SRSGA was called into session Nov. 10 at 5:05 p.m. in the Smith Student Center (SSC). The committee recognized a guest speaker from International Club, SRSGA president detailed his conversation with a PA state senator in preparation for their advocacy project. SRSGA also discussed the upcoming SLS survey and Rock Pantry update, opened budget processes, provided details on an upcoming scholarship for paraprofessionals and finally, the committee voted on a $500 athletic grant as well as a new veteran senator.
International club (guest speaker)
Heer Zaveri and the International Club were recognized for an outstanding set of events in commemoration of International Education Week.
“All of the events went really well; we had great enrichment, and our dinner was one of our biggest events…all of the tickets were sold out by that time, so it was really good. We want to thank SRSGA for their continued support,” Zaveri said.
Officer reports
President Connor Pavlicko informed his senators on his discussion with PA state senator Devlin Robinson regarding the advocacy project.
“We talked about the best way to advocate for students. [Robinson] regularly is in Harrisburg working on legislation and things of that nature, so were asking him about how to talk to legislators and go to Harrisburg, and we will be using [tactics from] that conversation a lot in Harrisburg,” Pavlicko said. He and a selection of SRSGA senators will travel to Harrisburg to meet with legislators to discuss the best way to advocate for students.
Vice President of Student Academic Affairs, Emma Williams, discussed the upcoming Student Life survey and associated tabling. The survey is set to release Monday, November 17 with tabling happening November 18 and 20. Williams also gave details regarding the Rock Pantry. “So, as of the 3rd of November, we have had 849 visitors We have never had this many visitors, ever,” she said.
As Vice President of Finance, Jaeda Johnson was unable to attend the meeting, President Pavlicko introduced her report. Budget processes are officially open, optional budget reviews are being offered by SRSGA on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in SSC 324. The remaining reserve balance is $15,054.66.
Open forum
Senator Mason Powell provided an update on his meeting with Dr. Dils, the Dean of the College of Education, in regard to a $600,000 scholarship. The scholarship is in cooperation with multiple different local schools, aiming to train different paraprofessionals in how to become professional teachers. Powell also included plans to “add a coaching and refereeing programs as a master’s route for physical education.”
Committee vote
The committee successfully voted on a $500 grant; Senator Thomas Ferlino described the grant in his finance report.
“It’s just providing some people the ability to go to a Pennsylvanian Athletic Training Society conference. [The conference] provides potential employment opportunities, networking and things of that nature,” Ferlino said.
The committee filled their spot of a veteran senator with the election of William D’Zio. D’Zio is a second-semester sophomore majoring in criminology who is currently enlisted in the Army National Guard. The committee emphasized the importance of this position, especially after Slippery Rock University reclassified their ROTC program from a host unit to an extension unit.
“These changes could risk decreased military and veteran presence on campus, reduction to army ROTC staff, decreased support for the ROTC program and more. At SRSGA’s first meeting of the semester, former veteran senator Carla Snodgrass addressed these changes and her concern over the absence of a SRSGA veteran senator,” one senator said.
