The Student Government Association (SGA) is committed to being “a voice for the student body” by using its platform to communicate with the administration. In an interview with The Stute, SGA officers shared insight into their position and goals. The officers include President Gabriella Poska, Secretary Carly Teitelbaum, Vice President of Operations (VPO) Paulina Georgoutsos, Vice President of Student Interests (VPSI) Alexander Stanczak, Vice President of Finance (VPF) Charles Beall, and Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) Olof Persson.
Biomedical Engineering major and president Gabriella Poska held the VPSI and Secretary positions prior to being elected president in January 2022. Poska elaborated on recent SGA accomplishments, including how she “worked hard with the Cabinet to increase crisis and mental health resources on campus by bringing mental health speakers to campus among other things. We have also added things like a bike rack, hooks on bathroom doors, and free menstrual products to bathrooms on campus.” Poska also mentioned her goal of changing the SGA’s mentality to become more goal-oriented and focused on problem-solving. In addition, she wants to work more with students and also increase on-campus resources for sexual assault (SA) survivors.
Secretary Carly Teitelbaum is a Biomedical Engineering major who was appointed to her position on Monday, September 5. As Secretary, Teitelbaum hopes to be accessible to students to “aid in their comfortability coming to me with issues or improvements they would like to see on campus.” Teitelbaum’s goals include communicating effectively between students and the SGA. Furthermore, Teitelbaum would like to “lean into the mentor/mentee program so that new members can not only get acclimated initially but stay involved in the SGA as well.”
VPO Paulina Georgoutsos is a Chemical Biology major and has held her position since January 2022. She plans on using her position to foster a collaborative environment for students and the SGA senators, hoping to increase student involvement. Georgoutsos’ goals as VPO are to improve SGA retention and get students, including upperclassmen, involved. She added, “I would like to continue helping senators, old and new, find initiatives to work on that they are truly passionate about.”
Alexander Stanczak, a Mechanical Engineering major, has held his position as VPSI since January 2022. As VPSI, Stanczak’s job is to be involved with overseeing all of the organizations. He described how he wants to be available to students and “will be hosting office hours weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the SGA office.” Moreover, Stanczak has meetings with faculty and staff, acting as a liaison between students and the administration. As for his goals, Stanczak says he is “working on creating a stronger connection between student organizations, fostering a strong connection between student organizations and the SGA, and working with the Committee on Student Interests (CSI) to stay up to date on all new organization business, audits, and participation in the committee itself.”
VPF Charles Beall is a Math and Physics double major who has held this position since January 2022. Beall’s main role is to oversee the student activity fees’ allocation to the student organizations on campus. His primary role is to work with the Budget Committee to divide SGA funds so every student organization can benefit. Additionally, the SGA has a Campus Improvements Fund “where any student at Stevens can apply for funds to fuel a project that will better campus life.” Beall hopes more students will utilize the fund and his assistance. Beall’s goals include helping students utilize the Campus Improvement Fund and raising more awareness of the SGA Financial Policy for Student Organizations. Last semester, the senate passed amendments to this policy that Beall believes will benefit student organizations. Also, since Beall will be finishing his term this semester, he hopes to “lay a solid groundwork for the next VPF to jump off of.”
Computer Science major Olof Persson recently started serving as VPAA. When discussing his position, Persson noted, “I want people to know about what the SGA does so they know who to talk to about academic problems they see so that I and other SGA senators can better Stevens. I am always open to hearing from the student body. The SGA office on the 2nd floor of the UCC will be open as much as possible with people and we will hopefully be setting up a suggestion box as well for when it is not open.” Persson says his biggest goal for the semester is for professors to upload their syllabi onto Workday. Persson believes this would benefit students by letting them know more about the course before registration. Persson says, “It might only be possible to give the last year’s syllabus as an example […] An older syllabus would still give a greater overview than the small paragraph descriptions that are currently in Workday.”
These officers will serve to give a voice to the student body and are no doubt committed to their roles and goals of improving the Stevens community.
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