Student Government Association 2020-2021 Newsletter

2020-2021

ISSUE 1

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

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THE DECORUM FOR EM

LEADING WITH PRIDE SINCE 1935

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THE DECORUM FOR EM Fall Semester mID Semester Recap

Welcome Week August 17th August 19th Fall Semester August 31 September 1st September 2nd

Black Students Advocating for Change Newly Elected Senators (from left to right) Julie Singh '24, Daniel DeCrescenzo '24, Maheen Safian '23, Jasmeet Kang '22, Will Germain '23, Susan Cheng '23, Katie Funk '24, and Javeria Imran '23

Fall

2020

SGA

BLAC came to senate to talk about their demands listed on their instagram and progress with Administration.

Elections

Newly Elected Justices (from left to right) Gianna Guzzo '24, Hannah Farbstein '24, Josh Phillip '22, Bobby Kang '23, Matthew Adarichev '24

Allison Vernace, the Title IX Coordinator for Student Issues, joined Senate to answer questions and further discussed the Title IX Policy.

Cornell Craig Cornell Craig, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, joined senate and updated SGA on his current projects.

SGA still had Senate retreat over zoom and saw presentations from the new SGA advisors along with all of Cabinet.

SGA had fun learning, growing, and getting to know new senators.

VOLUME 1

ISSUE 1 2020

ISSUE

FALL SEMESTER

1

END OF SEMESTER RECAP

Funds have been allocated to renovate the game room. Moving forward for the rest of the semester and into the Spring, SGA plans to read and provide feedback to the Facilities Master plan created in 2015. The construction for Axinn Library is planned for the spring semester.

Senate Conversations

85th Senate started a dialogue to further help students on different topics such as Health & Wellness, Facilities, Equity, and Academics.

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SGA S NEW ADVISORS SGA had to say goodbye to our advisor of three years, Denise Boneta and wish her well in her new position. However, SGA is so excited to have Samantha Kloeckner-Soszynski, Assistant Director at OSLE and Zaibis Munos-Isme, Assistant Dean and Director of OSAPA on board as SGA's new advisors!

SGA recently launched the new first-year leadership program where 12 first years enhanced their leadership skills from September 22nd to November 17th.

Pride Pantry 500 cloth masks and sanitizer pens were donated in SGA's name by Dom Lavin for the Pride Pantry.

LEADERS FOR LEADERS COHORT First Years (from left to right) Rachel Navarro, Jonathan Lee, Aleyana Boothe, Nicole Kerr, Alma Glavatovic, Tal Heyman, Nicole Zacchia, Anthony Papasodero, Amalia Sanchez, Jessaia McGrigg, McMahon Sykes, and Lila Campbell

SENATORIAL ACTIONS S.A.2020.

SGA officially recognized the clubs Overbooked and HofstraSheeos.

85.001

Resolution to Address the Sentiments of BLM

S.A.2020.

85.002 Edits to the Policy Series

S.A.2020.

S.A.2020.

85.003

85.004

Proposal to Make One Election Mandatory for all Senators

Resolution to Support BLAC at Hofstra

S.A.2020.

85.005

Changes to the Appropriations Policy Series

FALL COMMITTEE UPDATES Reformed Appropriations Policy Series that was passed through senate. Successfully completed three Treasurer Trainings on Zoom. Announced the cancellation of Budget Weekend, Budget Appeals, and Budget Review Sessions.

Appropriations with Chair Aaron Acted as Elections Commission during the Fall elections and facilitated Liebowitz

the info sessions. The committee passed 15 Senatorial Actions and facilitated 35 Club Elections. Club Resources is also in the process of Club Office Space Reallocation for the Fall 2021 semester.

Club Resources with Chair Gopal Khandelwal

Launched Get to Know SGA Instagram stories series where members from Logistics & Advocacy committees update on their projects. Created weekly recap graphics for senate and Leaders for Leaders on instagram to keep the student body updated.

Communications with Chair Antonella Colon Planned a Movie Night at Pride Park which showed Silence of the Lambs . First successful in-person program with a Halloween Scavenger hunt with over 70 students registered. Created the survey for Student Appreciation week from Nov. 17-24th.

Programming with Chair Alexa Paturzo

Had multiple meetings with offices like CUA, CAE, SAS, and the Provost. Hofstra IT will be renovating Hammer Lab which will be overseen by Chair Aquino and Senator Germaine.

Academic Affairs with Chair Khiya Connolly-Sisk The committee passed two resolutions: Regarding Black Lives Matter Movement and Supporting the group Black Leaders Advocating for Change. Successfully created the Black Healing Counseling Group. Partnered with Wellness and Art with Impact to put on Movies for Mental Health.

Equity & Inclusion with Chair Maria Mobley The committee is working with BLAC to help with their demand for a Black student lounging space. The Axinn Library renovations are finally confirmed and moving forward after being put on hold due to the pandemic.

Facilities & Operations with Chair Bernice Aquino Helped to continue Wellness Wednesdays on Instagram. Increased the amount of disinfectants and cleaning supplies in Dutch Treats and the Netherlands Core. The committee handed out over 70 sanitizer kits to students at the trick or treat scavenger hunt. Partnered with Art with Impact, a non profit, along with Chair Mobley to create the Movies for Mental Health event

Wellness & Campus Safety with Chair David O'Brien

ISSUE 1

FALL SEMESTER

FALL EBOARD UPDATES

Along with Vice President Osner, she attends monthly meeting with President Rabinowitz, Patricia Adamski, the Senior Vice President of Planning and Administration, and Provost Herman Berliner. They have these meetings and use these unique spaces to elevate the student voice and the work of the senators and chairs.

President Tara Stark

Facilitates and operates the Leaders for Leaders Program along with President Stark and features a guest speaker to talk to the first years. Vice President Osner also leads the biweekly dialogues along with running senate meetings.

Vice President Alexa Osner

Announced by email to all clubs that during the Spring 2021 semester, there will be another $1000 put in their account.

Working with the Appropriations Committee and Club Resources to expand outreach to clubs to assist them in utilizing the funds at their disposal.

Comptroller Nick Cote

Created a Google Doc with all important zoom codes to make the information more streamlined. Appointed three internal SGA positions: Senator Congdon as Archivist, Senator DeBiso as Ethics & Conduct Chair, and Senator Walker as Social Chair.

Secretary Charlie Greenberg

SPRING SEMESTER

ISSUE 1

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THE DECORUM FOR EM Spring Semester NEW CABINET MEMBERS Will Germaine '23 was elected as Equity and Inclusion Chair and Kristin Oritiz '23 was elected Club Resources Chair at the end of Fall semester.

SEVERINO RANDAZZO

SENATORIAL ACTIONS

Towards the beginning of the semester, Severino was hired as the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE) and SGA's new advisor!

S.A.2021.85.001 Edits to the Definition of Uniform in the Policy Series

Severino was previously the Assistant Director of Orientation and Campus Activities at Pace University before coming to Hofstra.

We are so happy to have him be a part of the SGA family!

S.A.2021.85.002 General Edits to the Policy Series

S.A.2021.85.03 Spring Into Action Week Survey Questions

S.A.2021.85.04 Removal of the Programming Deputy

SGA COLLABORATIONS SGA partnered with HOLA, IEI. The History Department, and It's On Us to bring on events for students during the Spring Semester. SGA and HOLA made an event to bring alumni for advice on post-graduate life. IEI, SGA, and the History Department brought Dr. Terazawa to give a lecture on Asian American Hate crimes and WWII Internment camps. Programming partnered with It's On Us for Sexual Awareness Month to design butterflies to put on the bookstore window.

SPRING SEMESTER

ISSUE 1

END OF SEMESTER RECAP

Before senate, eight SGA alumni members came to answer questions about post-graduation and how their experiences during their time in SGA.

FAREWELL FROM PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT Serving as your President and Vice President during an extremely challenging year has been a honor. We hope we have uplifted your voices and advocated for what mattered. When Hofstra students succeed, we succeed. We could not be more proud of the work that was accomplished this year. Thank you to our fellow student leaders for your collaboration and commitment to the Pride. There are so many exciting opportunities coming your way. The best days are still ahead for Hofstra and SGA. We hope we made you proud. Thank you for it all.

LEADERS FOR LEADERS CAPSTONE PROJECT

Dining Appreciation Letters This was an opportunity for all Hofstra students to write positive letters to our Compass Dining staff members.

A week dedicated towards surveying. This survey included different topics asking students about COVID19 procedures, academics, facilities, and representation.

Advocacy Forum This was held on Wednesday April 7th during Common hour. This was a space for all Hofstra students to come and express their concerns and ask questions to SGA members.

At the culmination of the program all of the associates from the Leaders for Leaders program presented their capstone project to the general senate body. Their presentations talked about what committee they sat on, what they learned, and what the future holds for them in terms of involvement at Hofstra.

SGA's second in-person event where students stuff a sea animal of their choosing.

SPRING COMMITTEE UPDATES Focused its efforts on ensuring the best way to help return to normality by preparing allocations for the fall semester through a blanket allocation similar the previous semesters of this academic year. Also helped allocate funds for clubs/organizations who decided to use the new OSLE guidelines for in-person events during the end of this semester.

Appropriations with Chair Aaron Liebowitz

Club Resources has reviewed the entirety of SGA’s constitution, continued to further their outreach to clubs, updated legislation, as well as allocate office spaces to clubs.

Created a week long social media campaign for Spring Into Action Week, focused on uploading more TikTok's on the SGA account, and started Takeover Tuesdays.

Club Resources with Chair Kristin Ortiz

Communications with Chair Antonella Colon Programming planned a virtual Advocacy Forum, collaborated with Its On Us to host Gather to Give and Take Back the Night to promote Sexual Assault Awareness month, and continued SGA's Build-A-Friend program while following all COVID guidelines.

Programming with Chair Alexa Paturzo

This semester Academic Affairs has focused on disability advocacy and technological literacy through meetings with administrators.

Academic Affairs with Chair Khiya Connolly-Sisk Spent this semester working closer with our CDIO, Cornell Craig, and IEI, along with working with clubs to raise awareness for their clubs and their causes. Worked with HOLA for their alumni event, IEI for an event to talk about AAPI Hate and how to be better allies and the Center for Career Design and Development for their Diversity and Inclusion Hiring event.

Equity & Inclusion with Chair Will Germaine The Facilities committee has advocated for the creation of a Black student lounge space with BLAC, began a proposal which encourages Hofstra to become a carbon-net neutral institution, and adapted to the changes of our school’s facilities due to COVID-19.

Facilities & Operations with Chair Bernice Aquino The committee participated in the Advocacy Forum, offered health advice on Wellness Wednesdays, and provided hand sanitizers during Build-A-Friend. Also worked with Compass to bring organic menstrual products to Dutch Treats, assisted VP Osner construct a proposal focusing on menstrual products, and co-hosted "Movies for Mental Health" with Art With Impact.

Wellness & Campus Safety with Chair David O'Brien

SPRING EBOARD UPDATES

Held a meeting with the incoming university president, Dr. Poser, with other student leaders on campus. Tara and Alexa asked questions to get to know her and answered her questions on campus life. Club office renovations have begun and they chose room colors and furniture for all office.

President Tara Stark

L4L cohort became associate senators this year and sat on one of SGA committees. They then presented to the entire senate at a Thursday night meeting about that they learned in the program and what they worked on in committees.

Vice President Alexa Osner

During this semester he worked to assist everyone at one time, as his role is an internal position. Secretary Greenberg planned the logistics in having an in person Senate meeting and the Dining Staff Appreciation Project.

Secretary Charlie Greenberg

CONTACT US Keep updates with SGA by following all of our social media accounts.

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