SGA discusses changes to constitution and by-laws

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor By Izabela Gage Editorial Staff Vice President Cesar Matos presented changes to the SGA by-laws and constitution at the organization’s Feb. 25 meeting. The first change to the SGA by-laws proposed by Matos allows the senate to dissolve committees established by the president with a majority vote. A motion to approve this change was made by Events Coordinator Alix Ayoub and passed unanimously. The next change proposed by Matos was to the SGA constitution, which allows the senate to assume full responsibility for removal proceedings, only if the parliamentarian position is vacant and the Judiciary Committee cannot be convened. In certain cases, this may allow the president to submit removal requests directly to the senate, which must vote within seven days. If the senate fails to reach a decision, the Executive Board shall act as the final authority. A motion to approve this change was made by Ayoub and passed unanimously. Matos proposed a change to the SGA by-laws allowing the president to chair the Judiciary Committee in the absence of a parliamentarian. Currently, SGA does not have a parliamentarian. If the president is under review, the vice president will chair the committee. If both are unavailable, the longest-serving senate member will act as chair. If leadership remains unavailable, the full senate assumes the responsibilities of the Judiciary Committee. A motion to approve this change was made by Treasurer Khoa Bùi, which was passed unanimously. At the meeting, two clubs, M.I.S.S. and Outing Club, requested funds for upcoming events. A representative from M.I.S.S. was not present at the meeting. However, a written request submitted to the Finance Committee was presented by Bùi. The event, “Rep Your Flag,” will be held on March 28 and will cost $6,750. The funds pay for renting a venue located in Boston, DJs, and a photographer. The event will be a collaboration with the Haitian Student Association - M.I.S.S requested $3,000 for the club’s share of the event. According to Bùi, “Rep Your Flag” is meant to “represent and create a safe community for students from all different cultures, so they can talk and share experiences.” A motion to approve the allocation was made by Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ana Julia Ribeiro, which passed unanimously. Yair Rachmany, president of the Outing Club, proposed two events to SGA and requested funding for both. Rachmany requested $1,455 for a go-kart racing event at Supercharged Entertainment in Wrentham on March 23. The money from the allocation will go toward three go-kart races, laser tag, “hyperdeck VR,” a $20 game card, and prepaid food and beverages for attendees. Rachmany said attendees will carpool to and from the venue. “We want to provide an inclusive experience. We want to focus mainly on community building and basically, give a chance for the students to hang out and … build friendships,” he said. A motion to approve the allocation was made by Senator Shawn Brooks and passed unanimously. Rachmany also requested funds for an indoor skydiving event on March 30. Rachmany requested a total of $1,350, which will be used to pay for a 60-minute flight session, a “fly high upgrade,” and goggles for all attendees. Rachmany said the goal of the event is to provide “the thrill of skydiving without the risks and make it exciting and inclusive for everyone.” A motion to approve the allocation was made by Brooks, which passed unanimously. During the Student Trustee’s Report, Jeremy McDonald said the SGA textbook drive has collected a total of 12 textbooks. According to McDonald, all collected textbooks will go to the SGA area in the library, located on the lower mezzanine. The donation bins are located outside the SGA office and on the first floor of May Hall. McDonald said the SGA Admin Forum will be held on April 8 at 6 p.m. in place of the SGA Club Representative Meeting. The Board of Trustees Forum will now be a dinner, according to McDonald. It will take place on May 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty and Staff Dining Room on the third floor of the McCarthy Center. In the Diversity and Inclusion Officer’s Report, Ribeiro said she has met with Michael Newmark, the acting general manager of Dining Services, as well as one of the chefs and an event organizer, to discuss logistics for Culture Week. Newmark suggested lowering the dining hall fee from $12 to $5 as a Culture Week Special, according to Ribeiro. She added she has reached out to the Black Student Union to organize entertainment, per a request from Newmark. She said she is working on a survey to gather input on which countries to feature, using data provided by the Center for Inclusive Excellence. Ribeiro is working on introducing a new program aimed at supporting affinity groups on campus with help from Jesse Edwards, the diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for the City of Framingham.