from COVID-19. Students who get COVID-19 are required to quarantine and do not receive any aid in relocation. Additionally, although technologies that allow professors to accommodate a hybrid classroom exist, there are no guidelines in place to help students who must quarantine and skip classes for at least two weeks.
The SGA is continuing to discuss initiatives for the upcoming semester. Senate elections will be discussed at the next SGA meeting for students interested in running to be a Senator. Senate meetings occur every Sunday at 7 p.m. and are open to all students. For more information email sga@stevens.edu.
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